Meath will play Waterford in the semi-final of the Liberty Insurance intermediate camogie championship when they came out on top of a winner-takes-all clash with Wexford in Ratoath to finish second in Group 1, with the Déise topping Group 2 after their victory over Kildare at St Conleth’s Park.
Cork head Group 1 despite losing to Galway at the Sarsfields grounds in Riverstown and will take on Kildare in the other semi-final.
Wexford had the elements in their favour in the first half but it was Meath who tore out of the traps and were denied an early goal when a penalty was saved.
The major did come soon enough though and with points being tagged on by Aoife Minogue, the Royals pulled clear to lead by 1-6 to 0-0. Wexford eventually found their feet and a couple of points from Sarah O’Connor ensured that they were still in with a shout at half time, trailing by 1-7 to 0-3.
They only managed one point into the wind in the second half however, from Marie Morrissey, immediately after O’Connor failed to hit the target from a penalty.
Meath didn’t offer up too many other chances though and with Maguire clinical from placed balls and Jane Dolan also finding the target as they cantered to a 2-16 to 0-4 win.
Kildare and Waterford had already when they crossed swords at St Conleth’s Park and it was the visitors who emerged with the victory to secure the top seeding on a 4-11 to 1-10 scoreline. A fabulous second half turned this game right around, as Kildare led by 0-9 to 1-1 at half time.
Marie Farrell scored two goals and Eimear Donovan another, while Rachel Monaghan shot nine points as Galway beat Cork 3-12 to 2-10. Cork had a greater spread of scorers, with Amanda O’Regan and Finola Neville grabbing goals but with Monaghan in immaculate shooting form, they could not match the Galway tally.
Carlow will play Kerry in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland junior A final. Carlow came from behind to beat Clare 0-16 to 1-9 while Kerry had too much firing power for Meath when prevailing by 4-17 to 0-4.
Doireann Murphy shot four points as Clare moved 0-5 to 0-1 clear and when Zoe McInerney goaled after 17 minutes, it looked for all the world as if the Bannerwomen were on their way.
They led by 1-7 to 0-3 at half time but Carlow were a different operation in the latter period. Teresa Meaney, Eleanor Treacy and Ciara Quirke raised white flags as they pegged back their opponents.
It was all-out attack from Carlow and Clare goalie, Rebecca Keating made two excellent saves. But the winners didn’t need goals in the end, and they just kept the scoreboard ticking over, as Quirke finished with five points and Treacy with four.
More to follow.
