Limerick Minors reach All-Ireland A Final for the first time
Limerick 0-12 Galway 0-6
All-Ireland Minor A Championship Semi-Final
Saturday 19th April 2pm in Corrofin

Limerick's Minor Team won its way to an historic first All-Ireland A Final with an impressive 0-12 to 0-6 win over Galway in Corrofin on Saturday. Limerick have won Munster Minor and All-Ireland Minor B titles in the recent past but this is the county's first time in the A Final and is further evidence of the strides being made in the development of Camogie in the county.
Limerick's defeat of Galway may have been a surprise result to some outside of Limerick but there has been a buzz about this team in Limerick Camogie circles since the beginning of the year and there was no question that the Shannonsiders were the better team throughout in Corrofin.
The Galway side were noticeably physically bigger than the Limerick girls but what they lacked in stature they made up for in pace, work rate and accuracy. From the off playing against a strong breeze they caused the Tribeswomen untold problems with Donna Mulcahy and Karen O'Leary impressing in midfield.
Limerick opened the scoring through a Caoimhe Costelloe 45 but it was Galway who got the next three scores to open up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 12mins. However a free from Costelloe and a point from play from Caoimhe Lyons levelled the scores.
Limerick's captain and Galway's Ciana Ní Churraoin exchanged frees adding two a piece to leave the score at half time level at Limerick 0-5 Galway 0-5.
The Limerick coaching team of Willies Banks, Adrian O'Sullivan and Rose McMahon had the Limerick girls running drills at half-time and whether it was to up the sharpness or to keep the minds concentrated it had the desired effect as Limerick started the second half very brightly.
Limerick were winning the majority of breaking balls and feeding good ball into the forwards. Caoimhe Costelloe opened the scoring with a free after sustained Limerick pressure and shortly after hit a sideline to the ever dangerous Deborah Murphy who hit over a fine point. Caoimhe added another free and a score from play as the girls in green moved into a double-score lead.
Ciana Ní Churraoin put up what was to be Galway's only score of the second half with a 46th minute free. But as the game moved into the final quarter Galway started to find some rhythm went looking to get back in the game. But some fine defending by Limerick's backs, with Sinéad MacNamara, Katie Hennessy and Rebecca Delee impressing, denied Galway as they came again and again in search of goals.
Galway came away empty handed and it was Limerick who got the last two scores of the game as Caoimhe Costello converted a free and a 45 to take her personal tally to 0-10 as Limerick secured their place in the final by 0-12 to 0-6.
Limerick will face Cork in the Final on Saturday 26th April. Cork defeated a fancied Tipperary side in the other semi-final by 3-13 to 2-13. The two sides met back in March in the group stages down in Mahon and Limerick edged a tight fought encounter by 0-15 to 2-6. The final will no doubt be an equally close match and all Limerick Camogie supporters are encouraged to get out and support the girls in their historic bid to bring the Minor All-Ireland back to the Emerald County.

Scorers:
Limerick: Caoimhe Costelloe 0-10 (6Fs, 2 '45s), Caoimhe Lyons 0-1, Deborah Murphy 0-1
Galway: Ciana Ní Churraoin 0-5 (4Fs), Ciara Burke 0-1

Limerick Team:
1 Laura O'Neill (Na Piarsaigh), 2.Katie Hennessy (Ballyagran), 3. Sinead MacNamara (Na Piarsaigh), 4. Shannyn Sheehan (Templeglantine), 5. Jane Wilson (Na Piarsaigh), 6. Rebecca Delee (Newcastle West), 7. Tara Fitzgibbon (Ballyagran), 8. Donna Mulcahy (Killeedy), 9. Karen O'Leary (Newcastle West), 10. Deborah Murphy (Knockaderry), 11. Caoimhe Costelloe - Captain (Adare), 12. Aoife Wilson (Adare), 13. Kate Mulqueen (Ballybrown), 14. Leanne Browne (Newcastle West), 15. Caoimhe Lyons (Monaleen)
Subs: 20. Aisling Scanlon (Killeedy) for Leanne Browne, 21. Niamh Tuite (Treaty Gaels) for Kate Mulqueen, 23. Marie Danagher (Ballyagran) for Aisling Scanlon
Panel: Orla Condon, Sara Shanahan (Killeedy), Helena Fitzgerald (Adare), Leah O'Riordan (Ballyagran), Ellanah Mulcahy (Killeedy), Marion Quaid (Bruff), Mairead Clancy (Ballybrown), Lisa Ryan (Murroe Boher), Shauna Tobin (Newcastle West), Aoife Barry (Murroe Boher), Megan O'Meara (Monaleen), Aine Cunningham (Killeedy), Kiara Carroll (Newcastle West), Roisin O'Meara (Ahane), Neamh Curtin (Ballybrown), Sinead Madden (Mungret), Lizzie O'Dwyer (Cappamore)
Mentors: Willie Banks (Manager), Adrian O'Sullivan, Rose McMahon (Trainer/Selector), Liz Hennessy (Liaison), Sara Fitzgerald (Physio), Margaret Delee (First Aid)

Limerick win through to Division 4 League Final
Limerick 3-9 Tyrone 1-9
Irish Daily Star Division 4 Semi-final
Sunday 20th April 2pm in Edenderry

Limerick's Junior team secured a place in the Irish Daily Star League Division 4 Final with a 3-9 to 1-9 win over Tyrone in Edenderry on Sunday. Ger Curtin's charges made it two semi-final wins out of two over the weekend as they built on some impressive performances in the group stages to secure a final clash with Kerry on May 4th.
Limerick opened the scoring in decisive fashion with a goal from Muireann Creamer after 9 mins to go into an early lead. But Tyrone proved to be determined opposition and exchanged points with Limerick to leave the score at Limerick 1-1 Tyrone 0-3 when just after the quarter hour mark Tyrone got a goal of their own through the impressive Aisling Corr to go into a two point lead. However Limerick responded well and two points from midfielder Caitrín de Bhál brought Limerick back level. Tyrone responded with two to restore the lead until Margaret Lynch hand-passed to Mairéad Clancy who hit the back of the net to put Limerick back in front for the first time in the second quarter. It was to be a lead they would not relinquish as they added two further points to go in at half time ahead by 2-5 to 1-5.
Limerick dominated the opening exchanges of the second half and stretched their lead through a point from Mairead Clancy, two from Murieann Creamer and a goal from Shauna Tobin. Tyrone pulled a point back and had a chance to close the gap when awarded a penalty in the 48th minute but Aisling Corr chose to put it over the bar. Rebecca Noonan scored Limerick's final point and Tyrone added two before the close but it was too little too late and Limerick ran out deserving winners by 3-9 to 1-9.
The result sets up a rematch with Kerry in the Division 4 Final on May 4th. Kerry won the match by 1-7 to 0-6 when the two teams met in the group stages in March so Limerick will be under no illusions as to the challenge ahead. But ably led by captain Noreen Barry this team are well capable of bringing home the trophy.

Limerick Scorers: Muireann Creamer 1-2, Mairéad Clancy 1-1, Shauna Tobin 1-0, Caitrín de Bhál 0-3, Kristy Carroll 0-2, Rebecca Noonan 0-1

Limerick Team:
1 Catherine Fitzgerald (Adare), 2 Grace Lee (Newcastle West), 3 Noreen Barry. (Killeedy), 4 Catherine Neville (Croagh Kilfinny), 6 Lisa Scanlon (Killeedy), 8 Caitrin de Bhal (Feenagh Kilmeedy), 10 Kristy Carroll (Galbally), 11 Elaine Kennedy (Newcastle West), 12 Rebecca Noonan (Granagh Ballingarry), 13 Mairead Clancy (Ballybrown), 14 Shauna Tobin (Newcastle West), 15 Margaret Lynch (Granagh Ballingarry), 17 Neamh Curtin (Ballybrown), 18 Marguerita McCarthy (Ahane), 19 Muireann Creamer (Cappamore)
Subs:
20 Lizzie O'Dwyer (Cappamore) for Shauna Tobin, 21 Brid Hannon (Croagh Kilfinny) for Marguerita McCarthy
16 Orla Condon (Knockaderry), 22 Rose Marie Rea (Ballyagran)
Management:
Ger Curtin (Manager), Patsy Hall (Trainer), Teresa Noonan, Joe Quaid (Selectors), Emma Noonan (First Aid), Mairi McMahon (Liaison Officer)

Limerick 0-3 Clare 2-11
Irish Daily Star League Division 1 Play-off
Wednesday 16th April 6:45pm in Clonlara

Limerick's hopes of a place in the Irish Daily Star Division 1 Semi-Final were ended by a heavy 2-11 to 0-3 defeat to Clare in Clonlara on Wednesday evening.
The two sides had met ten days previously in a tight encounter in Kilmallock, which Clare won by two points to force the three way playoff that also involved Galway.
Clare came into the game with momentum having won the first playoff game against All-Ireland champions Galway, but as in Kilmallock the opening quarter was very tight with the sides level on 0-1 a piece until the 21st minute, when Ellen Horgan scored a goal after good work from Nikki Kaiser and Laura McMahon. This galvanized Clare who added three points to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 at half time.
Limerick were still very much in the game but a spectacular solo goal by Orlaith Duggan early in the second half gave Limerick a mountain to climb to get back in the match.
Nikki Kaiser and Laura McMahon kept the scoreboard ticking over and they finished with seven points between them, while Niamh Ryan was Limerick's sole scorer with three frees leaving the score at the final whistle Clare 2-11 Limerick 0-3.
As Clare, with two wins, have secured a semi-final clash with Cork, the final scheduled playoff game between Limerick and Galway, which is now a dead rubber, will not now take place.
Limerick Camogie fans can be very proud of the girls achievement in getting this far in the competition in their first season back in Division 1. The experience of playing the country's top teams will stand to the girls as they focus on the Intermediate Championship campaign, which kicks off away to Kildare on 21st June and the Munster Senior Championship Semi-Final on May 10th.

Scorers:
Clare: Nikki Kaiser 0-4, Laura McMahon 0-3, Orlaith Duggan 1-0, Ellen Horgan 1-0, Chloe Morey 0-2, Kate Lynch 0-1, Caitriona Hennessy 0-1
Limerick: Niamh Ryan 0-3 (3F)

Limerick Team:
1. Sile Moynihan (Ahane), 2. Fiona Hickey - Captain (Granagh Ballingarry), 3. Michelle Casey (Killeedy), 4. Judith Mulcahy (Ahane), 5. Katie Campbell (Na Piarsaigh), 6. Sarah Carey (Granagh Ballingarry), 7. Claire Mulcahy (Ahane), 8. Marguerita McCarthy (Ahane), 9. Mary O'Callaghan (Bruff), 10. Niamh Ryan (Bruff), 11. Aoife Sheehan )Granagh Ballingarry), 12. Meadhbh O'Neill (Galbally), 13. Mairead Fitzgerald (Granagh Ballingarry), 14. Dymphna O'Brien (Killeedy), 15. Kristy Carroll (Galbally)
Subs:
16. Janet Garvey (Tournafulla), 17. Noreen Barry (Killeedy), 18. Lisa Scanlon (Killeedy), 19. Caitrin De Bhal (Feenagh Kilmeedy), 20. Sarah Crotty (Ahane), 21. Muireann Creamer (Cappamore), 22. Emma Quaid (Croagh Kilfinny)

RESULTS:
Senior B League
Bruff 8-11 Na Piarsaigh 0-0
Croagh Kilfinny 4-11 Adare 1-8

U16 League
Galbally 4-2 Na Piarsaigh 2-1
Causeway 5-9 Treaty Gaels 3-9
Croagh Kilfinny 0-2 Crecora 5-4

FIXTURES:
Minor Camogie Final Venue Confirmed for Kilmallock
Limerick will have home advantage for their All-Ireland Minor Final clash with Cork as the game will played in Kilmallock on Saturday 26th as part of a double header with the Irish Daily Star League Division 1 Semi-Final between Cork and Clare.

Limerick v Cork
All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship Final
Saturday 26th April at [time tbc]
Kilmallock

Cork v Clare
Irish Daily Star League Division 1 Semi-Final
[time tbc]
Regards,

Kevin Holmes
PRO

Limerick Camogie
www.limerickcamogie.com
www.facebook.com/limerickcamogie
twitter: @LimCamogie Tweet

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