Limerick too strong for Meath in Littlewoods Camogie League opener

Meath's debut in the Littlewoods National Camogie League Div 1 ended in defeat at Rahkeale today where Limerick, beaten in last year's semi-final, proved too strong in all departments and recorded a 0-18 to 0-7 victory.

Meath will have learned plenty from the experience as Limerick were physically stronger and were first to the sliotar on most occasions in the opening half as they established a 0-10 to 0-3 interval advantage.

Meath's Jane Dolan was unlucky not to score a first minute goal from a free with an opporunist strike that was deflected out for a '45' but she converted a free soon after with Amy Gaffney and Aife Minogue also sending over.

Meath upped the tempo after the break and Minogue added three more Meath points with Sinead Hackett also on target, but the closest Meath could get was 0-5 to 0-11 in the third-quarter.

Niamh Mulcahy was Limerick's top scorer with 10 points and the Munster girls were worthy winners.

Meath lost Jane Dolan to injury in the second-half and were under intense pressure in the cloosing stages with Emily Mangan kept on her toes with a number of fine saves.

For Meath, the learning could continue next Sunday when they host Clare in the second round at Trim.

Meath - Emily Mangan; Maura Keogh, Claire Coffey, Fiona O'Neill; Cheyanne O'Brien, Aoife Maguire, Lousie Donoghue; Katie Hackett, Aideen Slattery; Beverly Lynch, Sinead Hackett (0-1), Amy Gaffney (0-1); Aoife Minogue (0-4), Jane Dolan (0-1 free), Megan Thynne. Subs - Emma Coffey for K Hackett 28 mins, Maire Kirby for Lynch 40m, Ellen Burke for Dolan 42m, Grace Coleman for Gaffney 56m.

Limerick - Claire Keating; Fiona Hickey, Muireann Creamer, Mairead Ryan; Karen O'Leary, Sarah Carey, Judith Mulcahy; Rebecca Delee (0-1), Caoimhe Costelloe (0-1); Aisling Scanlon, Sinead McNamara (0-1), Niamh Mulachy (0-10); Orla Curtin (0-2), Sarah Collins, Caoimhe Lyons (0-3).

Referee - Fintan McNamara (Clare).