'Spells of really positive stuff': Limerick to take learnings ahead of crucial Offaly clash
Limerick take on Offaly after losing to Kilkenny in round 1 of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship
THE goal-scoring touch and nerveless free-taking of Aoife Prendergast meant Limerick fell to a 14-point defeat against Kilkenny in the opening round of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship.
Prendergast ended with 2-8 as a classy Kilkenny outfit started their campaign with a statement victory.
The result means there is little room for error for David Deady’s side for the rest of the competition in the six-team Group 2 - with a home clash with Offaly up next.
Kilkenny showed on Saturday while they are widely expected to take one of the two quarter-final spots in this pool.
“There were spells of really positive stuff, and then spells where we dipped and we were punished heavily for it,” said Limerick manager David Deady after the match.
“Particularly in the first half, a lot of our own handling errors coming out of defence led to scores and just against better sides you can’t afford it.
“We’ll take an awful lot of learning from it and we’ll reflect on it when we review the game on Tuesday and try to rectify a one or two bits.
“A couple of the goals Kilkenny got, they didn’t have to work for them.
“When you’re already and underdog coming down you can’t afford to be giving up those chances.”
However, close matches elsewhere in the group means that it promises to be a close battle for that crucial second spot.
It was a dream start for Limerick as a wonderful solo effort from Sarah O’Brien ended up with a goal which opened the scoring in the first minute.
This was quickly followed by an Orlaith Kelleher point before the home side took the initiative.
Two Prendergast goals in the opening 16 minutes put Kilkenny in control as they led 2-12 to 1-5 at half time.
Despite the best efforts of Kenny, Kelleher and the impressive Laura Southern, Limerick looked like winning after Sarah Barcoe got her side’s third goal just 13 seconds after the restart.
SCORERS
Kilkenny: Aoife Prendergast 2-8 (7f); Sarah Barcoe 1-2; Laura Greene, Emma Shortall, Rachel Dowling 0-2 each; Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Laura Murphy, Asha McHardy 0-1 each.
Limerick: Donna Kenny 0-5 (3f); Laura Southern 0-4 (2f); Sarah O’Brien 1-0; Orlaith Kelleher 0-2.
TEAMS
Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Maria Brennan, Michelle Teehan, Ava Brett; Caoimhe Dowling, Niamh Deely, Angella Carroll; Laura Greene, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh; Aoife Prendergast, Laura Murphy, Asha McHardy; Emma Shortall, Steffi Fitzgerald, Sarah Barcoe.
Subs: Katie Nolan for Emma Shortall (44 mins); Rachel Dowling for Steffi Fitzgerald (47 mins); Rachel Phelan for Laura Greene (51 mins); Emily Smith for Caoimhe Keher Murtagh (55 mins).
Limerick: Sarah Gillane; Teresa Dore, Ciara O’Riordan, Ellie Woulfe; Sophie O’Callaghan, Stephanie Woulfe, Eimear O’Donovan; Ailbhe Larkin, Orlaith Kelleher; Donna Kenny, Lizanna Boylan, Ciara Curtin; Sarah O’Brien, Laura Southern, Shauna Cunningham.
Subs: Cliodhna Ryan for Sophie O’Callaghan (ht); Maeve Geary for Ailbhe Larkin (48 mins); Mai McKenna for Teresa Dore (49 mins); Ciara Neenan for Ellie Woulfe (55 mins); Aine Foley for Donna Kenny (55 mins).
REFEREE: Brian Kearney (Kildare).