THE LIMERICK Camogie Team ended a six year wait for silverware by capturing the Daily Star Division Two National League title last weekend.
The Shannonsiders defeated Kildare on a scoreline of 3-14 to 0-10 in St Brendan’s Park Birr.
The final scoreline did n ot reflect the competitive nature of the match and though Limerick led from the third minute, a combative Kildare team kept in touch until the later stages of the game. Limerick’s Niamh Mulcahy was the first on the scoresheet with a point from a free before Caoimhe Costello and Dymphna O’Brien added two more points from play. Two more frees were popped over the bar by Limerick’s centre-forward Mulcahy leaving the half time score Limerick 0-08 Kildare 0-04.
With Kildare on the comeback trail, the introduction of Kileedy’s Marie Keating for Reecca Delee, seemed to settle Limerick. Niamh Mulcahy added a point from a free before the next passage of play saw corner forward Dymphna O’Brien dodge her marker and catch the opposition’s goalie unaware and handpassed a goal into Kildare’s net.
A goal from Mary O’Callaghan set Limerick on their way to the title, before another supersub Marie Keating broke Kildare’s hearts by striking the net to end the game as a contest.
Limerick captain Michelle Casey accepted the Jack McGrath Cup as corner forward Dymphna O’Brien was named Player of the Match.
Limerick’s backroom team of Joe Quaid, Ger Sheehy and Ann Herbert have now qualified their side to take part on the top tier of camogie for next season.
Scorers: Niamh Mulcahy 0- 08 (0-06 frees); Dymphna O’Brien 1-03; Marie Keating 1-01: Mary O’Callaghan 1-00; Caoimhe Costello, Sarah Carey 0-01 each.
Limerick Camogie Team:
Síle Moynihan, Fiona Hickey, Niamh Ryan, Janet Garvey, Mairéad Ryan, Michelle Casey (Captain), Judith Mulcahy, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Sarah Carey, Katie Campbell, Niamh Mulcahy, Rebecca Delee, Caoimhe Costelloe, Mary Callaghan, Dymphna O’Brien.
Subs used: Marie Keating, Noreen Barry, Emma Quaid and Bríd Hannan.
In senior hurling news, the Lime rick senior hurlers took on Cork in a senior hurling challenge in Kilworth Co. Cork last Saturday 4 evening in preparation for their clash with Tipperary on June 9.
The host county led 2-08 to Limerck 0-11 at half time in what was an open game with scores coming thick and fast. The second half with did not end well for Limerick with the Rebels running out eventual winners 5-14 to Limerick’s 2-17.
Limerick team v Cork:
Aaron Murphy, Alan Dempsey, Richie McCarthy, Tom Condon, Tom Ryan, Wayne McNamara, Gavin O’Mahony, James Ryan, Cathal King, David Reidy, Declan Hannon, Paudie Aherne, Kevi n Downes, Shane Dowling and Sean Tobin.
Subs: Nicky Quaid for Aaron Murphy, Paudie O’Brien for James Ryan, David Breen for Paudie Aherne, Seamus for David Reidy, Niall Moran for Shane Dowling, Graeme Mulcahy for Sean Tobin, Thomas Quaid for Kevin Downes and James Ryan for Richie McCarthy (inj).
Limerick scorers:
Declan Hannon (1-10) (8f)(1S/L), Sean Tobin (0-02), Shane Dowling (0-01), Kevin Downes (0-01), David Reidy (0-01), Seamus Hickey (0-01), Niall Moran (1-00) and Thomas Quaid (0-01).
The Limerick minor hurlers travelled to Pairc Ui Rinn last Saturday morning to take on Cork in a challenge match. Manager Brian Ryan and his selectors Brian Finn and Eamonn Cregan brought 22 of the 30 panel members to Cork in what was a 2-21 to 2-15 win for Limerick.
With three more challenge games over the next couple of weeks against Limerick U/21’s, Waterford and Kilkenny, the management team will gave every member of the panel an opportunity to stake a claim for a place on the Limerick minor panel for the Munster championship game against Tipperary on June 26 this year.
And finally, the Limerick U/21 hurling team had a big win over Offaly in Cloughjordan last Wednesday 1 evening.
Limerick were ahead at half time by 1-10 to 0-011 but took control of the second half and ran out winners by 1-23 to 0-16.
Limerick team and scorers were:
Darragh Stapleton, Shane Irwin, Barry O Connell, Aaron Costelloe, Dan Morrissey, Barry Lynch, Robbie Egan, Tomas Ryan (1-00), David Reidy (0-11(7F), Brendan O Connor (0-02), Mark O Connell (0-03), Richard Ryan (0-01), Michael Ryan (0-01), Kevin O Brien (00-1) and Jack Aherne (0-04). Subs used were PJ Hall, Mark O’Loughlin and John Fitzgibbon.
