Kerry’s Division 1B debut proves a tough one as Limerick cruise to 25-point win in Camogie League
NATIONAL CAMOGIE LEAGUE DIVISION 1B
Kerry 1-4 Limerick 3-23
ON the occasion of the county’s first ever game in Division 1B of the National Camogie League, Kerry ran into a Limerick team in no mood to make it a celebratory debut for the Kingdom, as the Shannonsiders swatted the Kingdom aside to the tune of 25 points.
The air is a lot thinner at this level and visitors Limerick were at full strength and raring to go, while Kerry were absent top guns like Patrice Diggin, Sara Murphy, and Michelle Costello. In fairness, Kerry had some young guns who battled hard all the way to the finish under the leadership of players like Jackie Horgan, Rachel McCarthy, and Aoife Behan, but it truth this was over as a contest long before the final whistle.
Limerick simply had too much pace and power, especially around the middle of the field, where Rebecca Delee put on an absolute exhibition of skill and strength.
It was pretty much one way traffic in the first half. Caoimhe Lyons split the Kerry posts twice and Niamh Ryan added another. Caoimhe Costello hit a great strike from distance – keeper Aoife Fitzgerald reacted sharply but couldn’t get enough of a touch to stop it crossing the goal-line. Costello would add two more points, with Niamh Ryan doubling her personal tally and Lizanna Boylan getting on the scoreboard.
Rebecca Delee and Mairead Ryan soon joined the scorers as Limerick led by ten points at the start of the second quarter. Jackie Horgan, grimly resilient, managed to split the posts to get Kerry on the scoreboard. Delee and Boylan replied before Jackie converted a long range free. Caoimhe Costello closed out the first half scoring to leave Limerick leading by 1-12 to 0-2.
Kerry, to their credit, came out in the second half in determined fashion and Jackie Horgan curled over a great score to give them a little bit of hope. Limerick simply had the power to absorb the best that Kerry could throw at them, though, and once more established their dominance both on the field and on the scoreboard.
Delee notched a brace and teed up Caoimhe Costello for a goal. Caoimhe Lyons pointed from a tight angle. Sophie O’Callaghan added two points. In the 48th minute, Limerick manager Joe Quaid had the luxury of pretty much running all his bench, making no less than seven substitutions.
In the 52nd minute Kerry sub Amy O’Sullivan raised a cheer for the Kerry supporters – who, to their credit, were in Ballyheigue in big numbers to cheer the team on – when she struck the net after a great through-ball from Ann Marie Leen. However, Limerick replied instantly with a long ball to Niamh Ryan poaching around the square, who raised a green flag of her own in reply. She added a point and Caoimhe Lyons and Caoimhe Costello closed out the game with more Limerick scores.
A tough opener for Brian D’Arcy and his team, but that is the level that Kerry are playing at now and that’s the kind of firepower we will be facing.
KERRY: Aoife Fitzgerald, Eilish Harrington, Roisin Quinn, Ciara O’Sullivan, Clodagh Walsh, Aoife Behan, Rachel McCarthy, Ruth O’Connor, Sarah Walsh, Ellen O’Donoghue, Caoimhe Spillane, Ann Marie Leen, Jackie Horgan 0-4 (1f), Emma Conway, Laura Collins. Subs: Norette Casey for Emma Conway (ht), Amy O’Sullivan 1-0 for Laura Collins (50), Áine O’Connor for Elish Harrington (53), Kate Buckley for Clodagh Walsh (53), Julianne O’Keeffe for Roisín Quinn (55), Leonie Walz for Sarah Walsh (60).
LIMERICK: Ciara Mulqueen, Teresa Dore, Marian Quaid, Aoife Nelligan, Niamh Ryan (0-1), Sarah Carey, Nadine White, Dearbhla Egan, Rebecca Delee (0-4), Sophie O’Callaghan (0-2), Niamh Ryan (1-4), Lizanna Boylan (0-2), Laura Fennelly, Caoimhe Costello 2-5 (0-2f), Caoimhe Lyons (0-4). Subs: Ailbhe Larkin for Teresa Dore (48) Sarah Shanahan for Mairead Ryan (48) Stephanie Woulfe for Nadine White (48), Áine Reynolds for Laura Fennelly (48), Orlaith Kelleher for Dearbhla Egan (48), Muireann Creamer for Marian Quaid (49), Mary O’Callaghan for Sophie O’Callaghan (49), Niamh Brennan for Lizanna Boylan (54)
REFEREE: Cathal McAllister (Cork)