Limerick suffer defeat to Waterford in All-Ireland senior camogie championship

LIMERICK senior camogie side suffered a second defeat in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland championship on Saturday when losing out 5-15 to 0-9 to a clinical Waterford outfit at Walsh Park.

Limerick had been looking for their first win of their All-Ireland campaign following their opening weekend loss to Kilkenny, while Waterford were looking to bounce back from their defeat to Tipperary.

Waterford had the better start to the half with points from Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett to build up a five-point lead before Croagh Kilfinny’s Orlaith Kelleher got Limerick’s first point of the game.

Within a minute of Limerick’s first score, Waterford found the back of the net of their first of five goals in the game.

Mairead O’Brien showed quick-thinking as she batted the ball into the back of the net rather than risk the chance of being hooked by the Limerick defenders.

Caoimhe Costelloe got her name on the score sheet with a point from a free which closed the gap to six points. However, Roisin Kirwan, Beth Carton, Niamh Rockett, Tara Power and Mairead O’Brien all took their scoring opportunities to leave the score as Limerick 0-2 Waterford 1-11.

Waterford's Mairead O’Brien got her second goal five minutes before half time to bring her tally of the half to 2-01. This left the score at half-time reading, Limerick 0-02 Waterford 2-11.

Limerick made two changes at half time which saw Poppy Giltenane and Stephanie Woulfe come in for Sarah Cosgrove and Ailbhe Larkin.

The first score of the second half went to Limerick as Rebecca Delee registered a point from play. Waterford didn’t take long though to get some scores of their own. The influential Beth Carton continued being pinpoint accurate as she scored another point before Orla Hickey found the back of the net for Waterford’s third goal.

Back came Limerick and Caoimhe Costelloe got on the end of a great pass from Muireann Creamer to register her second point of the game before Caiomhe Lyons put the ball up and over the bar to get Limerick’s fifth point.

However, an impressive Waterford side continued to hold the upperhand and fifteen minutes into the second half, Maggie Gostle had the ball in the back of the net for Waterford’s fourth goal.

Tara Power then added a point for Waterford and with 16 minutes left on the clock the gap stood at twenty-three points.

Waterford continued to dominate on the scoreboard and Niamh Rockett added a point from a free before Waterford’s fifth and final goal was scored by Annie Fitzgerald.

Limerick did his back with two points on the bounce, with Rebecca Delee putting a free over the bar, while Niamh Ryan scored a point from play. Caoimhe Costelloe put another free over the bar and she also got the last score of
the game as she put a 45 over the bar. 

LIMERICK: C. Mulqueen; T. Dore, M. Quaid, A. Nelligan, C. O’Riordan, M. Creamer, S. O’Callaghan, O. Kelleher (0-01), S. Cosgrove, A. Larkin, R. Delee (0-02 (1f), N. Ryan (0-01), C. Costelloe (0-04 (2f, 1 45), L. Boylan, C. Lyons (0-01). Substitutes: C. Ryan for A. Nelligan (27 mins), P. Giltenane for S. Cosgrove (half-time), S. Woulfe for Ailbhe Larkin (half-time), L. Fennelly for L. Boylan (47 mins), E. O’Halloran for C. Ryan (58 mins).

WATERFORD: B. O’Regan, K. Corbett Barry, I. Heffernan, M. Power, B. Bowdren, L. Forrest, C. Carroll, O. Hickey, L. Bray, R. Kirwan (0-1), T. Power (0-2), B. Carton (0-7, 0-3 frees), M. Gostle (1-0), M. O’Brien (2-1), N. Rockett (0-4, 0-1 free).