Intermediates search for first win goes on

Kilkenny 0-10

Kildare 2-9

Kilkenny’s Intermediate Camogie team are still looking for their first win of this year’s All-Ireland Championship, after a strong Kildare finish saw the Lilywhites take the points

Kildare got off to the perfect start in Callan, taking the lead within two minutes after they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Susie O’Carroll. Melissa Lyons stepped up and she buried it into the bottom right corner of the net.

Ciara Egan quickly made it a four-point game but Kilkenny hit back after Aoife Norris picked out Niamh Bambrick perfectly. As she turned to strike, she had her jersey tugged, giving Orla Hanrick the chance to score from the resulting free.

Kilkenny went close to a goal when they were awarded another free minutes later, Lydia Fitzpatrick fired the ball in, which was scrambled away from goal, but Niamh Bambrick snapped up possession and slotted it over the bar

However, the Kilkenny defence were giving away frees too easily. Susie O’Carroll slotting one over, a score Lydia Fitzpatrick replied to with a well worked point to cut the deficit to two points. On the start of the second quarter, Kildare’s Fiona Trant scored a point after a period of pressure from Kilkenny that yielded no scores. The home side were then awarded two frees in quick succession which were converted by Orla Hanrick to leave a point between the sides

With five minutes remaining in the first half, the Lilywhites slotted over a point from Melissa Lyons. The sides were level when Niamh Bambrick and Bridget Kilbane pointed to leave it Kilkenny 0-7, Kildare 1-4

On the resumption, the home side took the lead for the first time when Orla Hanrick pointed from a 45 metre free. Both sides exchanged minor scores, first by the visitors through Emma Kielty and then Orla Hanrick for the hosts. Susie O’Carroll pointed a free to level the match again on the 40^th minute. Again, the sides exchanged points, Emer O’Reilly for Kildare and Orla Hanrick for Kilkenny, entering the final quarter.

The hosts failed to score in the final 15 minutes while the visitors shot over two points through Susie O’Carroll and ended with an Emer O’Reilly goal to secure the victory

Next up for Kilkenny is an away trip to Antrim on Saturday 15^th July

Scores – Kilkenny – Orla Hanrick (0-6, 4 frees, 2 45), Niamh Bambrick (0-2), Brigid Kilbane, Lydia Fitzpatrick (0-1)

Kildare – Susie O’Carroll (0-4, 3 frees, 1 45), Melissa Lyons (1-1, 1-0 penalty), Emer O’Reilly (1-1), Ciara Egan, Fiona Trant, Emma Kielty (0-1 each)

Kilkenny – Aoife Norris, Ciara Murphy, Tara Clifford, Ailish Butler, Ciara O’Shea, Danielle Kenny, Mairead Kennedy, Margaurite Hoynes, Aobha O’Gorman, Bridget Kilbane, Lydia Fitzpatrick, Orla Hanrick, Mags Fennelly, Eadaoin Murphy, Niamh Bambrick

Subs – Maureen Walsh for Mairead Kennedy, Christine Lyng for Eadaoin Murphy, Eilis Regan, Vivienne Forristal, Ella Moore, Laura Wall, Aisling Butler, Hannah Scott, Christine Murphy, Emma Bergin, Cliona Murphy, Noelle Murphy, Jenny O’Neill

Kildare – Alison Hyland, Kelly Perkins, Aine Conway, Niamh Hegarty, Deirbhile Byrne, Aoife Trant, Clodagh Flanagan, Emer O’Reilly, Ciara Egan, Siobhan Hurley, Fiona Trant, Roisin O’Connell, Melissa Lyons, Susie O’Carroll

Subs – Aoife Morrison, Holly Tynan, Tara Glynn, Carol Nolan, Maria Doyle, Caoimhe Maher, Caoimhe Shields, Lea Sutton, Lorna Murray

Referee – John McDonagh, Galway