Clinical Limerick power past Westmeath in Very National Camogie League

LIMERICK senior camogie side finished their Very National Camogie League Division 1B campaign with a convincing 4-15 to 1-6 victory over Westmeath at Adare on Saturday afternoon.

The Shannonsiders' second win of the campaign saw Joe Quaid's charges claim a fourth-placed finish in the Division 1B table.

Limerick, backed by a stiff breeze in the opening half, led the visitors 2-10 to 0-2 at half-time.

Limerick's goals came within the space of a minute from Bruff's Ciara Neenan, after her 21st minute shot from 65metres out deceived the Westmeath goalkeeper, before ending up in the net, and topscorer Caoimhe Costelloe, the opening created by a quick-thinking Sophie O'Callaghan who found her Adare clubmate with a quickly-taken free.

The home side remained in control of the game after the restart, despite the Midlanders playing with the aid of the elements. 

Westmeath's top scorer Caoimhe McCrossan fired to the net off a penalty award in the 44th minute to leave the home side 2-13 to 1-4 in front.

However, Limerick pulled further clear in the final quarter with Lizanna Boylan scoring their third goal, after a surging run and well-executed pass from Orlaith Kelliher.

Croagh Kilfinny player Kelliher then netted a fourth goal for Limerick, superbly latching onto a break before flashing the ball to the net with three minutes of the game remaining.

The result sees Westmeath, who lost all five of their round robin fixtures, finish bottom of the 1B table and, therefore relegated to Division 2A for 2026.

Conditions were thankfully dry, but blustery for Saturday's clash. The playing surface at Adare was remarkably dry given the heavy rain which had fallen for the 24 hours prior to throw-in.

Backed by the wind, it was home side Limerick, who were looking to bounce back from their defeat to Clare seven days earlier, who got off to the better start, racing into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after nine minutes.

Captain Costelloe landed four frees during that spell for the home side, while the lively Laura Southern also chipped in with a fine point from play.

Westmeath midfielder McCrossan opened the Midlanders account with a pointed free in the 12th minute, before Costelloe replied with a smashing point from play struck from close to the lefthand sideline.

Limerick tightened their grip on the game with those goals from Neenan and Costelloe in the 21st and 22nd minutes. Sandwiched in between was a second point from play from Monaleen player Southern.

Late points in the opening half from Costelloe, '45, Ailbhe Larkin and the influential Stephanie Woulfe, who made a handsome contribution of three points from play, propelled Limerick into a 14-point half-time lead.

Westmeath needed a fast start to the second half if they were to haul themselves back into the contest while backed by the breeze.

However, two points from Woulfe, in the 31st minute when set up by Karen Cunningham, and five minutes later when picked out by Lizanna Boylan, saw Limerick cement their dominance. 

Westmeath did manage a goal when full-forward Julie McLoughlin was fouled as she bore down on goal and McCrossan blasted to the net.

Limerick's lead was 12 points. However, two further goals for the home side in the final six minutes from Boylan and Kelliher saw Joe Quaid's side claim a comfortable victory.

The Limerick squad will return to action next month in the Munster senior camogie championship.

SCORERS: Limerick: Caoimhe Costelloe 1-9 (0-7 frees, 0-1 '45), Ciara Neenan, Lizanna Boylan, Orlaith Kelliher 1-0 each, Stephanie Woulfe 0-3, Laura Southern 0-2, Ailbhe Larkin 0-1. Westmeath: Caoimhe McCrossan 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees), Olivia Kelleghan 0-1.

LIMERICK: Sarah Gillane (Patrickswell); Emily O'Halloran (Monaleen), Muireann Creamer (Cappamore), Teresa Dore (Patrickswell); Ciara O'Riordan (Blackrock Effin), Sophie O'Callaghan (Adare), Karen Cunningham (Murroe-Boher); Shauna Cunningham (Killeedy), Ailbhe Larkin (Vice-Captain) (Mungret St Paul's); Ciara Neenan (Bruff), Caoimhe Costelloe (Captain) (Adare), Lizanna Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Orlaith Kelliher (Croagh-Kilfinny), Laura Southern (Monaleen), Stephanie Woulfe (Templeglantine). SUBS: Cliodhna Ryan (Doon) for Cunningham (46 mins), Poppy Giltenane (Adare) for Boylan, Kate O'Connor (Granagh-Ballingarry) for Neenan, Donna Kenny (Croagh-Kilfinny) for Southern (all 54 mins), Lisa English (Galbally) for Cunningham (56 mins).

WESTMEATH: Anna Weir; Emily McCabe, Dearbhail McLoughlin, Mary Geraghty; Claire Gaffney, Kate Whyte, Roisin Scally; Caoimhe McCrossan, Laura Doherty; Aoife O'Malley, Hannah Core, Katie Coleman; Aine Newman, Julie McLoughlin, Meadbh McLoughlin. SUBS: Katie Penrose for Geraghty (23 mins), Olivia Kelleghan for Doherty (51 mins), Ciara Corcoran for Whyte, Rebecca O'Neill for McLoughlin (both 56 mins). 

REFEREE: Justin Heffernan