Kilkenny have Leinster place in their sights

Kilkenny 1-13

Meath 0-8

Leinster Minor B Quarter Final

Venue – Clara GAA, Kilkenny

After a close and entertaining first half, where both teams found scores hard to come by due to the warm, humid conditions, Kilkenny secured their place in the Leinster semi finals

The homeside were the first to register a score when Captain Aine Phelan pointed from play in the 5^th minute. The game then hit a scoring lull for the next eight minutes thanks to some great defending from both sides and a couple of missed opportunities at either end

Kilkenny then hit their second score, a pointed free through Eva Hynes and the forementioned added a point from play a minute later

The visitors energetic midfielder Sophia Payne laid on a pass for Sarah Ennis to fire over a point in the 15 minute. Aimee Hanrahan increased Kilkenny’s lead to 3 points, when she fired over a fine point. However, Meath rallied when Fiona McNerney pointed a 21-metre free and Sarah Ennis added a point from play to bring the half time score, 0-4 (KK) to 0-3 (MH)

On the restart, the girls from the Boyne Valley drew level when Fina McNerney split the posts. Kilkenny then took complete control of the game when they scored 1-8 without reply. All the scores came from play through Chloe Dooley 1-2, Mary Ellen Phelan 0-3, Eva Hynes, Aine Phelan and Emily Hughes a point a piece

On the 45^th minute, Meath eventually stopped the rot when Erin Leddy scored a point from play. Then on the 47^th minute, Meath were awarded a Penalty which was taken by Fiona McNerney and was brilliantly saved & deflected over the bar by Kilkenny goalkeeper Ellie O’Neill

Eva Hynes scored a point in the 55^th minute which was sandwiched between a point a piece from Fiona McNerney and Erin Leddy, which brought the final score to Kilkenny 1-13 to Meath 0-8

Next up for Kilkenny will be the Leinster Minor B Championship semi final against Dublin next Sunday in John Lockes Park, Callan

Kilkenny – Scorers – Chloe Dooley (1-2), Eva Hynes (0-4, 1f), Mary Ellen Phelan (0-3), Aine Phelan (0-2), Aimee Hanrahan, Emily Hughes (0-1 each)

Meath – Scorers – Fiona McNerney (0-4, 3 f), Sarah Ennis, Erin Leddy (0-2 each)

Kilkenny – Ellie O’Neill, Laura Foley, Clodagh Hanlon, Jenni O’Dea, Gillian Costello, Aine Phelan (Captain), Ellen Purcell, Sarah O’Sullivan, Aimee Hanrahan, Sarah Doherty, Eva Hynes, Leah Lanigan, Chloe Dooley, Caoimhe Moran, Meabh Walsh

Subs – Mary Ellen Phelan for Leah Lanigan, Aoife Moore for Caoimhe Moran, Emily Hughes for Ellen Purcell, Rachel Dreeling for Laura Foley, Caoimhe Kelly for Sarah Doherty, Kathleen Croke for Ellie O’Neill, Laura Power for Meabh Walsh, Sarah Jane Brophy for Chloe Dooley

Meath – Aine Cook, Helena McGarry, Abbey Donnelly, Andrea McBride, Hannah Guy, Aisling Byrne, Chloe Faherty, Sophie Payne, Leah Devine, Fiona McNerney, Aisling Walshe, Ellen Brogan, Sarah Ennis, Aedin Slattery, Erin Leddy

Subs – Grace Stenson for Helena McGarry, Eimear Fagan, Leah Gilsenan, Kate Smith, Amy Collins, Chantelle Massey, Laoise McDermott, Laoise Tobin, Michelle McNally, Mary Kate Kiernan, Deirdre McHale, Katie Duffy, Orlaith Daly, Allanah Lynch, Caroline Quinn, Sonia Leonard, Rachel Fraughren