Intermediates Remain on a Roll

2019 Liberty Insurance Intermediate Camogie Championship

Kilkenny 2-17
Dublin 2-04

The Kilkenny Intermediates made it two wins from tow at the weekend when they got the better of Dublin in the 2nd round of the 2019 Liberty Insurance Intermediate Championship. After getting their campaign off to a winning start with a pulsating two-point victory over Cork the Kittens were adamant to keep the winning streak going.

That determination was rewarded from the off, as two early goals from Katie Nolan and Afton Grace saw Kilkenny storm ahead inside the opening nine minutes. Dublin preserved, edging closer thanks to a brace of Nadine Murphy frees, while a soft goal also helped their cause. Sharpshooter Katie Nolan ensured the Kilkenny scoreboard kept ticking over, adding two points from play and two more from frees. At half-time the visitors were ahead by double scores and looking good for the result (1-2 to 2-4). Just like the first half Kilkenny were on top from the restart, Katie Nolan latching onto a Ciara Phelan pass to score a point within seconds of the throw-in. Kilkenny seemed to be dominant throughout the backline and midfield, but Alex Buckley gave them cause for concern when she goaled for Dublin.

Their lead was down to three points, but Kilkenny never lost their composure. A huge turning point in the game was the sending off of Dubin’s midfielder Roisín O’Grady after a straight red card for a challenge on Katie Nolan. Kilkenny continued with their attack through diligent play from midfielders Aisling Curtis and Ciara Phelan. Dublin, without the central role of their captain, were beginning to feel the pressure and the mistakes began to pile up.

Superb Defence
Katie Nolan split the posts twice more with scores from placed balls. A point from a free in the 12th minute was all Dublin could amount to for the remainder of the second half – superb defence for the latter part of the second half from Niamh Sweeney and tenacious Niamh Leahy kept the Dublin scoring threats at bay. Kilkenny finally began to develop confidence with some superb scores from play from Afton Grace, Laura Murphy, Aisling Curtis and Ciara Phelan. As the final whistle sounded the Kittens were only delighted to have secured three more points with a valuable win. The Intermediates can now look towards Westmeath in a fortnight’s time for round 3 of the Championship.

Scorers: Kilkenny – Katie Nolan (1-7, 0-6 frees); Afton Grace (1-2); Laura Murphy, Caoimhe Dowling (0-2 each); Aoife Prendergast (0-1 free); Aisling Curtis, Ciara Phelan, Gillian Costello (0-1 each).
Dublin- Nadine Murphy (1-2, frees); Niamh McCoramck (1-0); Cliodhna Nicolletti (0-1, free); Chloe O’Connor (0-1).

Kilkenny – Aoife Walsh, Nicole Carter, Ciara O’Shea, Niamh Sweeney, Niamh Leahy, Aoife Prendergast, Aobha O’Gorman, Aisling Curtis, Ciara Phelan, Laura Murphy, Christine Lyng, Laura Greene, Afton Grace, Katiie Nolan, Caoimhe Dowling
Subs – Eimear Naddy for Sweeney, Darcy Bolger for Nolan, Hannah Scott for O’Gorman, Gillian Costello for Greene, Marie Doheny for Dowling

Dublin – Stephaine Carthy, Ciara Buchannan, Emily Browne, NIamh Gleeson, Grainne Free, Sinead Murphy, Shauna McBride, Roisin O’Grady, Muireann Kelleher, Alex Buckley, Grainne Power, Julie McDonald, Aoife Whelan, Nadine Murphy, Niamh McCormack
Subs – Emma Quinn for McDonald, Cliodhna Nicolletti for Free, Chloe O’Connor for N Murphy, Laura Walsh for Power, Lauren Robinson for Buchannan

Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath)