LIMERICK beat Offaly in their final game of the group stages by 0-13 to 1-8. But they were made to work to maintain their unbeaten record in the League by a strong Offaly side who despite having recorded only one win their League campaign had not been beaten by more than three points in any game.
Limerick started brightest and opened a four point lead inside 10 minutes with scores from Mairéad Fitzgerald, Deborah Murphy and two from Aoife Sheehan. But Offaly rallied and points from play from Siobhán Flannery and Tina Hannon got them off the mark. Both sides exchanged scores from placed ball with Niamh Mulchay getting three for Limerick and Siobhán Flannery two for Offaly to send the sides in at the break with three between them Limerick 0-7 Offaly 0-4.
Offaly levelled the score immediately after half-time through a well taken Niamh Larkin goal but a point from Rebecca Delee and two from Niamh Mulchay restored Limerick’s lead by the quarter hour mark.
This set the stage for a nervous final few minutes for Limerick as Offaly twice reduced their lead to a single point only for three Niamh Mulcahy frees to restore Limerick’s lead and leave the score at the final whistle Limerick 0-13 Offaly 1-8.
Limerick will go on to meet Cork in a semi-final clash between the 2014 Senior and Intermediate All-Ireland champions on 19th April. Indeed it is an indication of Limerick’s achievement that three other teams through to the semi-final stage are the Senior Champions from 2013 and 2014 and the runners-up in both those years.
Final score Limerick 0-13 (0-7) Offaly 1-8 (0-4)
Limerick scorers:
Niamh Mulcahy 0-8 (all frees), Aoife Sheehan 0-2, Deborah Murphy 0-1, Mairéad Fitzgerald 0-1, Rebecca Delee 0-1
Limerick Team:
Síle Moynihan (Ahane), Marguerita McCarthy (Ahane), Sinéad McNamara (Na Piarsaigh), Judith Mulcahy (Ahane), Rebecca Delee (Newcastle West), Sarah Carey *Granagh Ballingarry), Fiona Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry), Niamh Mulcahy (Ahane), Caoimhe Costelloe (Adare), Aoife Sheehan (Granagh Ballingarry), Deborah Murphy (Knockaderry), Karen O’Leary (Newcastle West), Aoife Wilson (Na Piarsaigh), Noreen Barry (Killeedy), Mairéad Fitzgerald (Granagh Ballingarry)
Subs:
Laura O’Neill (Na Piarsaigh), Donna Mulcahy (Killeedy), Caoimhe Lyons (Monaleen), Leanne Browne (Newcastle West), Tara Fitzgibbon (Ballyagran), Rebecca Noonan (Granagh Ballingarry), Aishling Scanlon (Killeedy), Sinead Madden (Mungret St Pauls), Niamh Ryan (Bruff), Chloe O’Brien (Ballygran)
Junior side fall short in Dublin
Limerick 1-3 (1-2) Dublin 4-9 (2-2)
Irish Daily Star National Camogie League Division 3
Sunday 5th April at 2.30pm
St David’s School, Artane
Limerick’s Junior team lost out to a very strong Dublin side, who were unbeaten in the group stages of the League, by 4-9 to 1-3.
Limerick took an early lead through the accuracy from frees of Caitrín de Bhál who scored 1-2 to put Limerick ahead. But Dublin came back through goals from Ashling McDonald and Tino Kelly to lead at half-time by 2-2 to 1-2.
Dublin totally dominated the second half with Limerick’s only score coming from a Caitrín de Bhál free. Indeed Dublin’s defence were so much on top that Limerick were held scoreless from play throughout the game. Carolanne Canning and Rachel O’Connor added two more goals for Dublin to secure their victory by 4-9 to 1-3.
Limerick had already qualified for the semi-final and will have to regroup to meet Dublin again on 19th April.
Limerick scorers:
Caitrín de Bhál 1-3 (all frees)
Limerick Team:
Catherine Fitzgerald (Adare), Louise Curtin (Ballybrown), Ann Neville (Croagh/Kilfinny), Catriona Neville, (Croagh/Kilfinny), Sarah Crotty (Ahane), Grace Lee (Newcastle West), Néamh Curtin (Ballybrown), Una O’Connor (Crecora), Niamh Tuite (Treaty Gaels), Mairéad Clancy (Ballybrown), Clíona Lane (Adare), Claire Keating (Cappamore), Brid Hannon (Croagh/Kilfinny), Avril Lane (Adare), Caitrín De Bhál (Killeedy)
Subs:
Orla Condon.(Knockaderry), Katie Hennessy (Ballyagran), Elaine Kennedy (New Castle West), Mairéad O’Connell (Crecora), Emily Rose Mulcahy (Killeedy), Anna Kennedy. (Crecora)
Minors lose out to determined Galway side
Limerick 3-9 (0-7) Galway 3-18 (1-9)
All-Ireland Minor A Championship
Saturday 4th April at 2.30pm
Killeedy GAA, Raheenagh
Limerick, who had already qualified for the All-Ireland semi-finals came up against a Galway side with something to prove on Saturday in Killeedy. The Tribeswomen who needed to win to be sure of their own qualification were deserving winners by 3-18 to 3-9 in an exciting high-scoring encounter.
Galway laid down a marker from the off and opened a four point lead after Catherine Finnerty found the Limerick net after 7 minutes. Limerick kept in touch through Rebecca Noonan’s accuracy from placed ball but Leanne Freaney was equally accurate for Galway as they built a lead they were never to relinquish. A brace of points from Caoime Lyons before the break closed the gap to three but Galway responded to go in five points clear at half time. Limerick 0-7 Galway 1-9.
Galway opened the second half as they had the first extending their lead to nine inside six minutes. A goal from Sophie O’Callaghan gave Limerick hope and was the beginning of a Limerick fight-back. And when Aisling Scanlon hit the back of the net on the quarter hour mark to reduce the deficit to four points it looked as if a Limerick revival was definitely on the cards
But Galway responded within three minutes with a goal from Patricia Manning to restore their lead to eight and leave the brave Limerick side with a mountain to climb. Galway extended their lead through scores from Clíona Walsh including a third goal to give them a twelve point lead as the clock ran out.
Caoimhe Lyons added a goal for Limerick in added time but it was too late and despite a brave battling performance Limerick were beaten by 3-19 to 3-9.
Limerick will learn much from this encounter and will re-group for their semi-final against Kilkenny on 18th April with Galway meeting Tipperary in the other semi-final.
Limerick scorers:
Rebecca Noonan 0-7 (5F), Caoimhe Lyons 1-2, Sophie O’Callaghan 1-0, Aisling Scanlon 1-0
Limerick Team:
Laura O’Neill (Na Piarsaigh), Leanne Browne (Newcastle West), Sinéad McNamara (Na Piarsaigh), Sinéad Madden (Mungret St.Pauls), Marion Quaid (Bruff), Tara Fitzgibbon (Ballyagran), Aisling Regan (Murroe Boher), Chloe O’Brien (Ballyagran), Gráinne Regan (Murroe Boher), Rebecca Noonan (Granagh Ballingarry), Caoimhe Lyons (Monaleen), Dearbhla Egan (Crecora), Sophie O’Callaghan (Adare), Aisling Scanlon (Killeedy), Leah Riordan (Ballyagran)
Subs:
Aoife Barry (Murroe Boher), Saoirse Barry (Murroe Boher), Aoife Coughlan (Crecora), Caoimhe O’Brien (Bruff), Brenda O’Keefe (Granagh Ballingarry), Ellana Mulcahy (Killeedy), Gráinne Ryan (Galbally), Aisling Scully (Granagh Ballingarry), Sarah Shanahan (Killeedy), Siobhán Tangney (Croagh Kilfinny)
League Results
Monday 6th April 2015
Senior League:
Ahane 4-17 Clanmaurice 4-10
Ballyagran 2-13 Adare/Croagh Kilfinny 1-1
Bruff 2-6 Newcastle West 4-13
Intermediate League:
Na Piarsaigh 3-6 Ballybrown 0-4
