Defeat was their lot, but champs still have chance to retain title

All-Ireland & League Champions, Kilkenny lost a tight encounter to Cork in this O’Duffy Cup final repeat at Dunmore on Saturday. However Kilkenny’s bid to win a 2^nd consecutive Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 title is still on course.

They play Galway next Sunday in the semi-final

Cork had already secured the top qualifying spot from Group 1 before this game but were not short on motivation, having lost last year’s All-Ireland final to the Cats

Cork scored the opening two points from placed balls through Katriona Mackey. Denise Gaule scored Kilkenny’s first point in the 9^th minute also from a placed ball.

Over the next six minutes, there was a lull in the scoring, but play moved from end to end frantically

In the 15^th minute, Katriona Mackey (C) slotted over another placed ball. From the puck out, Julieann Malone (K) took a shot at goal, but it tailed wide.

In the 17^th minute, following a clearance from the home defense, Kelly Ann Doyle (K) collected and burst through and laid it off to Julieann Malone for a lovely point.

Dalton point

Cork goalie Aoife Murray pucked out a long ball, but it was caught by Anne Dalton (K) and from 60 metres she struck it back over the bar.

In the 20 minute, Kilkenny got their first chance on goal through some lovely interplay, between four players, Anne Dalton got onto the end ball, only to see her batted attempt go just wide.

Katriona Mackey (C) & Kelly Ann Doyle (K) exchanged points to leave the score after 21 minutes, 0-4 apiece.

Katriona Mackey & Chloe Sigerson then scored two excellence points for Cork in the 25^th & 29^th minutes. Denise Gaule then scored a well worked point for Kilkenny from play.

Cork finished the half the stronger scoring two points by Amy O’Connor & Katriona Mackey to leave the half time score reading 0-8 to 0-5 in Cork’s flavour.

From the start of the second half, Julieann Malone made a darting run towards the Cork goal only to be stifled by three Cork players on the line.

Eight minutes passed before a ball broke loosely into the Kilkenny defence, there was a race for it between Meighan Farrell (K) & Katriona Mackey (C).

The referee awarded a free to Cork after a clash, which Katriona slotted over the bar. In the 39^th minute of the match, Aisling Dunphy (K) split the posts to leave the score 0-9 to 0-6.

During the next 11 minutes there was another lull in the scoring, but play moved briskly from end to end. During this period, two yellow cards were issued to a player from each side.

In the 49^th minute, Julieann Malone (K) raced through at full pace from midfield & in full stride pointed the Cats to within two points of Cork.

But the gap was back to three points shortly afterwards when Julie White slotted over. Michelle Quilty (K) scored two placed balls in the 52^nd & 54^th minutes to bring it back to the minimum.

Fiona Neville (C) pointed from 50 metres after a nice pass from Katriona Mackey. From the puck out, the ball went up the line, it was cleared by Cork and played on towards midfield.

The Kilkenny defense blocked the ball, but the Referee blew his whistle for a free to Cork, which Katriona Mackey again slotted over.

This all happened despite the side-line official waving her flag for a line ball which the Referee ignored.

The Noresiders finished strongly with a brace of points by Miriam Walsh setting up a grandstand finish.

However, they couldn’t find the leveller after a tough and testing battle

Before the start of the match & the singing of the National Anthem, a minutes silence was observed for Sarah Bardon, a 13 year old camogie player from Westmeath, who suddenly passed away last week

Scorers – Kilkenny – Denise Gaule 0-2 (1 free); Michelle Quilty 0-2 (2 frees), Julieann Malone, Miriam Walsh 0-2 each, Anne Dalton, Kelly Anne Doyle, Aisling Dunphy 0-1 each

Cork – Katriona Mackey 0-8 (5 frees), Chloe Sigerson, Amy O’Connor, Julia White, Fiona Neville 0-1 each

Kilkenny – Emma Kavanagh, Aisling Nolan, Catherine Foley, Grace Walsh, Claire Phelan, Meighan Farrell (c), Michelle Teehan, Anne Dalton, Aisling Dunphy, Jenny Reddy, Miriam Walsh, Michelle Quilty, Julieann Malone, Kelly Ann Doyle, Denise Gaule

Subs – Laura Murphy for Grace Walsh, Grace O’Donnell for Kelly Ann Doyle (inj), Jenny Clifford for Michelle Quilty, Ann Marie Lennon, Katie Power, Sarah Crowley, Miriam Frisby, Stacey Quirke, Aine Gannon, Sarah Kent, Roisin Phelan, Colette Dormer

Cork – Aoife Murray, Leanne O’Sullivan, Laura Treacy, Chloe Sigerson, Pamela Mackey, Gemma O’Connor, Rena Buckley (c), Aisling Thompson, Jennifer Barry, Amy O’Connor, Orla Cronin, Julia White, Katriona Mackey, Niamh McCarthy, Linda Collins

Subs – Fiona Neville for Linda Collins, Libby Copperinger for Leanne O’Sullivan, Amy Lee, Eimear O’Sullivan, Hannah Looney, Rachel O’Shea, Orla Cotter

Ref – Ray Kelly, Kildare