Ruthless Kilkenny make light work of understrength Clare

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

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.

Michelle Caulfield and Chloe Morey shot Clare's only first-half points but that left them 13 in arrears at the interval. Ann Dalton, Denise Gaule, Michelle Quilty and Katie Power kept the scoreboard ticking over before Gaule pounced for two goals in the space of a minute late on to complete the rout.

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.

Limerick brought the margin back down to five but when Katrina Mackey goaled it looked all over for Joe Quaid’s charges. Limerick dug deep and Rebecca Delee’s goal helped get them to within three points but a late 45 from Cotter sealed Cork’s win.

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.

Kate Kelly scored two goals as Wexford led 2-6 to 0-8 at the interval as Siobhán Flannery led Offaly resistance.

Minor goalkeeper Laura Brennan made a tremendous save from Arlene Watkins early in the second half to keep Offaly at bay and that was to prove a crucial contribution. Instead, Stacey Kehoe grabbed a brace at the other end and with Mary Leacy making another player-of-the-match contribution, Wexford could relax.

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