Limerick All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Champions for the first time

Willie Banks and his team made a few late positional and personnel switches to counteract the Cork attacking threat that did so much damage in the drawn game. This seemed to have the desired impact as despite playing into a strong breeze, blowing from the graveyard end of the Charleville pitch, Limerick opened up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with points from Caoimhe Costelloe, Aoife Wilson and Caoimhe Lyons.

But Cork had a goal threat and, after an excellent save from Laura O’Neill, last week’s hat-trick hero Kate O’Keeffe pounced on the rebound to grab a goal edging Cork in front.

Limerick went back in front when Caoimhe Costelloe goaled after an excellent move involving Caoimhe Lyons and Kate Mulqueen. Cork leveled again with the next score and with the wind playing havoc with Limerick’s accuracy from the placed ball it was Cork who opened up a lead in the last five minutes when Hannah Looney, Joanne O’Keeffe, Aisling Wallace and Kate O’Keeffe all found the target from play to give the Rebels a 1-8 to 1-4 half-time lead.

Limerick re-emerged early from the dressing room and the management had them running drills while they waited for Cork to emerge. Limerick then came out of the blocks flying and were level by the 42nd minute, thanks to two points from Caoimhe Costelloe and one each from Leah O’Riordan and Kate Mulqueen.

Caoimhe Costelloe followed up with two pointed frees to put Limerick ahead before Cork finally got their first (and only) score of the second half, from a Rachel O’Shea free which followed their first period of pressure on the Limerick goal in the half.

Though the gap was only a single point Limerick were well in control and, with Karen O’Leary and Rebecca Delee exerting control around the middle, Cork’s dynamic forwards were starved of possession in the second half.

Limerick made sure of their win by scoring two goals in the last five minutes. Rebecca Delee dropped a long range effort short and Caoimhe Costelloe pounced on the loose ball for the first goal and Aoife Wilson found Caoimhe Lyons inside who kicked into the net for the score that sealed the win. Cork had a late penalty but it was too little too late and when it was saved Limerick broke to the other end of the pitch and appropriately player of the match (and birthday girl) Karen O’Leary got the final score with a well taken point.