In Tir na nOg Kilkenny’s dream comes true at last

Kilkenny 6-2

Antrim 2-12

Kilkenny travelled far, far away to the wonderfully named Tir na nOg in distant Randallstown, Antrim on Saturday and they came away with the much longed first win of the Intermediate Camogie campaign

Orlagh O’Hara opened the scoring with a goal for Antrim in the first minute of the match, this was added to a minute later with a point from Aine Devlin

The visitors reacted swiftly when Eadaoin Murphy cracked home a goal in the third minute to bridge the gap to a point

Aine Devlin (Antrim) and Lydia Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny) traded scores as the quick-fire exchanges continued

Aine, with a point and Lydia with a well worked goal after the Antrim defence showed some hesitancy added to the scoreboard

Cats Ahead

This goal put Kilkenny ahead by a point, but then Antrim’s sharpshooter Aine Devlin scored three pointed frees to put them back in front again 2-0 to 1-5

In the 27^th minute, Mags Fennelly narrowed the gap when she shot a point. This was followed shortly after by another pointed free from Anne Devlin

In the 30^th minute, Lydia Fitzpatrick floated in a free. The ball hit the post. Niamh Bambrick reacted quickest and she fired the ball to the back of the net

From the puckout, Kilkenny worked the ball upfield quickly. A long ball in from the side line from Lydia Fitzpatrick caught the Antrim goalkeeper off guard. She fumbled the sliotar

The ball was partially cleared, but only as far as Eadaoin Murphy who picked up the loose ball and ran at the defence. She rifled a low shot passed the Saffron’s goalie

Antrim were awarded a free a minute later and Aine Devlin’s shot went straight to the Kilkenny net

This was the last piece of scoring action in the first half

The score was Kilkenny 4-1 (13) to Antrim 2-6 (12)

Roared into Action

Antrim roared into action from the start of the new half. They got off the mark when Anna Kelly fired over a point in the opening minute to level matters

Again, the northern girls charged on. They tagged on additional two points through Emily Fallon and Katie McAleese to jump two points clear by the 39^th minute to throw pressure back on the opposition

Following the puck out Kilkenny’s Christine Lyng collected the ball. She ran directly at the Antrim defence and hand passed the sliotar to the net

Mags Fennelly added a quick goal after Lydia Fitzpatrick sent in a low ball and in an effort to clear, the defence were at sixes and sevens

Fennelly took full advantage and made them pay

Lydia Fitzpatrick scored Kilkenny’s last point in the 44^th minute to leave the Noresiders ahead by five

During the closing 15 minutes, Aine Devlin pointed three frees to leave the full-time score 6-2 to 2-12, after Antrim failed to score when they were awarded a late penalty

Scores – Kilkenny – Eadaoin Murphy (2-0), Lydia Fitzpatrick (1-1), Mags Fennelly (1-1), Niamh Bambrick, Christine Lyng (1-0) each

Antrim – Aine Devlin (1-9, 1-8 frees, 1 45), Orlagh O’Hara (1-0), Emily Fallon, Katie McAleese, Anna Kelly (0-1) each

Kilkenny – Aoife Norris, Tara Clifford, Ciara Murphy, Niamh Madden, Mairead Kennedy, Danielle Kenny, Ciara O’Shea, Ella Moore, Orla Hanrick, Christine Lyng, Niamh Bambrick, Marguarite Hoynes (Capt), Bridget Kilbane, Lydia Fitzpatrick, Eadaoin Murphy

Subs – Noelle Murphy, Eilis Regan, Vivienne Forristal, Mags Fennelly, Aisling Butler, Catherine Murphy, Emma Bergin

Antrim – Noeleen Cosgrove, Leanne Reid, Kathryn Donnelly, Colleen Patterson, Niamh Donnelly, Emma McFadden, Nuala McQuillan, Anna Kelly, Shannon Woulahan, Michaela Elliott, Aine Devlin, Emma O’Connor, Orlagh O’Hara, Emily Fallon, Meabhdh Laverty

Sub – Caoimhe McAleenan, Sarah Armstrong, Katie McAleese (V. Capt), Aileen Martin (Capt), Aine Donnelly, Caoimhne Wright, Cliondha Donnelly

Referee – Gavin Donegan, Dublin