Piltown hold out for narrow win

Marble City Travel Kilkenny Senior Camogie Championship – Sunday, 2nd August 2020

Piltown 1-13  Young Irelands 3-6

Piltown defeated Young Irelands in the first round of the Marble City Travel Senior Championship last Sunday in Gowran

Piltown hit the ground running from the throw in, scoring the first three points. Aine Power registered the first point after 45 seconds when Sophie Holden found Aine in front of the posts and the latter slotted over the bar.

Two minutes later, Edel Long made it 0-2 to 0-0. Soon after that Aoife Doyle added the third point, running through the Young Irelands defence before splitting the posts

Amy Lennon opened Young Irelands account in the 6^th minute with a point from play. Ciara O’Keeffe added a second point from play for Young Irelands in the 8^th minute

From the puckout, Laura Norris ran at the Young Irelands defence to slot over a neat point. Aoife Doyle extended Piltown’s lead in the 11^th minute, with a fine point (Piltown 0-5 Young Irelands 0-2)

In the 13^th minute Sarah Ann Quinlan sailed through the Piltown defence before hand passing the sliotar passed Aoife Norris in the goal. This levelled the match which looked earlier to have Piltown well on top

Following the recommended water break due to Covid 19, the momentum was with Young Irelands. There was throw ball near the Piltown goal. Young Irelands Steffi Fitzgerald won the ball and ran towards the goal but she was unceremoniously taken down in the box and a Penalty was awarded. Steffi stepped up and riffled the sliotar to the roof of the net

But five minutes later, momentum swung back in favour of Piltown when they were awarded a Penalty after Marlise Flynn was brought down in the box. Aoife Norris came up from her goal to take it. It was a powerful shot and despite the valiant effort to block the shot, it ended up over the goal line. This levelled proceedings again Piltown 1-5 Young Irelands 2-2

Piltown then took the lead, when Aine Power pointed a free in the 24^th minute. Marlise Flynn added another point for Piltown two minutes later

Sarah Ann Quinlan finished off the first half scoring with a point for Young Irelands to leave the Interval score Piltown 1-7 Young Irelands 2-3

In the 5^th minute of second half, Young Irelands took the lead again, when Sarah Ann Quinlan took on the Piltown defence, she laid off a lovely pass to Paula Farrell and the latter rattled the back of the net

Lorraine Long did narrow the gap back to one with a fine point in the 39^th minute

Sarah Ann Quinlan and Amy Lennon scored a point a piece to extend Young Irelands lead out to three

Piltown hit a purple patch over the next 11 minutes while keeping Young Irelands scoreless

Aine Power pointed two frees in the 44^th & 45^th minute. In the 48^th minute, Aoife Doyle got in behind the Young Irelands defence and she ran towards goal, she was tripped from behind in the box and a Penalty was awarded. Aoife Norris again came up from her goal to take it. This time Aoife slotted the penalty over the bar to level the match, Piltown 1-11 Young Irelands 3-5

Aine Power pointed a 45’ in the 51^st minute and Aoife Doyle slotted over a point from play in the 55^th minute. Piltown now led by two points heading towards the final whistle

Young Irelands were awarded a 21m free in 60-minute just to the right of the goal, Piltown packed their box to protect the goal. Steffi Fitzgerald took a short free to her sister Tiffanie, who then passed it back out to Steffi, the Piltown defence raced out towards her and Steffi hit high and over the bar to leave the final score Piltown 1-13 Young Irelands 3-6

Piltown are at home to Windgap next Sunday (09/08) at 11am and Young Irelands are away to Clara next Sunday (09/08) also at 11am

Piltown – Aine Power (0-5, 4f), Aoife Norris (1-1, both penalties), Aoife Doyle (0-3), Edel Long, Laura Norris, Marlise Flynn, Lorraine Long (0-1 each)

Young Irelands – Sarah Ann Quinlan (1-2), Steffi Fitzgerald (1-1, goal from penalty), Paula Farrell (1-0), Amy Lennon (0-2), Ciara O’Keeffe (0-1)

Piltown – Aoife Norris, Jennifer Norris, Jenni O’Dea, Patsy Kenny, Emer Long, Alanna Gallagher, Mairead Power, Laura Norris, Karen Duggan, Edel Long, Aoife Doyle, Lorraine Long, Marlise Flynn, Aine Power, Sophie Holden

Subs – Ellen O’Keeffe, Kellyann Doyle, Emily McCarthy, Sinead McCarthy, Steacy O’Brien, Aine Doyle, Chloe Power, Shauna Cody, Danielle O’Brien, Katie Power

Young Irelands – Hannah Brennan, Rachel Doyle, Nicole Carter, Mia Murphy, Meabh O’Neill, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Aoife Farrell, Ciara O’Keeffe, Ruth Loughlin, Nessa Farrell, Steffi Fitzgerald, Grace O’Donnell, Amy Lennon, Sarah Ann Quinlan,
Paula Farrell

Subs – Rebecca Lennon, Niamh Walsh, Kate Drennan, Laura Langton, Rebecca Nevin, Orlaith Byrne, Emma Farrell, Aoife Walsh, Sinead Healy, Lea Brennan, Caitlin Simpson