WATCH: Limerick camogie side seal semi final spot with Waterford draw

John Tuohy’s Limerick camogie side booked their place in the Littlewoods Ireland National League semi final with a 1-9 apiece draw with Waterford in Ballyagran on Sunday afternoon.

With Dublin beating Clare on Saturday evening, Limerick knew exactly what they needed to do to make the latter stages of the competition. A win or draw would see Limerick through seeing as they held a superior scoring difference to Waterford.

Their reward for dogged display is a semi final date with familiar foes Cork as they will content a league semi final for the third year in succession. John Tuohy’s mantra throughout is that this side is building for the Summer but having reached the league semi final is an added bonus.

John Tuohy’s team got off to a quick start courtesy of a 3rd minute Niamh Mulcahy goal as the Ahane attacker ran through the middle and buried the ball to the back of the net.

VIDEO: An ultimately vital first-half goal by Niamh Mulcahy as @LimCamogie secured a place in the @LittlewoodsIRL Camogie Leagues Division 1 Semi-Final after a thrilling draw with @deisecamogie #StyleOfPlay pic.twitter.com/Wopenpf45g

— The Camogie Association (@OfficialCamogie) February 25, 2018

Waterford fought back well and were level after 22 minutes, with UL’s Ashbourne winner Beth Carton instrumental in keeping her side in the game. Carton would end up with a first half tally of four points but Mulcahy fired Limerick back into the lead with a fine into the breeze to give the home side a 1-3 to 0-5 point lead at the break.

Limerick vs Waterford Limerick’s Jane Wilson Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The second half proceeded in a similar vein with the teams swapping scores in what was effectively a league quarter final. Waterford hit the front when a Kaiesha Tobin shot raised a green flag to leave the visitors with a 1-8 to 1-7 lead and with one foot in the semi finals.

Points from Caoimhe Costello and Niamh Mulcahy (from a 45) then edged Limerick back into one point lead before Carton levelled for Waterford. It wouldn’t be enough as the visitors could not manager the winner they needed to clinch a semi final berth while Limerick did enough to earn the crucial draw.

Scorers:

Limerick: Niamh Mulcahy 1-6 (0-4 frees), Mary O’Callaghan, Rebecca Delee, Caoimhe Costello 0-1 each.

Waterford: Beth Carton 0-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘45), Kaeisha Tobin 1-1, Aisling Power 0-1.

Limerick: Laura O’Neill; Marion O’Connell, Sinead McNamara, Marian Quaid; Caoimhe Costelloe, Judith Mulcahy, Lisa Scanlon; Sarah Carey, Karen O’Leary; Rebecca Delee, Mary O’Callaghan, Deborah Murphy; Megan O’Mara, Aisling Scanlon, Niamh Mulcahy. Replacements: Caoimhe Lyons for O’Mara (41 mins), Dearbhla Egan for Scanlon (51 mins), Muireann Creamer for O’Callaghan (57 mins).

Waterford: Brianna O’Reagan; Mairead Power, Iona Heffernan, Sibheal Harney; Aoife Landers, Aine Lyng, Claire Whyte; Lorraine Bray, Shauna Kirnan; Niamh Rockett, Deirdre Fahy, Fiona Morrissey; Anne Fitzgerald, Beth Carton, Kaeisha Tobin. Replacements: Aisling Power for Morrissey (36 mins), Marie Russell for Whyte (53 mins).

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)