Limerick seniors beat top-of-the-table Wexford in Division 1B of Very Camogie League:
By Siadbh Redmond Limerick Leader Sport
LIMERICK’s senior camogie side have beaten top-of-the-table Wexford in Division 1B of the Very Camogie National League.
After a terrific second-half display and a huge amount of effort shown, Limerick came out the two-point winners in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale this Saturday afternoon.
Another fabulous display from Caoimhe Costelloe scoring 2-6, with one penalty, showed the determination by Limerick to win this home fixture.
It was Wexford who struck straight off the throw-in with mid-field player Shelley Kehoe hitting the sliothar straight over the bar. This was followed quickly with a free from captain Ciara O’Connor after only two minutes of play.
A shocked Limerick team did extremely well in defence to keep the Wexford team at bay on many of their attacks with the visiting team enjoying most of the possession and getting past Limerick easily scoring 0-6 in the opening minutes.
It took the first 10 minutes for Limerick to wake up before getting their first score from Lizanna Boylan, shortly follows by a lovely point from Ailbhe Larkin.
Wexford showed why they are top of the Division 1B league throughout the first-half scoring classy points from all over the pitch with Ciara O’Connor making no mistake from mark scoring 0-4 frees.
Limerick were slightly unlucky in periods not to score with five wides in the opening 30 minutes. These wides were not helped by an unmarked Sarah Doyle inside in the Wexford full forward line, who made no mistake with her shot, firing Wexford ahead again.
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The pain of the wides was aided though by a wonder goal from Caoimhe Costelloe, which floated straight into the net from a half-way free.
This goal spurred the Treaty women on again with scores from Caoimhe Lyons and Orlaith Kelleher before a Lizanna Boylan goal finished off the half with Wexford in the lead still on a scoreline of 2-5 to 1-11.
Much like the first-half it was Wexford’s Ciara O’Connor who slotted over the first point of the second-half from an easy free. This scored was followed by a similar score from Limerick’s Costelloe.
A rejuvenated Limerick score another fabulous point from Sarah Cosgrove before missing two opportunities at goals. This didn’t deter the Limerick side as they mounted attacks on Wexford but were unable to convert on multiple occasions.
Two more frees from Caoimhe Costelloe put Wexford under serious pressure after 45 minutes going only one-point behind 2-8 to 1-12.
Limerick looked like a new team in the second-half but struggled to convert their hard work with Wexford’s full-forward O’Connor scoring another point from play to keep them just about ahead.
With only eight minutes to go Limerick attacked one again with a lovely placed ball in the corner to Caoimhe Lyons who found a cutting Niamh Ryan who was fouled badly by the Wexford goalie, resulting in a penalty in whichh Costelloe made no mistake with putting them level, 3-9 to 1-15.
After an incredible game from midfield Costelloe slotted over another free from range to put Limerick one-point ahead with 60 minutes played.
A frustrated Wexford fouled once again leaving Caoimhe to slot over another point leaving Limerick winning on a two-point margin 3-11 to 1-15.
LIMERICK SCORERS: Caoimhe Costelloe 2-6 (0-5 frees, 0-1 45s), Lizanna Boylan 1-2, Ailbhe Larkin , Caoimhe Lyons, Orlaith Kelleher, Sarah Cosgrove 0-1 each
WEXFORD SCORERS: Ciara O’Connor 0-8 (0-5 frees), Sarah Doyle 1-0, Shelley Kehoe 0-4, Orla Sinnott, Joanne Dillon 0-1, Chloe Foxe 0-1
LIMERICK: Gemma Barrett (Killeedy), Cliodhna Ryan (Doon), Marian Quaid (Bruff), Aoife Nelligan (Monaleen),Orlaith Kelleher (Croagh/Kilfinny), Muireann Creamer (Cappamore), Ciara O’Riordan (Blackrock/Effin), Stephanie Woulfe (Templeglantine), Caoimhe Costelloe (Adare), Aine Reynolds (Ahane), Ailbhe Larkin (Mungret St Pauls), Niamh Brennan (Ahane), Sarah Cosgrove (Ahane), Lizanna Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Caoimhe Lyons (Monaleen).
SUBS: Mary O’Callaghan (Bruff) for N Brennan (23 minutes), Emily O’Halloran (Monaleen) for S Woulfe (28 minutes), Niamh Ryan (St Ailbes) for A Reynolds (47 minutes), Sophie O’Callaghan (Adare) for L Boylan (47 minutes), Dearbhla Egan (Crecora) for S Cosgrove (52 minutes).
WEXFORD: Laura Brennan, Miria O’Dowd, Ciara Storey, Laura Dempsey, Amy Cardiff, Aideen Brennan, Roisin Cooney, Shelley Kehoe, Sarah O’Connor, Orla Sinnott, Anais Curran, Emma Tompkins, Joanne Dillon, Ciara O’Connor, Sarah Doyle.
SUBS: Chloe Foxe for S Doyle (36 minutes), Katie Roche for C Storey (42 minutes), Clodagh Jackman for L Dempsey (42 minutes), Ailis Neville for E Tompkins (47 minutes), Emma Dempsey for J Dillon (59 minutes).