Kilkenny Samaritans U17

While our senior team were preparing to take on Dublin last Saturday in the Senior championship semi-final, our U17 squad in association with the Samaritans took part in their own U17 All Ireland competition in LIT

Kilkenny were reigning champions at this grade and faced a tough task to retain their title when drawn to do battle against a good up and coming Clare squad and a very strong looking Cork team

Kilkenny led by Captain Eve Lacey (Kilmacow) lost their first match playing into a strong breeze v Cork by 6 points while having the better play and enjoying good possession of the ball

Kilkenny went into their second match v Clare knowing only a win would secure them a final place and another chance to pit themselves against Cork, this opportunity was grabbed by both hands by our girls and really started to move up through the gears running out winners on a score line of 2-11 to 0-2

After a short break and some words of encouragement from firstly the players themselves and backed up by Kilkenny mentors Damian Donohue, Jer Donovan and Dave Kent, our girls took to the field with the wind at their backs and right from the throw in fought for every possession of the ball, great support from the sideline saw our girls going into the last 10 minutes holding on to the lead as Cork threw everything at them, this Kilkenny team were not tonne beaten however and held on to win on a score line of 3-5 to 1-7

Much thanks must go to all the players involved with our U17’s this year it was a real team effort, Kilkenny are proud to be joined with the Samaritans this year and we look forward to working closely with this great charity going forward, to Damian and his management team and the county a big thank you for the great work being done with our underage squads