Limerick 1-12
Kilkenny 0-10

Limerick put the disappointment of last year's final loss to Galway behind them when they finished strongly to beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland intermediate camogie decider at Croke Park.

Niamh Mulcahy produced a player of the match display for Joe Quaid's charges who had led by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break thanks to a 20th minute goal from Deborah Murphy. It was the Treaty County's first championship success in the grade since 2007 as they put paid to Kilkenny's hopes of an All-Ireland camogie double.

Limerick were full value for their two-point half-time lead with an economical Kilkenny team posting just a single wide. But Limerick eventually wore them down with scores from Caoimhe Costello and Mulcahy proving crucial to the outcome.

There was little to choose between the sides in the early stages as Mags Fennelly and Lydia Fitzpatrick (both Kilkenny) traded scores with Mulcahy (two frees). But Limerick were never headed after Mary O'Callaghan edged them into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead. Murphy's goal extended their advantage before the Cats scored the last three points of the half to cut the gap to two.

Orla Hanrick left the minimum between the sides early in the second period before Costello posted two in-a-row for the Munster side. But Kilkenny continued to stay in touch with further efforts from Fennelly and Hanrick.

However, the switch of Rebecca Delee to centre forward paid rich dividends for Limerick as she and Mulcahy scored two points each in the closing stages to bring the title back to Shannonside.

Scorers - Limerick: N Mulcahy 0-7(4fs); D Murphy 1-0; R Delee, C Costello 0-2 each; M O'Callaghan 0-1. Kilkenny: O Hanrick 0-5(3fs); L Fitzpatrick, M Fennelly 0-2 each; C Foley 0-1(f).

Limerick: S Moynihan, F Hickey, M Casey, J Mulcahy, K Campbell, S Carey, C Mulcahy, N Mulcahy, C Costello, R Delee, M O'Callaghan, L McCarthy, D Murphy, A Sheehan, M Fitzgerald. Subs: S McNamara for McCarthy (ht), D O'Brien for Fitzgerald (ht), K O'Leary for O'Callaghan (45), N Ryan for Murphy (60), D Fitzpatrick for Sheehan (60).

Kilkenny: AM Lennon, E Frisby, C Foley, T Muldowney, C Aylward, A Fahey, S Quirke, M Farrell, M O'Connell, S Crowley, A Farrell, L Norris, L Fitzpatrick, O Hanrick, M Fennelly. Subs: A Gannon for Norris (ht), A Kinsella for Quirke (50), SA Quinlan for Hanrick (52).

Referee: R Kelly (Kildare).

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