Kilkenny made it two from two in Group 2 of the Liberty Insurance senior camogie championship, showing no sympathy to a severely understrength Clare to record a 2-22 to 0-6 victory over Clare at the St Lachtain’s pitch in Freshford.

 

Fintan Deegan’s players were ruthless in disposing of their opponents, who were unlucky that the Kilkenny forward unit was moving to such effect. The winners scored 2-20 from play and set the tone for the day by racing into a 0-8 to 0-0 lead after just nine minutes.

 

It was much closer in Kilmallock as All-Ireland champions Cork bounced back from their opening round defeat by Galway to inflict a first loss on last year’s intermediate winners Limerick, by 1-14 to 1-10.

 

The Leesiders’ physical strength was notable early on and it was one-way traffic as they went 0-9 to 0-2 clear, with Orla Cotter (who finished with six points) punishing any transgressions from frees. Team captain Ashling Thompson, Briege Corkery and Orla Cronin all shone as Cork threatened to put their fellow Munster girls to the sword.

 

Limerick improved in the second half, with Niamh Mulcahy and Aoife Sheehan showing well. They brought the margin back down to five but when Katrina Mackey goaled it looked all over for Joe Quaid’s charges. Mackey was a constant thorn in the side of the Limerick defence and plundered 1-3 from play.

 

Not for the first time in recent years, Limerick showed the depth of their character though. They dug deep Rebecca Delee’s goal helped get them to within three points. Cork showed their experience to see the game out however and a late 45 from Cotter proved the insurance score.

 

Wexford recovered from a tentative start to get their campaign off to a good start with a 4-11 to 0-13 win over a typically competitive Offaly unit at St Brendan’s Park, Birr.

 

Colm McGee had to plan without a number of big-name stars with Úna Leacy joining Ursula Jacob, Karen Atkinson and Mags D’Arcy on the sidelines after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury that rules her out for the rest of the season.

 

At The Ragg, Tipperary edged out Derry in a cracker by 3-12 to 4-8.