Limerick battle back to earn thrilling draw with Clare in All-Ireland senior camogie championship

A SUBLIME stoppage time free from captain Caoimhe Costelloe ensured Limerick a share of the spoils in their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship clash with Clare on Saturday afternoon.

If finished Clare 0-12 Limerick 1-9 at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis. The result leaves Limerick in the championship, knowing they still maintain a chance of making the top three, and grabbing a quarter-final spot. It looks likely to come down to scoring difference with Clare.

The Treaty were looking to build on a narrow one-goal victory over Wexford last weekend, after their opening round drubbing against Cork. The Banner, meanwhile, had an opening round win over Wexford before being idle in round two.

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Playing against a strong breeze, which blew straight down the pitch, Limerick started strongly. Captain Caoimhe Costelloe opened the scoring inside a minute after Lizanna Boylan was fouled.

Laura Southern quickly added to this with a well taken point before Clare got their radar working thanks to Zi-Yan Spillane, with a free.

Caoimhe Cahill got the hosts a second but only after a truly sublime effort from Lizanna Boylan from the sideline. Joe Quaid’s side continued to work the ball out through the lines, with the wind

The impressive full-forward Southern was on target with a 22nd minute goal. She was sharp to s dropping shot from Ciara Neenan and after her initial pull was halted, she whipped to the net for a four point Limerick lead.

It was level by half-time, with Clare rattling off the last four points. Ellen Casey, Spillane, captain Aine O’Loughlin and a second from Carmody ensured a 1-4 to 0-7 interval scoreline.

Two well taken scores inside the opening two minutes, the first from Dearbhla Egan, the second from Southern put Limerick two ahead one again. However, they would fail to score for over 18 minutes, which allowed a wasteful Clare to pull level.

Points from O’Loughlin and Spillane set up a tense conclusion. Costelloe pointed a long-range free but the reply was quick with Roisin Begley on hand to tie it once more.

Jennifer Daly, the Clare sub, thought she had found the net only for her bullet to rebound over for a point off the crossbar. However, Costelloe was quick to reply, with a 57th minute free.

Begley thought she had won the game for the hosts, with her snap shot splitting the posts. However, Costelloe held her nerve in the first of two additional minutes, as the free, on the sideline of the 45 meter line sailed through the posts.

Limerick conclude their Group 1 campaign at home to Tipperary on June 21, while Clare travel to both Cork and Tipperary in the coming weeks.

SCORERS: CLARE: Zi-Yan Spillane 0-3 (0-2 frees); Aine O’Loughlin, Caoimhe Carmody, Roisin Begley 0-2 each; Caoimhe Cahill, Ellen Casey, Jennifer Daly 0-1 each. LIMERICK: Laura Southern 1-3; Caoimhe Costelloe 0-4 (0-4 frees); Lizanna Boylan, Dearbhla Egan 0-1 each.

CLARE: Rachael Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe); Susan Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Clare Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona), Sinead O’Keeffe (Kilmaley); Lynda Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Abby Walsh (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Danielle Griffin (Inagh Kilnamona); Niamh Mulqueen (Broadford), Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley); Caoimhe Cahill (Kilmaley), Andrew O’Keeffe (Inagh Kilnamona), Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Roisin Begley (Truagh Clonlara), Áine O’Loughlin (Truagh Clonlara), Ziyan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena). SUBS: Jennifer Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) for O’Keeffe (35); Cliodhna Queally (Inagh Kilnamona) for Griffin (54); Aisling Cooney (Parteen Meelick) for Casey (54); Grace Carmody (Kilmaley) for C Carmody (61).

LIMERICK: Sarah Gillane (Patrickswell), Orlaith Kelliher (Croagh Kilfinny), Muireann Creamer (Cappamore), Emily O'Halloran (Monaleen), Ciara O'Riordan (Blackrock Effin), Sophie O'Callaghan (Adare), Shauna Cunningham (Killeedy), Ailbhe Larkin (Mungret St Paul's), Mairead Ryan (Bruff), Lizanna Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Stephanie Woulfe (Templeglantine), Ciara Neenan (Bruff), Dearbhla Egan (Crecora), Laura Southern (Monaleen), Caoimhe Costelloe (Adare). SUBS: Aine O'Tiarnaigh (Na Piarsaigh) for Neenan (46); Lisa English (Galbally) for Woulfe (55).

REFEREE: Brian Kearney (Kildare)