Limerick firmly on top of the table

Post date: Mar 19, 2015 11:36:25 AM

Limerick 0-19 (0-11) Wexford 1-4 (0-2)

Irish Daily Star National League Division 1

Sunday 15th March at 2.30 pm in Bruff

Limerick recorded an excellent 0-19 to 1-4 win over Wexford in the League to maintain their position at the top of Group 1 of the League. Limerick were in control from the beginning and kept Wexford scoreless from play throughout the game.

Inspired by another excellent performance from Niamh Mulcahy, who scored an impressive 14 points including five from play, Limerick laid down a marker to the other teams in the top flight that the 2014 Intermediate Champions are not here to make up the numbers.

Limerick opened the scoring through a Niamh Mulcahy free, which was cancelled out by one from Wexford’s Linda Bolger. Limerick then opened a lead through points from Niamh Mulcahy and Aoife Sheehan before Wexford got one back again from Linda Bolger from a placed ball.

That was to be Wexford’s last score of the half with Caoimhe Costelloe and Aoife Wilson joining Niamh Mulcahy on the scoreboard as Limerick opened a nine point half-time lead of 0-11 to 0-2.

Wexford’s lack of penetration was due to an impressive display from the Limerick backs with captain Sarah Carey, Rebecca Delee and Judith Mulchay to the fore. 

Wexford made changes to their half-back line at half-time in an effort to contain the pace of the Limerick forwards with Deborah Murphy, Karen O’Leary and Aoife Sheehan proving very difficult for the Wexford backs to contain.

Limerick continued to dominate after the break with Wexford ‘s only scores coming from placed ball. Rebecca Delee joined Niamh Mulcahy in building Limerick’s lead to 13 points going into the final 10 minutes. Wexford got a goal back when Áine Leacy doubled on a free that was dropped into the goal mouth but it was too late and with Niamh Mulcahy and Caoimhe Costelloe adding points from play in the dying minutes Limerick ran out with an impressive 12 point victory by 0-19 to 1-4.

While well aware that this was a Wexford side that was short its players from All-Ireland Club Champions Oulart the Ballagh the impressive nature of the victory shows a side not content to sit on their laurels and looking to make their mark at Camogie’s top table.

While still mathematically possible that Limerick could miss out on a League semi-final place it now looks a certainty and may even be secured by results elsewhere before Limerick travel to Offaly for their final group game on Easter Sunday.

Limerick Scorers:

Niamh Mulcahy 0-14 (9 frees), Caoimhe Costelloe 0-2, Aoife Wilson, Aoife Sheehan, Rebecca Delee 0-1 each

Wexford Scorers:

Linda Bolger 0-4 (4 frees), Áine Leacy 1-0

Limerick Team:

1. Síle Moynihan (Ahane), 2. Marguerita McCarthy (Ahane), 3. Lorraine McCarthy (Bruff), 4. Judith Mulcahy (Ahane), 5. Rebecca Delee (Newcastle West), 6. Sarah Carey - capt. (Granagh Ballingarry), 7. Fiona Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry), 8. Niamh Mulcahy (Ahane), 9. Caoimhe Costelloe (Adare), 10. Aoife Sheehan (Granagh Ballingarry), 11. Deborah Murphy (Knockaderry), 12. Karen O'Leary (Newcastle West), 13. Mairéad Fitzgerald (Granagh Ballingarry), 14. Noreen Barry (Killeedy), 15. Aoife Wilson (Na Piarsaigh)

Substitutes:

22. Rebecca Noonan (Granagh Ballingarry) for Mairéad Fitzgerald, 18. Caoimhe Lyons (Monaleen) for Aoife Wilson, 20. Niamh Ryan (Bruff) for Deborah Murphy, 17. Donna Mulcahy (Killeedy) for Karen O’Leary