By Risteárd Ó Fuaráin PRO

Kerry 0-11

Limerick 1-5

Kerry made the journey to Croagh-Kilfinny GAA Club on Saturday to face the Treaty Women in the first round of the All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship.

Limerick won the toss and elected to play with the aid of a stiff wind. The breeze did not seem to affect Kerry free-taker Patrice Diggin as she opened the Kingdom’s account with a beautiful free in the 3rd minute.

While Rebecca Noonan scored a free for Limerick in the 5th minute, Patrice Diggin converted two more frees for Kerry in the 10th and 11th before the same player sent an excellent pass to Bríd Horan who split the posts in the 17th.

Continued below…

Points from Julianne O’Keeffe in the 22nd and Rebecca Noonan in the 23rd left the score at the 25 minute mark at 0-5 to 0-4 in favour of the visitors.

However in the first minute of injury-time, Limerick pounced for a goal to give them a 1-4 to 0-5 halftime lead. Kerry made their first substitution when Norette Casey replaced Áine O’Connor.

In the 35th minute Patrice Diggin scored from play and followed this up with a free in the 38th. In the 47th minute Patrice was unlucky to hit the upright with a free but Jackie Horgan was on hand to raise a white flag.

Rebecca Noonan got Limerick’s only second-half score with a free in the 51st minute. Clodagh Walsh replaced Eilish Harrington on the Kerry Team.

A hat-trick of frees from Patrice Diggin in the 54th, 58th and in the 1st minute of injury-time made it 0-11 to 1-5.

That proved to be the final score as Kerry ran their bench with Ann-Marie Leen replacing Jackie Horgan, Megan Weir replacing Julianne O’Keeffe and Emma Lawlor replacing Bríd Horan.

Limerick tried hard to get the goal that they needed but the Kerry defence stood firm and now look forward to a home game against Wicklow this weekend.

Kerry Scorers: Patrice Diggin 0-8 (0-7f), Bríd Horan 0-1, Julianne O’Keeffe 0-1, Jackie Horgan 0-1.