Munster Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final

The Limerick Camogie team are through to the Munster final after a brilliant win over Tipperary on Sunday. It was Dearbhla Egan’s first half goal that was to be the difference between the sides at the end of the game.

Tipperary got off to a brilliant start in the opening stages of the game and had opened a four point lead inside six minutes, from Jenny Grace and three including two frees from Nicole Walsh. Limerick seemed to struggle in the opening stages and take time to settle into the game.

But it didn’t take long for Limerick’s brilliant full-forward line to start causing problems and a low ball into Caoimhe Lyons in corner forward in the 11th minute saw her pass to Rebecca Delee in the centre who in turn found Dearbhla Egan in the left corner and the Crecora star hand-passed to the back of the net for Limerick’s opening score of the match. Brilliant team work from the Limerick girls.

Ahane’s Niamh Mulcahy levelled soon after with a fantastic strike from a 45 won after her shot beforehand from long range came off the posts and nearly found the net but was luckily scrambled away by the Tipp defence.

Tipperary did not sit back and soon restored their lead through Orla O’Dwyer who hit over a good point. Limericks Rebecca Delee responded from wide on the right to level again. Tipp got ahead through O’Dwyer again but this time it was Limericks  Caoimhe Costelloe who levelled from a penalty conceded after Rebecca Delee was fouled in the box just before half time.

Niamh Mulcahy and Nicole Walsh exchanged points and Caoimhe Costelloe restored Limerick’s narrow lead just before half time and at the break the scores were 1-5 to 7 points to Limerick.

Limerick came out after half time ready for whatever Tipperary had to throw at them and extended their lead to five in the first five minutes with points from Caoimhe Costelloe and Caoimhe Lyons and two frees from Ahane’s Niamh Mulcahy.

Mulcahy kept the scoreboard ticking over from placed balls. Clíona Lane got another point to keep her team marginally ahead.

As the game went on Limerick keeper Laura O’Neill pulled off a fabulous save from Orla O’Dwyer. Tipp could just not find a way through the Limerick defence who were under immense pressure through out the match but held it together. Limerick were deserving winners in the end. The game finished 1-14 to 14 points.

The win sets up a Munster Final against a very impressive Cork side with stars such as Ashling Thompson, Rena Buckley and Hannah Looney. The Rebels were decisive winners of the other semi-final beating Clare by a scoreline of 2-20 to 1-10 last Saturday.

The final will be a rematch of last year’s Munster Final, so it is sure to be a brilliant game with such rivalry between the two sides.

Limerick Scorers:
Niamh Mulcahy 0-8 (8f), Dearbhla Egan 1-0, Caoimhe Costelloe 0-3, Rebecca Delee 0-1, Caoimhe Lyons 0-1, Clíona Lane 0-1

Tipperary Scorers:
Nicole Walsh 0-7 (6f), Orla O’Dwyer 0-2, Ereena Fryday 0-1, Cáit Devane 0-1, Jenny Grace 0-1, Róisín Howard 0-1, Grace O’Brien 0-1

Limerick Camogie Team:
Laura O’Neill (Na Piarsaigh), Sinéad McNamara (Na Piarsaigh), Muireann Creamer (Cappamore), Fiona Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry), Mairéad Ryan (Clooney Quin), Sarah Carey (Granagh Ballingarry), Judith Mulcahy (Granagh Ballingarry), Karen O’Leary (Newcastle West), Caoimhe Costelloe (Adare), Deborah Murphy (Knockaderry), Niamh Mulcahy – captain (Ahane), Orla Curtin (Ahane), Dearbhla Egan (Crecora), Rebecca Delee (Newcastle West), Caoimhe Lyons (Monaleen).

Subs:
Clíona Lane (Adare) for Mairéad Ryan – Half Time, Aisling Scanlon (Killeedy) for Orla Curtin – 45mins, Lisa Leonard (Cappamore) for Dearbhla Egan – 60 mins, Mairéad Fitzgerald (Granagh Ballingarry) for Caoimhe Lyons – 63 mins.