WEXFORD RECOVERED FROM a tentative start to get their campaign off to a good start with a 4-11 to 0-13 win over a typically competitive Offaly unit at St Brendan’s Park, Birr.
Siobhán Flannery was on fire from frees as the hosts went into an early three-point lead but from the time Kate Kelly’s free hopped into the Offaly net, Wexford’s confidence surged and they held the upper hand.
Kelly grabbed a second goal but with Flannery recording six points, it was still all to play for at the change of ends, at 2-6 to 0-8.
Minor goalkeeper Laura Brennan made a tremendous save from Arlene Watkins early in the second half to keep Offaly at bay.
Instead, Stacey Kehoe grabbed a brace at the other end and with Mary Leacy making another player-of-the-match contribution, Wexford could relax.
Kilkenny made it two from two in Group 2 of the Liberty Insurance senior camogie championship, showing no sympathy to a severely understrength Clare to record a 2-22 to 0-6 victory over Clare at the St Lachtain’s pitch in Freshford.
Fintan Deegan’s players were ruthless in disposing of their opponents, who were unlucky that the Kilkenny forward unit was moving to such effect. The winners scored 2-20 from play and set the tone for the day by racing into a 0-8 to 0-0 lead after just nine minutes.
Michelle Caulfield and Chloe Morey shot Clare’s only first-half points but that left them 13 in arrears at the interval. Denise Gaule, Ann Dalton, Michelle Quilty and Shelley Farrell racked up the scores before Gaule pounced for two goals in the space of a minute late on to complete the rout.
It was much closer in Kilmallock as All-Ireland champions Cork bounced back from their opening round defeat by Galway to inflict a first loss on last year’s intermediate winners Limerick, by 1-14 to 1-10.
The Leesiders’ physical strength was notable early on and it was one-way traffic as they went 0-9 to 0-2 clear, with Orla Cotter (who finished with six points) punishing any transgressions from frees.
Limerick improved in the second half, with Niamh Mulcahy and Aoife Sheehan showing well. They brought the margin back down to five but when Katrina Mackey goaled it looked all over for Joe Quaid’s girls.
They showed plenty of character though and Rebecca Delee’s goal helped get them to within three points. Cork showed their experience to see the game out however.
At The Ragg, Tipperary edged out Derry in a cracker by 3-12 to 4-8.
Results
Cork 1-14 Limerick 1-10
Wexford 4-11 Offaly 0-13
Kilkenny 2-22 Clare 0-7
Tipperary 3-12 Derry 4-8
Full reports to follow…
