Limerick make Statement of Intent in Championship opener
Limerick 2-16 Kildare 0-4
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Round 1
Clane - Sat 21st June 4.45pm

Limerick brushed aside the challenge of Leinster Intermediate Champions Kildare to make a great opening start to their Championship campaign with an emphatic 2-16 to 0-4 victory in Clane.

Limerick have recorded three wins against Senior opposition already this year and the experience gained in those games at the higher grade was evident from the off as Limerick were significantly sharper and quicker to every ball in the opening exchanges. Niamh Mulcahy opened Limerick's account with a point from a free in the 2nd minute following early Limerick pressure. Limerick were dominating midfield with Limerick's partnership of Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Mary O'Callaghan dominant. Full-forward Aoife Sheehan was creating problems for the Kildare defence from the off and she added a point from play followed on the quarter hour mark with an excellent goal to make the score Limerick 1-2 Kildare 0-0.

Limerick entered a purple patch with Niamh Mulcahy adding four points, two from placed balls, and Caoimhe Costelloe one to stretch Limerick's score to 1-7. Mairéad Fitzgerald then rattled the net to get Limerick's second goal as the game neared half-time. Niamh Mulchay added a point from a free before Kildare replied with a pointed free from Siobah Hurley that was to be their only score of the half. Limerick 2-8 Kildare 0-1.

With Limerick dominant the second half was a less frantic affair and Kildare opened the scoring with a well taken point from Cliodhna McSweeney. Niamh Mulcahy added two points from placed balls and Kildare replied with another point from Susie O'Carroll. Niamh Mulcahy got another two points following some excellent work through the middle.

Kildare added their fourth and final score from a free on the quarter hour mark and from there on it was all Limerick with constant pressure yielding frees which were converted by Niamh Mulcahy. Limerick management emptied the bench as the game headed towards the final whistle with the final score falling to Mary O'Callaghan who recorded her first score of the season to leave the score at the final whistle Limerick 2-16 Kildare 0-4.

A good start for Limerick but there will without doubt be tougher challenges ahead. Next up is the visit of Antrim to Bruff on next Saturday 28th June at 2.30pm.

Limerick scorers: Niamh Mulcahy 0-13 (8 frees, 2 45s), Aoife Sheehan 1-1, Mairéad Fitzgerald 1-0, Caoimhe Costelloe, Mary O'Callaghan 0-1 each.

Intermediate Team: 1 Sile Moynihan (Ahane), 2 Fiona Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry) Capt, 3 Michelle Casey (Killeedy), 4 Judith Mulcahy (Ahane), 5 Katie Campbell (Na Piarsaigh), 6 Sarah Carey (Patrickswell), 7 Claire Mulcahy (Ahane), 8 Deirdre Fitzpatrick (Killeedy), 9 Mary O'Callaghan (Bruff), 10 Caoimhe Costelloe (Adare), 11 Niamh Mulcahy (Ahane), 12 Rebecca Delee (Newcastle West), 13 Deborah Murphy (Knockaderry), 14 Aoife Sheehan (Granagh Ballingarry), 15 Mairéad Fitzgerald (Granagh Ballingarry)
Subs used: Mairéad Ryan (Galbally) for Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Niamh Ryan (Bruff) for Rebecca Delee,
Meadhbh O'Neill (Galbally) for Deborah Murphy, Karen O'Leary (Newcastle West) for Caoimhe Costelloe, Lorraine McCarthy (Bruff) for Mairéad Fitzgerald

Subs: 16 Laura O'Neill (Na Piarsaigh), 17 Mairéad Ryan (Galbally), 18 Niamh Ryan (Bruff), 19 Muireann Creamer (Cappamore), 20 Sarah Collins (Ballyagran), 21 Meadhbh O'Neill (Galbally), 22 Karen O'Leary (Newcastle West), 23 Donna Mulcahy (Killeedy), 24 Sinéad McNamara (Na Piarsaigh), 25 Lorraine McCarthy (Bruff), 26 Noreen Barry (Killeedy), 27 Marguerita McCarthy (Ahane), 28 Katie Hennessy (Ballyagran), 29 Kristy Carroll (Galbally), 30 Caitrín De Bhál (Feenagh Kilmeedy)

Limerick Juniors get off to winning start
Limerick 2-8 Offaly 1-4
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Junior A Championship Round 1
Ballybrown - Sun 22nd June 2.30pm

Limerick's Junior team brought the form that won them the Division Four League into the championship with an impressive 2-8 to 1-4 opening day win over Offaly in Ballybrown on Sunday.

Limerick got off to the better start with Donna Mulcahy and Caitrín De Bhál pointing from play inside 5 minutes. Offaly replied with a Michelle Davis pointed free but the for the remainder of the half Limerick dominated. Caitrín De Bhál converted a free and Bríd Hannon pointed from play before Sarah Collins hit the back of the net for her 10th goal of the season. Bríd Hannon added a second goal 5 minutes later and Limerick were firmly in charge. Rosemarie Rea and Sarah Collins added points as the game headed to half time. Grainne Egan converted a free for Offaly and Alison Dooley pointed from play just before the break to leave the score at the break Limerick 2-7 Offaly 0-3.

The second half was a lower scoring affair with only an Alison Dooley point scored in the first 25 minutes. However when she added a goal with 3 minutes to go there was a a flurry of excitement as Offaly sought the goals needed and only some great goalkeeping from Laura O'Neill denied repeated Offaly attacks. However it was Limerick who got the final score of the game when substitute Marie Danagher pointed to leave the score at the final whistle Limerick 2-8 Offaly 1-4.

A great start to the campaign however management will be concerned that Limerick were held to a single point in the second half. Next week Limerick travel to play Meath in round 2.

Junior Team: 1 Laura O'Neill (Na Piarsaigh), 2 Leanne Browne (Newcastle West), 3 Noreen Barry (Killeedy) Capt, 4 Catriona Neville (Croagh Kilfinny), 5 Marguerita McCarthy (Ahane), 17 Neamh Curtin (Ballybrown), 7 Tara Fitzgibbon (Ballyagran), 8 Sinead McNamara (Na Piarsaigh), 9 Donna Mulcahy (Killeedy), 10 Kristy Carroll (Galbally), 11 Rosemarie Rea (Ballyagran), 12 Caitrín De Bhál (Feenagh Kilmeedy), 13 Rebecca Noonan (Granagh Ballingarry), 14 Sarah Collins (Ballyagran), 15 Bríd Hannon (Croagh Kilfinny)

Subs used: Mairéad Clancy (Ballybrown) for Kristy Carroll, Marie Danagher (Ballyagran) for Rebecca Noonan, Sarah Shanahan (Killeedy) for Caitrín De Bhál, Sarah Crotty (Ahane) for Neamh Curtin, Emer Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry) for Tara Fitzgibbon.
Subs: 16 Catherine Fitzgerald (Adare), 18 Emer Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry), 19 Sarah Crotty (Ahane), 20 Margaret Lynch (Granagh Ballingarry), 21 Mairéad Clancy (Ballybrown), 22 Marie Danagher (Ballyagran), 23 Sarah Shanahan (Killeedy)
Fixtures
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Group 1 Round 2
Limerick v Antrim
Saturday 28th June at 2.30pm in Bruff

Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Junior A Championship Group 2 Round 2
Limerick v Meath
Sunday 29th June time and (away) venue tbc​ Tweet

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