Cork 5-17 Limerick 0-5: The gap between the best and the rest in senior intercounty camogie is still increasing if this weekend encounter in Nowlan Park is anything to go by.
Limerick were not expected to beat the 2002 champions, but humiliation was not envisaged either. Nerves entered Limerick's play with the throw-in. Passes went astray. The first touch was gone. By the 15th minute, Cork were already 1-5 to no score ahead - with corner forward Emer Dillon doubling on a long ball after just six minutes for the goal.
Limerick's game plan involved allowing star forward Vera Sheehan roam free. However, while the Granagh/Ballingarry player picked up plenty of ball in the middle of the park, there wasn't another Vera Sheehan to pick up her passes.
When Sheehan made a few trademark runs through the middle, she inevitably found herself surrounded by a swarm of defenders. Sometimes the Cork players were a little too eager to stop Sheehan's progress - such as in the 16th minute when a foul on the Limerick captain led to Eileen O'Brien claiming Limerick's first score from a dead ball. It was also their last score of the half.
Dillon added another score for Cork and Jennifer O'Leary continued to punish every foul by a Limerick player inside their own half to leave the half-time score 1-9 to a single point.
Three minutes after the turnaround, Dillon had her second goal for Cork and two minutes later full forward Stephanie Dunlea was fouled in the square. Corner back O'Regan made the long trek forward and made the score, Cork 3-10 Limerick 0-1.
Two substitutes added to Limerick's woes. Sarah Donovan hand-passed to the net five minutes from the end and Colette Desmond tapped in two minutes later.
CORK: A Murray; J Browne, R Holland, A O'Regan (1-0, pen); B Corkery, M O'Connor, A Geary; V Harris, R Moloney; A Walsh (0-2), G O'Connor, J O'Leary (0-8, frees); E Dillon (2-2), S Dunlea, E Burke (0-1, capt). Subs: U O'Donoghue (0-2) for G O'Connor (43 mins); P O'Connor for Corkery, S Donovan (1-1) for Dunlea (both 45 mins); C Desmond (1-1) for Burke (53 mins); N Ahern for Geary (54 mins).
LIMERICK: S Moynihan; D Fitzpatrick, R Collins, C Murphy; M Kelly, M Casey (0-2), O Curtin; J Dolan, G McNamara; E O'Brien (0-1, free), M Nash, F Morrissey; A Sheehan, M Keating, V Sheehan (0-1, capt). Subs: N Mulcahy for Murphy (17 mins); S O'Shaughnessy (0-1, free) for O'Brien (36 mins); P McCarthy for McNamara (45 mins); N Collins for Curtin (47 mins); A O'Reilly for Morrissey (53 mins).
Referee: D Mag Aoidh (Down)
