O’Leary on fire as Cork get back on winning trail

CORK produced possibly the most complete performance of the season so far when they blitzed previously unbeaten Galway 2-14 to 0-8 in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship third round at Salthill.

Jennifer O’Leary was outstanding for the Rebels, striking 2-8, 1-4 from play.

Cork led 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time, despite playing into the wind but they cut loose after the break with O’Leary helping herself to 1-5 in the final quarter as they outscored their opponents, 1-7 to 0-1.

O’Leary pounced on a defensive mix-up to find the net in the 39th minute and when her second arrived from a free six minutes time, the result was confirmed.

Clare recorded their first victory of the campaign, 1-11 to 0-9, puncturing Tipperary’s 100% recordat Clarecastle.

The first-half was dogged, Tipperary taking the lead in the first minute for the only time in the game. Clare soon restored parity and that’s how it was at half-time, the sides still level at 0-4 apiece.

Jill Horan was crucial in keeping Tipperary in touch in the second-half as she traded points with Claire McMahon, who finished with 0-8 to her credit. Unlike last week though, the Shannonsiders managed to up a gear in the final 10 minutes. They were two points clear when Nora Murphy was introduced in the 27th minute and the super sub made an instant impact, goaling a minute later after an exchange of passes with Fiona Lafferty to seal the famous victory.

Champions Wexford accounted for another 100% record with five points to spare (1-14 to 1-9) in their battle with Kilkenny at Wexford Park. The visitors had a strong wind at their backs and Michelle Quilty and Aoife Neary made good use of it.

Crucially though, Wexford goaled in the eighth minute through Evelyn Quigley, after a great run by the outstanding Kate Kelly, and that had them just two points behind at the interval.

With the elements in their favour, Kelly and Ursula Jacob began to raise the white flags but a Quilty goal five minutes from time reduced the deficit to theminimum.

Wexford showed why they are champions though finishing with four points from Kelly, Jacob and Una Leacy to cement the verdict. Kilkenny gave plenty to an entertaining encounter and Quilty in particular made a worthy contribution, scoring 1-4 but the home side were undoubtedly the stronger unit in the second-half.

Offaly held off a strong Dublin effort in the second-half to record their first ever win at this level, 2-15 to 0-14. The winners laid the platform in the first-half, with two Arlene Watkins goals helping them establish a 2-12 to 0-6 interval lead. Dublin battled hard after the resumption and finished strongly, but Elaine Dermody’s nine points were critical in holding them at bay.

Meanwhile, in the Féile finals, Cahir from Tipperary claimed the Division One title, defeating St Martin’s of Wexford 4-10 to 1-7.

St Killian’s from Offaly accounted for Sixmilebridge in the Division Two decider, while Wicklow representatives Knockananna celebrated a 5-8 to 1-2 win over Liam Mellowes of Galway in Division Three.

The host county did have some success, winning the Division Four title courtesy of St Colman’s of Gort’s 2-2 to 0-6 defeat of Madden from Armagh, but Killanena from Clare accounted for Kinvara in the Division Five final.