CAMOGIE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP:VERONICA CURTIN was a surprising absentee from the Galway team that started the opening round of the All-Ireland senior camogie championship, but the Kinvara legend showed her class when introduced by Noel Finn to score 2-2 as the westerners finally laid their Wexford bogey with a 2-14 to 0-9 victory.

Curtin scored two injury-time goals to help Galway into a five-point interval lead despite having been on the receiving end of much pressure from Wexford, who had beaten the Tribeswomen in last year’s All-Ireland final, as well as this year’s National League Division One decider.

Susan Earner made a couple of stunning saves to deny the All-Ireland champions as well, while the experienced Thérèse Maher shone at centre back, with Ann Marie Hayes also instrumental in holding the Model County girls at bay.

Ursula Jacob had all seven of Wexford’s points from frees as they seemed set for a one-point lead at the break, despite having played into a strong wind, but by this stage Galway’s only survivor from the county’s only All-Ireland success in 1995 was on the pitch.

Curtin scored from close range in the second minute of injury-time and then saw a dangerous delivery deflected off a Wexford stick to the net for another goal.

Galway notched up seven successive points including a pair each from Curtin and Aislinn Connolly (who finished with 0-7) to seal their win.

Kilkenny were made to work extremely hard by the 2010 intermediate champions Offaly before winning by 4-17 to 2-11. Offaly recovered from an early six-point deficit to draw level and were still just 2-9 to 1-7 in arrears at the interval. The crucial score of the game arrived just after the interval when Michelle Quilty, who finished with 2-7, goaled to make Offaly’s task very difficult.

With Anne Dalton bringing her tally to five points from play and Aoife Neary also amongst the goals, Ann Downey’s charges were able to pull clear.

Síle Burns notched 3-4 as Cork were comfortable 3-16 to 0-10 winners over Clare.

And Tipperary had to dig deep before coming out on top against Dublin, 3-12 to 0-12, with Sarah Fryday scoring two goals and Noreen Flanagan bagging another for the Premier County women in injury-time.

Opening Round Results

Tipperary 3-12 Dublin 0-12

Galway 2-14 Wexford 0-9

Kilkenny 4-17 Offaly 2-11

Cork 3-16 Clare 0-10