Inters beat neighbours Tipp with ease

Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 National League

Kilkenny 3-8 (17)
Tipperary 1-7 (10)

By Aoife Murphy (PRO Óg)

In a wind-swept Pairc Lachtain GAA pitch Kilkenny took on Tipperary in the Littlewoods National League Division 2 Round One. In the opening five minutes, Kilkenny had four wide’sshaking off their early nerves before Aine Phelan pointed the first score of the game, followed by another point a minute later.Afton Grace took control of the ball and it soared over the bar,putting Kilkenny up 3 points up after 10 minutes. Afton put Kilkenny in a comfortable lead with another point 12 minutes into the first half. After a physical 10 minutes with no score from either side, the Tipperary women not letting go of the possession of the sliotar too easy, Ciara Murphy and Roisin Phelan putting in an immense shift at center and full back, aided by the middle of the field pairing Laura Hegarty and Jenny Leahy.

It was proving to be a tough contest until Hannah Scott received the breaking ball getting her first score of the game. Not even 30 seconds later after Kilkenny gained possessionfrom the Tipperary puck out, the ball was sent into Scott again. With space around decreasing and incoming Tipperary defenders Scott broke through the tackles and sent in a rasper that Tipperary goal tender Aoife Butler missed by the length of a hair. This put Kilkenny in an 8-point lead, as Carlise Comerford slotted another point over for Kilkenny from right on the sideline from an acute angle. After 27 minutes Tipperary got their first score, a point from corner forward Aoife McLoughney. A well placed free from McLoughney gave the Tipperary women a lift just before the half-time break. Just as the first half came to an end, a quick hand pass out from Hannah Scott to Tara Ronan, who had been a late call up to the starting team, scored a point on her right side. The half time the score was 1-7 to 0-2 in favour of the Kittens who had the advantage of the wind.

In the second half the wind seemed to have gained in strength, but that didn’t stop Kilkenny from going straight into attack with another goal from Hannah Scott.  For the next 5 minutes it was a battle between the two 45’s and the stalemate was eventually broken by a point from Afton Grace, her third of the game. At this stage you would think the breeze was with Kilkenny rather than against them. The Kilkenny Kittens worked tirelessly with no quarter given to Tipperary, this never give up attitude paid off in the form of a long range shot for Carlise Comerford, which deceived the Tipperary goalkeepergoing straight to the back of the net. With the score 17 minutes into the second half, Tipperary 0-3 to Kilkenny’s 3-8. For the last 13 minutes, Kilkenny had to batten down the hatches and Tipperary scored four points, three from frees from Ciara McKeogh and a point from play. Kilkenny ran out winners with a final score of 3-8 to 0-7.

Scorers:
Kilkenny: Hannah Scott 2-1, Carlise Comerford 1-1, Afton Grace 0-3 (0-1f), Aine Phelan 0-2, Tara Ronan 0-1
Tipperary: Ciara McKeogh 0-4 (0-3f), Aoife McLoughney 0-2 (0-1f), Rachel O’Dwyer 0-1

Teams:

Kilkenny: Sinead Farrell, Sinead O’Keeffe, Roisin Phelan, Niamh Sweeney, Niamh Leahy, Ciara Murphy, Claire Nolan, Laura Hegarty, Jenny Leahy, Danielle Quigley, Hannah Scott, Carlise Comerford, Tara Ronan, Aine Phelan, Afton Grace
Subs: Shauna Treacy for Carlise Comerford, Emma Bergin for Niamh Sweeney, Aoife Cantwell for Jenny Leahy

Tipperary Team: Aoife Butler (Annacarty), Maebh Ellie Ryan, Rachel Maher, Aisling Sheedy, Aoife Butler, Mags Quigley, Niamh McCormack, Clodagh Horgan, Amy Crosse, Ciara McKeogh, Ciara Cummins,Ali O’Mahoney, Aoife McLoughney, Rachel O’Dwyer, Caroline Browne

Referee: John Horgan