Goals do the trick for Kilkenny

Kilkenny 2-10

Limerick 0-13

Kilkenny survived a very serious examination by a young Limerick side to edge a thrilling Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 quarter final by 2-10 to 0-13

This was a match that Kilkenny trailed in for long periods but experience told, running out three point winners

Laura Murphy pointed from play in the 2^nd minute to open Kilkenny’s account. Straight from the puckout, Rebecca Delee pointed for Limerick. Caoimhe Costello then converted two placed balls after indiscipline from the Kilkenny defence

Denise Gaule narrowed the gap with a pointed free. Then Costello and Laura Murphy traded points to leave the score 0-4 (LK) to 0-3 after 17 minutes

Kilkenny’s first goal came against the run of play. Kellyann Doyle made a great fetch from a Laura O’Neill puckout. She propelled it forward, it was gathered by Miriam Walsh who had drifted out from full forward position. She caught out two defenders, soloed towards goal, before executing the handpass for Mary O’Connell to finish to the back of the net

Caoimhe Costello pointed a free in the 21^st minute for Limerick. This was followed by three points by Megan O’Mara, Costello (f) and Sophie O’Callaghan with Gaule replying for the Cats. It could have been better for Limerick as Delee had a glorious goal chance but Norris left her line with impressive speed to block with her body

Half time score 0-8 to 1-4

Gaule levelled it up from an early free at the start of the second half but three more points from play from Costello, Cunningham and Niamh Ryan moved Limerick three ahead

Kilkenny showed a pedigree and pride that comes with being All Ireland champions and they shot the next goal and four points in the games defining period

Miriam Walsh was switched out to the ’40 in a bid to gain more ball. It was one of Walsh’s attacks through the middle that set up the critical second goal. She attracted the cover and slipped a pass to Katie Nolan. Her shot was stopped by O’Neill, but Steffi Fitzgerald only on the field 6 minutes, was on hand to finish first time off the sod

Miriam Walsh & Gaule added points, Gaule’s point being a magnificent score from play on the left flank, to push four points ahead, but the Treaty women continued to pour forward, Norris being forced into another smart save from Cunningham’s ground shot. Costello converted the resulting 45’, with Dearbhla Egan adding another point to bring it back to two, but Katie Nolan had the last say, slotting over the bar after a free had rebounded off the post to leave the full time score 2-10 to 0-13

Next up for Kilkenny is the League Semi Final v Tipperary on Sunday 13^th June at 1pm in UPMC Nowlan Park

Scorers – Kilkenny – Denise Gaule (0-6, 4f), Mary O’Connell (1-0), Steffi Fitzgerald (1-0), Laura Murphy (0-2), Miriam Walsh, Katie Nolan (0-1 each)

Limerick – Caoimhe Costello (0-7, 6f), Rebecca Delee, Megan O’Mara, Sophie O’Callaghan, Aine Cunningham, Niamh Ryan, Dearbhla Egan (0-1 each)

Kilkenny – Aoife Norris, Michelle Teehan, Collette Dormer, Miriam Bambrick, Kellyann Doyle, Meighan Farrell (Capt), Grace Walsh, Niamh Deely, Laura Murphy, Denise Gaule, Mary O’Connell, Aoife Prendergast, Katie Nolan, Miriam Walsh, Aoife Doyle

Subs : – Steffi Fitzgerald for Aoife Prendergast, Lydia Fitzpatrick for Grace Walsh, Laura Norris for Laura Murphy, Sarah Walsh for Mary O’Connell

Limerick – Laura O’Neill, Marian Quaid, Muireann Creamer, Roisin Ambrose, Mairead Ryan, Judith Mulcahy, Niamh Ryan, Karen O’Leary (Capt), Megan O’Mara, Deborah Murphy, Sophie O’Callaghan, Rebecca Delee, Aine Cunningham, Caoimhe Costello, Caoimhe Lyons

Subs :- Neamh Curtin for Megan O’Mara, Aisling Scanlan for Rebecca Delee, Dearbhla Egan for Sophie O’Callaghan