DUBLIN, TIPPERARY, WEXFORD and Galway all claimed important senior group stages wins today in the All-Ireland senior camogie championships today.
Dublin kept their hopes of progression to the quarter-finals alive by eking out a 0-12 to 0-8 win over Derry in Swatragh.
Alison Maguire was named player of the match after scoring seven points from frees that enabled the visitors to keep their noses in front despite the drive of Eimear Mullan, Mėadhbh McGoldrick and Karen Kielt.
The Dubs led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half time but that was as close as Derry got, with Derry struggling to make headway against their sweeper system. Maguire punished their indiscretions to edge them clear before Emma Flanagan hit the insurance point.
Clare are still in with a chance of snatching third place in Group 2 but will need a big win against Derry next week after losing comprehensively to Tipperary by 2-18 to 0-11.
The result gave the Premier County outfit second place and represented a tremendous recovery after last weekend’s heavy defeat by table toppers Kilkenny.
Cáit Devane ran riot for the winners, scoring 12 points. Eight of those came from play as Clare failed completely to come to terms with the sharpshooter.
Chloe Morey scored seven points for Clare but goals from Mairead Teehan straight after half time and substitute Nicole Walsh late on put paid to Colman Honan’s side.
Galway completed their campaign with a 100% record as they accounted for Limerick in resounding fashion by 4-16 to 0-12.
The league champions did the damage in the first half in a free-flowing display that yielded 4-15 from play, provided by nine different individuals, while Limerick were heavily reliant on the magnificent Niamh Mulcahy, who finished with 10 points.
Finola Keeney struck for an early Galway goal and further majors from the unstoppable Ailish O’Reilly and Aoife Donohue established a 10-point interval lead.
O’Reilly pounced for her second goal in the second half on the way to compiling a tally of 2-5, while midfielder Niamh Kilkenny finished with four points.
Meanwhile Kate Kelly continued her phenomenal form by converting eight placed balls as Wexford set up a quarter-final against either Clare or Dublin by beating All-Ireland champions Cork, 0-13 to 0-10.
Katrina Parrock weighed in with three points from play as the Yellowbellies gained a small measure of revenge for losing last
year’s semi-final to Cork in a replay.
As usual, Orla Cotter was top scorer for the Leesiders with seven points, with Katrina Mackey notching up three. Paudie Murray’s charges will now play Tipperary in the quarter-final.
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland camogie championships
Senior
Group 1
Wexford 0-13 Cork 0-10
Galway 4-16 Limerick 0-12
Group 2
Dublin 0-12 Derry 0-8
Tipperary 2-18 Clare 0-11
Intermediate
Group 1
Cork 0-17 Wexford 0-2
Galway 3-7 Down 0-10
Group 2
Antrim 1-10 Kilkenny 2-15
Junior
Carlow 0-19 Clare 1-8