CAMOGIE ROUND-UPWEXFORD MAINTAINED their good start to the All-Ireland senior camogie championship, and gained some measure of revenge for their defeat in the league final in the process, by defeating Cork 0-14 to 0-9 in their second round tie at Bellefield.

The champions built their success on an unyielding defensive unit and that was critical in a game in which both sides largely cancelled each other out.

Wexford led by four points at the break, with Ursula Jacob, Una Leacy and Kate Kelly capitalising on the outstanding work of Catherine O’Loughlin and Mary Leacy to find the target.

Jenny O’Leary and Orla Cotter were on the mark for Cork and they were still in with a chance with ten minutes remaining. But Katrina Mackey was denied a certain goal by Wexford custodian Mags D’Arcy, and points from Una Leacy and Jacob – who finished with eight – confirmed the result.

Galway had seven points to spare over Kilkenny, with two outstanding goals from Brenda Hanney the key to their 2-11 to 1-7 win. Hanney struck initially in the eighth minute, before fetching Orla Kilkenny’s long delivery to score her second goal midway through the second half.

Tipperary produced a shock when recording a comfortable 2-16 to 0-9 win over Clare at Semple Stadium. The Banner girls had beaten Cork in the Munster final and lost by only a point last week.

But from the time Tipp captain Joanne Ryan scored a goal in the opening minute Clare were never really in the game.

The home team led 1-8 to 0-1 at the interval and though Claire McMahon scored four points to give Clare hope, a Cáit Devane goal quickly ended their hopes. With Nicole Walsh bringing her tally to eight points, Tipp were able to run out easy victors.

Offaly emerged successful from a cracking encounter in Crumlin against Dublin. Faithful captain Elaine Dermody was in scintillating form, scoring 3-8 (1-7 from placed balls) in a 3-14 to 3-11 victory. They led by 2-5 to 1-4 at half-time, with Amy Murphy netting for the hosts but Dermody’s goal immediately after the resumption helped Offaly establish a 3-9 to 1-11 advantage with six minutes remaining. Muriel O’Gorman scored a late goal for Dublin but with Dermody so accurate Offaly were able to hold out for their first victory of the campaign.