JOE Quaid hit out at the All-Ireland Camogie Championship format as LIMERICK fell to a 4-26 to 0-8 hammering by TIPPERARY in Cappamore.
Quaid saw his side suffer a heavy Group 1 opener loss to champions Cork but beat Wexford and draw with Clare before Saturday’s defeat by the Premier heavy hitters.
And the former Treaty keeper insisted: “This result is proof the system is flawed.
“We had two outstanding matches against Wexford and Clare but were on the end of two hammerings by the two top-tier teams, Cork and Tipp.
“It’s disheartening for the girls. They gave everything and that’s all you can ask.
“If anyone’s interested in developing camogie they need to look at the Championship structure because these girls train as hard as the Limerick senior hurlers, they’re as committed and they don’t deserve this.
“We’ve had a remarkably good year. It’s been a fruitful year and hopefully this bunch will stick together. That’s the big problem, turnover of players. I hope all these girls will stay together next year and build again.”
Michael Ferncombe could only sympathise.
The Tipperary coach said: “We’ve played Limerick twice this year, it’s always a challenge. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect the performance and effort the Limerick girls put in — their honesty, work rate and communication.
“We’ve Clare next weekend and a quarter-final in two weeks’ time so that’s the next step.”
CLARE exploded out of the blocks at Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a Jennifer Daly goal after 45 seconds, but CORK did not panic and were full value for their 0-21 to 1-9 victory.
Next week the Rebels will play Wexford — who are in the relegation final against Dublin or Derry regardless of how they fare — and it would take an unusual set of results for Tipp to pip Cork to top spot.
In Group 2, Cathal Murray hailed his side’s “best half-hour’s hurling for a while”, as GALWAY eased to a 1-17 to 0-12 victory over KILKENNY at Nowlan Park.
There were some excellent moments from player of the match Aoife Donohoe and a late poacher’s goal from Niamh Niland.
Top spot — and a bye to the All-Ireland last four — will go to the winner of next week’s clash with Waterford in Athenry.
Murray was pleased to see his side move through the gears in the second half, as they cantered to an eight-point win.
The Tribe boss said: “Coming to Nowlan Park is never easy. There was a strong breeze. The second half was our best half an hour of hurling for a while. Our play was really good, we took some good scores.
“We’ll have to do our business again in Kenny Park in a week because Waterford are flying, they’re the form team in the group.”
WATERFORD WON’T WAVER
WATERFORD are on a roll and eased past DUBLIN, 4-16 to 2-11, at Walsh Park.
The Sky Blues’ goals came from Aisling Maher and Emma Flanagan in stoppage time, long after the result was decided.
A draw against Galway will be enough for the Déise to bypass the quarter-finals.
Waterford have hit nine majors in two games, having previously been criticised for being goal-shy. Three of their green flags came from Annie Fitzgerald.
And the Gailltir sharpshooter said: “That was massive for us, to qualify for the knockout stages early enough. Now it’s a one-match, winner-takes-all against Galway to see who goes straight to a semi-final.”
Leading 2-7 to 0-8 at half-time, the second half was one-way traffic, as the winners added 2-7 without reply after the restart.
Having already secured a first-ever Championship win over the Cats, Mick Boland’s side are looking to break fresh ground next week.
The Déise chief said: “We’ve never won in Galway. These girls have a lot of ambition, they want to win something.”
