Late Kilkenny strike condenms Limerick Camogie to first League defeat

Declan Nash’s camogie side suffered their first defeat of the season in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday at the hands of Kilkenny losing by the smallest of margins, 1-12 to 0-14.

Limerick were level six times during the game but lost out to a last minute Michelle Quilty strike.

Despite the result, Limerick are through to the semi-final where they will face Galway who topped their group after drawing with Cork today.

The first six scores were split evenly with neither team able to lead by more than a solitary point with Niamh Mulcahy (2) and Rebecca Delee getting on the scoresheet for Limerick.

Kilkenny did have three of the next four scores to hold a 0-6 to 0-4 lead after 25 minutes.

Two more frees from Mulcahy however, ensured the sides would head into the break level.

Mulcahy would open the second half scoring for Limerick before Kilkenny hit 1-2 without reply with their goal coming from Anna Farrell.

Points from Sophie O’Callaghan and Costello brought Limerick to within two with twenty minutes to go before Kilkenny once again extended their lead to a goal.

A brace of frees from Mulcahy had the gap down to a point with ten minutes remaining before Kilkenny once again responded with a score of their own.

Caoimhe Costello would notch her third as the sides exchanged points once more.

Limerick would finally draw level after 30 minutes with a pair of Mulcahy frees in the space of three minutes levelling the game.

However, Kilkenny would have the final say with Michelle Quilty pointing two minutes into injury time to seal the win and top place in the group for Kilkenny.

Limerick now play Galway in the League semi-final on March 10.