KILKENNY STILL TOP DOGS AFTER WIN OVER DÉISE

KILKENNY moved well clear at the top of Group 2 of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 with their third win in three outings, this time a 1-14 to 0-8 triumph over south-east neighbours Waterford at the Conahy Shamrocks club.

Ann Downey’s outfit are almost assured of a place in the last four on nine points as they pursue a third title in-a-row but the battle for the second spot is certain to go down to the wire with Limerick, Dublin, Waterford and Clare in a logjam on four points.

Miriam Walsh and Denise Gaule struck four points each, while Grace O’Donnell’s goal after 11 minutes helped the winners establish a seven-point advantage.

Waterford got to within four points early in the second half but Walsh, Gaule and Aoife Doyle hit scores as the champions eased to the derby victory.

There was a Shannonside derby too and Clare claimed the bragging rights and their first win by 1-8 to 0-9 at Rathkeale. The key score arrived in the 29th minute, when Clare’s Regan Conway brilliantly fielded the sliotar from Eimear Kelly’s free and her shot dropped to the net. Scores by Chloe Morey and Andrea O’Keeffe ensured that the Banner women kept their noses ahead.

In the group’s final game, Dublin also bagged their first win of the campaign, 0-15 to 0-10 against Meath. Siobhán Kehoe struck three first-half points for last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists and added five in the second to enable David Herity’s crew chisel out the hardfought victory.

In Group 1, All-Ireland champions Cork had the weekend off and were joined at the top of the table by Wexford, who defeated Offaly by 2-11 to 0-8 at the St Rynagh’s facility in Banagher. Úna Leacy and Joanne Dillon raised the green flags, and Dillon converted five frees.

Meanwhile, Galway claimed their first triumph of the season under new manager Tony O’Donovan, building on being level at the break 0-6 apiece to pull clear and overcome Tipperary on a 2-14 to 1-10 scoreline.