Kilkenny maintain winning start

Kilkenny kept up their fine form in the Liberty Insurance senior camogie championship when overcoming the challenge of Clare at Nowlan Park on Saturday.

The Noresiders, brimming with confidence after their opening round win away to Galway, finished strongly to grab the spoils on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-11.

Denise Gaule pounced for a 14th minute goal to hand the home side an early lead, but John Carmody’s outfit responded with four consecutive points from Claire McMahon (two frees), Chloe Morey (free) and Naomi Carroll to leave them trailing by the minimum at half time, 1-4 to 0-6.

Morey levelled matters early in the second-half before the visitors hit the front thanks to scores from the excellent Deirdre Murphy and McMahon.

A flurry of late points however, from Power, Michelle Quilty (free) and Ann Dalton snatched the honours for Kilkenny.

After a far-from-ideal build-up, with JJ Doyle replacing Martin Lynch as manager a fortnight ago, Wexford must have been relieved to get their four-in-a-row bid under way at Crumlin.

While they were far from fluid, the champions had enough to see of Derry by 2-12 to 1-5.

Wexford led by six at the interval with points courtesy of Ursula Jacob, Katrina Parrock and Kate Kelly, accentuated by a third minute Brid Gordon goal.

Bridget Curran and Karen Kielt exchanged scores early in the latter period but Parrock’s 40th minute goal all but ended the game as a contest.