Steady performance helps Cats keep up their 100% record

Kilkenny 2-17

Offaly 2-7

Kilkenny made full use of home advantage to record their third Group One win as they overcame a determined Offaly side in the Senior Camogie Championship in Nowlan Park on Saturday

The Cats had their work cut out to keep their 100% record – it was a different Offaly side than the team beaten by Kilkenny in the Leinster Final a month earlier. The visitors were stung by that loss and were hoping for a better performance this round

The visitors were first out of the blocks when Ciara Brennan slotted over a point within the first minute. Four minutes later, Miriam Walsh equalised for Kilkenny with a fine point

Mairead Teehan and Denise Gaule exchanged points both scoring from placed balls before Gaule edged the home side ahead with another pointed free in the 10^th minute

Stormed Ahead

Offaly took the game to Kilkenny and stormed ahead when Grainne Egan shot to the net 3 minutes later for the Faithful County, Egan pouncing after the sliotar rebounded off the crossbar to give her side a 2-point lead

Kilkenny quickly recovered; Denise Gaule replied with a point from a free before the outstanding Anne Dalton levelled matters with a neat point on the 18^th minute mark

Five minutes later Dalton rattled the net for her first goal of the evening. The stripy girls extended their lead when Denise Gaule slotted over the bar from a free but Mairead Teehan cancelled it out with a like score

Second Goal

In additional time Miriam Walsh advanced towards the Offaly goal and laid off a hand pass to Anne Dalton who banged home her second goal

Denise Gaule added to her tally with another pointed free to leave the Cats 2-7 to 1-3 in front at the break

Kilkenny were quickly back into action on the resumption as Miriam Walsh was first off the mark with a well taken point

Offaly kept grinding, however and tested the homesides defence. Mairead Teehan pointed a free in the 41^st minute only for half time substitute Michelle Quilty to reply with a well taken point a minute later

The gap grew even further when the Cats added two points in quick succession through Denise Gaule (f) and Anne Dalton to leave the Cats 10-point clear heading into the final quarter

The visitors had the next two points on the scoreboard with Jean Brady and Mairead Teehan (f) adding to their tally, but Anna Farrell and Michelle Quilty brought the difference back to 10 points with a point a piece

Got Reward

Offaly didn’t give up and got their reward when Mairead Teehan smashed a 20-metre free to the back of the net with 55 minutes on the clock

By that stage the finish line was in sight for Kilkenny, who didn’t let up. In injury time, they added a flurry of points through Denise Gaule (f), Miriam Walsh (2) and Michaela Kenneally. Mairead Teehan pointed a free, but Kilkenny were clear winners

Next up for Ann Downey’s side is their final group game against Limerick, who were pushed all the way before beating Wexford at the weekend, at home on July 20

Scorers – Kilkenny – Anne Dalton (2-2), Denise Gaule (0-7, 7f), Miriam Walsh (0-4), Michelle Quilty (0-2), Anna Farrell, Michaela Kenneally (0-1 each)

Offaly – Mairead Teehan (1-5, 1-3f, 2 45’), Grainne Egan (1-0), Ciara Brennan, Jean Brady (0-1 each)

Kilkenny – Emma Kavanagh, Colette Dormer, Catherine Foley, Edwina Keane, Kelly Anne Doyle, Claire Phelan, Davina Tobin, Meg Farrell (Joint Captain), Grace Walsh, Anna Farrell (Joint Captain), Anne Dalton, Katie Power, Aoife Doyle, Miriam Walsh, Denise Gaule

Subs – Michelle Quilty for Aoife Doyle, Danielle Morrissey for Davina Tobin, Michaela Kenneally for Katie Power, Edel Coonan for Denise Gaule, Steffi Fitzgerald for Meg Farrell, Aoife Norris, Michelle Teehan, Niamh Deely, Grace O’Donnell, Katie Brennan, Mary O’Connell, Miriam Bambrick, Aine Phelan, Eva Hynes

Offaly – Shannon Tuohy, Alanna Roddy, Ann Marie Guinan (Vice Captain), Sarah Walsh, Grace Teehan, Eadaoin Kilmartin, Triona McDonald (Captain), Ciara Brennan, Aisling Brennan, Grainne Egan, Arlene Watkins, Orlagh Kirwan, Christine Cleary, Mairead Teehan, Jean Brady

Subs – Ellie Clendennen, Michaela Morkan, Helen Healy, Elizabeth Harding, Leah Gath, Aoife Walsh, Mary Teehan, Siobhan Flannery