Kilkenny teams start league with a bang

Good Weekend for Kilkenny Camogie, with wins for Senior & Intermediate in Littlewood Ireland Leagues and a win for the Minors in the first round of the Minor A All-Ireland Championship

Kilkenny 4-13 Tipperary 0-8

In the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 First Round tie held last Saturday in the MW Hire Training Centre, Dunmore on a bright sunny afternoon, the Kilkenny Senior Camogie team started their season in fine fettle to get the better of the Premier County

Tipperary had two changes from the team listed on the programme, Kilkenny started as selected with fourteen of last years panel from the winning All-Ireland side, plus the addition of one of the stars of the winning All-Ireland Intermediate side, Jenny Clifford. Kilkenny continued from where they had left off in September, with a comfortable win

Tipperary started the brighter, with a point by Orla O’Dwyer after two minutes. Michelle Quilty equalised from a 30 metre free shortly after. Nicole Walsh pointed to put the Premier County ahead again only for Miriam Walsh who had fielded a great ball and split the posts to equalise. From there on, Kilkenny took over and dominated the remainder of the first half with points from Anne Dalton (2), Miriam Walsh (2) & Michelle Quilty and a goal from Jenny Clifford to leave the score Kilkenny 1-7 to Tipperary 0-5 at half time

Michelle Quilty scored another Kilkenny goal just after the restart, while Nicole O’Dwyer pointed for Tipperary, keeping her side in touch. The home side scored another 4 points through Miriam Walsh, Anne Dalton, Michelle Quilty & Katie Power, before the latter finished off two great two balls to the back of the net, which finished any hope of a Tipperary comeback. The home side completed their rout with two further points from Miriam Walsh and Michelle Quilty

There were great performances by all the Kilkenny players, especially Claire Phelan in defence, Aisling Dunphy in midfield, Anne Dalton, Miriam Walsh, Katie Power & Jenny Clifford in attack, while Nicole Walsh & Orla O’Dwyer stood out for Tipperary

Scores –

Kilkenny – Michelle Quilty 1-4 (3f), Katie Power 2-1, Miriam Walsh 0-5, Anne Dalton 0-3 (1f), Jenny Clifford 1-0

Tipperary –

Nicole Walsh 0-3 (2f), Orla O’Dwyer, Keely Lenihan, Roisin Howard, Megan Ryan, Cait Devane 0-1 each

Kilkenny – Emma Kavanagh, Jacqui Frisby, Colette Dormer, Miriam Frisby, Michelle Teehan, Claire Phelan, Davina Tobin, Aisling Dunphy, Stacey Quirke,

Grace Walsh, Miriam Walsh, Anne Dalton, Michelle Quilty, Katie Power, Jenny Clifford

Subs – Edwina Keane for Jacqui Frisby, Kelly Anne Doyle for Michelle Teehan, Laura Murphy for Miriam Frisby, Jenny Reddy for Anne Dalton, Grace O’Donnell for Grace Walsh, Roisin Phelan for Stacey Quirke

Tipperary – Orla McEniry, Jenny Logue, Anne Eviston, Ereena Fryday, Lorna O’Dwyer, Julieanne Bourke, Aoife McGrath, Mary Ryan, Keely Lenihan, Megan Ryan, Mairead Eviston, Nicole Walsh, Orla O’Dwyer, Miriam Campion, Roisin Howard

Subs – Karen Fox for Lorna O’Dwyer, Grace O’Brien for Keely Lenihan, Laura Loughnane for Aoife McGrath, Cait Devane for Ereena Fryday, Theresa Ryan for Jenny Logue

Referee – Owen Elliott, Antrim

Intermediate Match Report

Kilkenny 2-13 Down 0-17

In the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 2 First Round match held last Sunday in the MW Hire Training Centre, Dunmore on an overcast afternoon, Kilkenny Intermediate Camogie Team started their season by getting the better of a determined Down side

Kilkenny having won the 2016 All-Ireland Intermediate Title have to line out with a complete new outfit for the 2017 season

Kilkenny scored the first point through Orla Hanrick from a 40 metre free. Niamh Mallon equalised for Down from a 30 metre free, shortly after. The home side took the lead, two minutes later, Sarah Whelan scoring a well taken point, only for Niamh Mallon to equalise from the next puck out. The Mourne Women then scored the next two points by Niamh Mallon. Orla Hanrick reduced it to the minimum, two minutes later from a free, splitting the posts after Sarah Whelan was fouled. Niamh Mallon scored another 40 metre free before Kilkenny Captain Mia Griffin scored a beautiful point on the run. From the subsequent puck out, Down won a free and Niamh Mallon pointed again, leaving the score Down 0-6 to Kilkenny 0-4. Down scored another two points through Ciara Magee & Niamh Mallon, before Mia Griffin connected onto a through ball by Mary O’Connell and scored a great goal. A minute later, Mia Griffin scored a point to equalise the match. Christine Lyng and Niamh Mallon traded points, before the latter finished off the first half scoring to leave the Mourne Women winning by the minimum, 0-10 to 1-6 at half time

Niamh Mallon scored the first two points of the second half, before Christine Lyng reduced the deficit, a minute later. From the next puck out, Mia

Griffin caught the ball, with her hurl being held by her marker, she hand passed to Mags Fennelly who took a shot, the flight of the ball deceived the Down goalie and it flew into the back of the net. This gave the home side the lead, which they never relinquished. They extended their lead with the next two points by Orla Hanrick and Margaurite Hoynes. A minute later, Niamh Mallon reduced the lead, scoring a point, leaving the score at 2-9 to 0-13. Mia Griffin & Niamh Mallon traded points before Kilkenny were awarded a penalty, which Orla Hanrick pointed. Orla Hanrick fired over a point to leave the score 2-12 to 0-14. Down scored the next two points by Niamh Mallon from a free and Caitriona Caldwell. Then Mags Fennelly (KK) and Niamh Mallon with points finished off the scoring just before the final whistle, leaving the full time score 2-13 to 0-17

There were good displays from many of the Kilkenny players, especially Ailish Butler, Ciara Murphy in Defence, Mary O’Connell in Midfield, Captain Mia Griffin, Orla Hanrick in attack and goalkeeper Aoife Norris, who made some fantastic saves and her long puck outs were a major asset to the team, while Niamh Mallon was outstanding for Down

Scores –

Kilkenny – Mia Griffin 1-3, Orla Hanrick 0-5 (3f 1pen), Mags Fennelly 1-1, Christine Lyng 0-2, Sarah Whelan, Margaurite Hoynes 0-1 each

Down – Niamh Mallon 0-14 (8f), Caitriona Caldwell 0-2, Ciara Magee 0-1

Kilkenny – Aoife Norris, Danielle Kenny, Brigid Grennan, Amy Morrissey, Chloe Purcell, Eilis Regan, Ciara Murphy, Ella Moore, Mary O’Connell, Mags Fennelly, Mia Griffin (c), Orla Hanrick, Sarah Whelan, Niamh Bambrick, Christine Lyng

Subs – Ailish Butler for Eilis Regan, Margaurite Hoynes for Sarah Whelan

Down – Grainne Savage, Claire McGilligan, Maria McNally, Nichola O’Hagan, Caitriona Caldwell, Dearhbla Magee, Nichola O’Gorman, Meabh O’Reilly, Sabrina McCullough, Niamh Mallon (c), Cassie Fitzpatrick, Aimee McAleenan, Megan O’Reilly, Neisha McCullough, Ciara Magee

Subs – Orla Gribben for Ciara Magee, Nicola McCabe for Neisha McCullough

Referee – Cathal Egan, Cork

Minor Match Report

In the first round of the Minor A All-Ireland Championship held last Sunday in Piltown, Kilkenny Minor team got the better of Limerick

They led at half time by 2 – 8 to 1 – 3 and the full time result was 3 – 10 to 1 – 12