Cork, Kilkenny, Galway and Limerick have all booked league semi-final spots

CORK, KILKENNY, GALWAY and Limerick are through to the Division 1 semi-finals of the National Camogie League, which will be played on Sunday, April 22.

Cork and Limerick were already certain of their spots in the last four but Kilkenny and Galway had to beat Clare and Wexford to make sure, something they managed with plenty in hand.

A young Galway team were majestic in accounting for understrength Wexford 2-23 to 0-9. The teams shared six points early on but it was notable that Galway full-forward Molly Dunne was causing problems, having already scored two points.

Orlaith McGrath added another brace as Tony Ward’s side doubled their tally and when Dunne fired to the roof of the Wexford net after good work from Niamh Kilkenny and Ailish O’Reilly, the writing was on the wall for the Yellowbellies. Linda Bolger did convert three frees from that juncture but Galway had the scoreboard ticking over regularly and led by 1-14 to 0-6 at half time.

O’Reilly pounced for a goal three minutes into the second half and there was no doubt about the result thereafter, with substitutes Laura Mitchell and Jessica Gill joining the McGrath sisters (Niamh finished with 0-8, Orlaith 0-5), Dunne (1-3) and Niamh Kilkenny (0-4) on the scoresheet. Bolger had seven points for Wexford, five of which came from frees.

Champions Kilkenny produced a scintillating performance in Clonlara when inflicting a 17-point beating on the hosts to make it safely to the last four on a 4-15 to 0-10 scoreline.

Clare were competitive for the opening 20 minutes in the repeat of last year’s final, but two goals from Michelle Quilty shattered their resistance. Both scores showcased Quilty’s poaching talents as they were smart finishes from rebounds. That made it 2-8 to 0-6 at half time and when Ann Dalton buried a third goal just 22 seconds after the resumption, it was curtains for the Bannerwomen.

Colm Horan’s charges were much too reliant on Chloe Morey for scores, as she contributed seven points, five of which came from frees. By contrast, Kilkenny produced a complete performance, with all the forwards dangerous and the defenders unwilling to give up a goal chance.

Megan Farrell found the Clare net once more after 50 minutes, with the one bright spot for the home team being the return after a cruciate knee ligament injury of Ailish Considine.

Limerick maintained their unbeaten record with a hard-fought 0-13 to 1-8 win over Offaly. They led by 0-7 to 0-4 at half time thanks to a couple of points from Aoife Sheehan and three converted frees by Niamh Mulcahy, who finished with eight points.

A Niamh Larkin goal early in the second half brought the teams level but Rebecca Delee and Mulcahy pulled Limerick three clear and though Siobhan Flannery (0-5) kept Offaly in touch, they couldn’t break down the Shannonsiders’ defence one more time.

Meanwhile, Cork returned from their holidays in the morning to chisel out a desperately hard-earned win over Derry 1-13 to 1-6.

Results
Division 1
Limerick 0-13 Offaly 1-8
Galway 2-23 Wexford 0-9
Kilkenny 4-15 Clare 0-10
Cork 1-13 Derry 1-6

Division 2
Group 1
Galway 2-12 Wexford 0-8
Kildare 2-10 Antrim 1-7
Laois 3-12 Westmeath 1-5

Group 2
Kilkenny 1-12 Cork 0-13
Meath 3-10 Tipperary 2-9

Division 3
Carlow 4-10 Roscommon 1-10
Dublin 4-9 Limerick 1-3

Division 4
Meath 2-6 Cavan 1-3

Down seal promotion to Division 1, Offaly also go up but it’s relegation for Louth and Wexford

Cork fall to defeat against relegated Derry but still have league semi-final to get set for