Down's Natasha Ferris now leads the race for the 2023 ZuCar Golden Boot award!

DOWN’S Natasha Ferris is the new leader in the race for the 2023 ZuCar Golden Boot award!

Ferris scorched to the top of the leaderboard with a haul of 6-8 against Kilkenny in the Junior Championship last weekend – and she’s now seven points clear of Clare’s Fidelma Marrinan, the previous leader.

Ferris has the chance to add to her tally on Sunday when Down, who are already safely through to the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-finals, travel to Newcastlewest to take on Limerick, who have also qualified.

Marrinan is also in action on Sunday, when Clare take on Westmeath at Cusack Park in Ennis in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate quarter-final.

In third place is Marie Kealy, who cannot add to her championship tally as Wicklow’s championship campaign is now over.

In joint-fourth place are Dublin’s Carla Rowe and Ferris’s Down team-mate, Vivienne McCormack, who scored 4-3 in the Kilkenny game.

Current leaderboard: 

Natasha Ferris (Down) – 6-14 (32)

Fidelma Marrinan (Clare) – 2-19 (25)

Marie Kealy (Wicklow) – 1-17 (20)

Carla Rowe (Dublin) – 3-9 (18)

Vivienne McCormack (Down) – 5-3 (18)

Orlaith Prenter (Antrim) – 2-11 (17)

Cathy Mee (Limerick) – 4-5 (17)

Aoife Connolly (Westmeath) – 3-7 (16)

Róisín Cockram (Offaly) – 0-15 (15)

Iris Kennelly (Limerick) – 3-6 (15)

Blaithin Bogue (Fermanagh) – 1-12 (15)

Lauren McGregor (Waterford) – 2-8 (14)

Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry) – 1-11 (14)

Emma Duggan (Meath) – 1-11 (14)

Aishling Moloney (Tipperary) – 4-2 (14)

Beatrice Casey (London) – 2-8 (14)