Limerick produced a storming second-half effort with a very strong wind to claim the All-Ireland minor A camogie title in the replay at Charleville by 3-11 to 1-9.
Caoimhe Costelloe was the scoring star with 2-6 but midfielder Karen O’Leary earned the player of the match award for her excellence alongside the outstanding Rebecca Delee.
The defence also stood out, with Donna Mulcahy prominent in the half-back line, and it was their endeavours into the elements in the opening period that laid the groundwork for this splendid success.
Limerick got off to a very good start to lead by three points but last week’s hat-trick hero, Kate O’Keeffe edged Cork in front when pouncing on a rebound to grab a goal. It was nip and tuck from there to the last five minutes, when Hannah Looney, Joanne O’Keeffe, Aisling Wallace and Kate O’Keeffe all found the target to give the Rebels a 1-8 to 1-4 half-time lead.
That flurry was the one period of superiority in the game for Cork though and with O’Leary and Delee exerting control around the middle, the Leesiders’ forwards were starved of possession in the second half.
Limerick were level by the 42nd minute, thanks to points from Costelloe (free), Leah O’Riordan, Caoimhe Lyons and Kate Mulqueen. Costelloe followed up with two pointed frees before Cork finally got their first score of the second half, via a 54th minute Rachel O’Shea free.
The Shannonsiders made sure of their win by scoring two goals in the last five minutes. The first was an opportunistic score by Costelloe before Aoife Wilson set up Caoimhe Lyons for the score that enabled the Limerick celebrations to kick off in earnest.
SCORERS FOR LIMERICK: Caoimhe Costelloe 2-6 (0-4fs); Caoimhe Lyons 1-1; Aoife Wilson, Karen O’Leary, Kate Mulqueen, Leah O’Riordan 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR CORK: Rachel O’Shea 0-5(4fs); Kate O’Keeffe 1-2; Hannah Looney, Aisling Wallace 0-1 each
