Kilkenny turn on the style to make it three wins from three in Camogie Championship

Kilkenny 2-16

Limerick 0-8

By Robert Cribbin

Kilkenny rounded off the group stages of the Liberty Insurance All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship with a fourteen point victory over a gallant Limerick side in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.

Kilkenny had already sealed their place in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals and in truth it told in a very scrappy performance and while it was much improved in the second period there is still plenty to work on over the next few weeks.

Limerick themselves were already out of contention but they pushed the Kittens to the pin of their collar in a very competitive opening half before Kilkenny pulled clear in the second half.

The third quarter was essentially where Kilkenny put the result beyond any doubt as they scored 1-6 without reply including an Aoife Doyle goal.

Denise Gaule then added in a second goal from a penalty in stoppage time to put a bit of a gloss on the scoreboard.

Kilkenny had one change from the team that defeated Westmeath in Round 2 with hat-trick hero Miriam Walsh missing out with injury and Mary O’Connell taking her place in the side.

Limerick’s problems have been well documented with up to nine players unavailable from 2019 and manager Paudie Malone only coming in on a temporary basis.

The Treaty county brushed aside those worries though and produced a very industrious opening period where they were even unlucky to go in trailing at the break.

Kilkenny were slow out of the blocks and although Denise Gaule, Anne Dalton and Katie Nolan found the target, a number of poor wides meant the sides were deadlocked at 0-4 apiece at the first water break with Caoimhe Costello and Niamh Ryan registering on the scoreboard for Limerick.

Kilkenny then squandered a couple of goal chances including Denise Gaule having a 21 yard free stopped on the line before they took control of the the contest with points from Dalton, Gaule and Nolan.

Limerick only got one point in that period via Caoimhe Costello as Kilkenny went into the break with a 0-8 to 0-5 lead.

After getting that first half fright Kilkenny woke from their slumber and dominated almost the entirety of the second period with a much improved display.

Gaule, Aoife Doyle, Dalton and Laura Murphy all knocked over points to move Kilkenny 0-14 to 0-5 ahead and just before the water break Limerick goalkeeper Laura O’Neill stopped a Denise Gaule effort but Aoife Doyle was there to stroke the rebound to the net.

Judith Mulcahy and Niamh Ryan replied with points for Limerick but from that point on the game meandered to a predictable conclusion with Kilkenny turning on the style.

Gaule brought her tally to eight points with a nice score under pressure and after sub Steffi Fitzgerald pointed the home side were then awarded a penalty with Gaule firing the shot past Laura O’Neill for the second goal.

Within minutes there was another penalty down the other end with referee Justin Heffernan awarding Limerick a soft looking chance but Caoimhe Costello’s effort went too high and handsome resulting in Limerick’s eight point of the afternoon.

The final whistle blew soon after as Kilkenny won out on a 2-16 to 0-8 scoreline.

Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Davina Tobin, Colette Dormer, Grace Walsh, Meighan Farrell, Claire Phelan, Michelle Teehan, Anna Farrell, Anne Dalton 0-3, Laura Murphy 0-1, Lydia Fitzpatrick, Aoife Doyle 1-1, Mary O’Connell, Denise Gaule 1-8 (0-4fs), Katie Nolan 0-2.

Subs: Laura Norris for Fitzpatrick h-t, Niamh Deely for Murphy 41 mins, Steffi Fitzgerald 0-1 for Nolan 51 mins., Michaela Kenneally for Doyle 52 mins, Ciara O’Shea for Dormer 54 mins.

Limerick: Laura O’Neill; Noirin Lenihan, Muireann Creamer, Marian Quaid, Judith Mulcahy 0-2, Sinead McNamara, Neamh Curtin, Mairead Ryan, Dearbhla Egan, Sophie O’Callaghan, Lorraine McCarthy, Ella Whelan, Caoimhe Costello 0-3 (0-2fs), Caoimhe Lyons, Niamh Ryan 0-3 (0-1f).

Subs: Eva Butler for McCarthy 43 mins, Orlaith Kelleher for Whelan 48 mins, Aisling Enright for O’Neill 60 mins.

Ref; Justin Heffernan (Wexford)