While Kilkenny’s first touch seemed to have eluded them, when compare to the Limerick game a fortnight earlier, the Cats knew they had to raise their game.
The turning point came in the 24th minute when Steffi Fitzgerald latched onto a ball outside the 21 yard line. She went on a lung-bursting run forward and drew a couple of Clare defenders to her before giving a beautiful handpass inside to the waiting Miriam Walsh. The Tullaroan player sidestepped a Clare defender and the goalie to slot home a well-worked goal.
As a result Kilkenny had the lead for the first time in the game.
A mini spell of dominance then followed with points from Gaule and Laura Norris just before the interval giving the visitors a three-point lead at the break (1-4 to 0-4).
The second half followed on a similar pattern as the first. Kilkenny did, however, make plenty of chances and Clare can thank Doireann Murphy for keeping them in the game for so long after she pulled off a point-blank save from Miriam Walsh after great work between her and Katie Nolan almost raised a green flag.
Kilkenny’s decision making was a little wayward in the second half. However, the fact that they did make numerous chances would have pleased Brian Dowling to a certain degree.
While the attack didn’t have its best day Kilkenny’s defence stood firm. They didn’t let Clare in for easy chances.
The difference at the other end was that Kilkenny managed to breach the Clare defence with ease, but just couldn’t convert the chances.
There was still only three points in it approaching the final 10 minutes of the game but Clare just couldn’t bridge the gap as much as they tried and it left Brian Dowling and the Kilkenny team to be very relieved as they won out on a 1-8 to 0-10 scoreline.
The result was cruel on the Banner women who had outscored the visitors by 0-6 to 0-4 in the second half. For long periods the home side outplayed their rivals and few would have said Clare didn’t deserve to get something out of the game.
The result means that Kilkenny will face Cork on Saturday week in a winner takes all showdown with the victors advancing to the league final.
After the Rebels impressively dispatched Limerick last weekend it looks set to be an interesting clash – even more so with former Clare, Wexford and Waterford boss Davy Fitzgerald involved in the Cork management team.
Teams & Scorers
Kilkenny: Miriam Walsh (1-0); Katie Power (0-2); Denise Gaule (0-2, 0-1 penalty, 0-1 free); Katie Nolan, Laura Norris, Steffi Fitzgerald, Kellyann Doyle (0-1 each).
Clare: Lorna McNamara (0-4, frees), Caoimhe Carmody (0-3), Eimear Kelly (0-2), Aine O’Loughlin (0-1).
Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Sarah Crowley, Tiffany Fitzgerald, Grace Walsh; Kellyann Doyle, Claire Phelan, Lydia Fitzpatrick; Julianne Malone, Niamh Deely; Steffi Fitzgerald, Denise Gaule, Laura Norris; Miriam Walsh, Katie Power, Katie Nolan.
Subs: Aoife Prendergast for Malone, 43 mins; Aoife Doyle for L Norris, 47 mins; Mary O’Connell for Nolan, 55 mins.
Clare: Doireann Murphy; Ciara Grogan, Clare Hehir, Caoimhe Kelly; Aoife Keane, Chloe Morey, Alannah Ryan; Regan Conway, Caoimhe Carmody; Robyn Conway, Eimear Kelly, Zi Yan Spillane; Lorna McNamara, Áine O’Loughlin, Shauna Canny.
Subs: Susan Daly for Regan Conway, 39 mins; Lynda Daly for Canny, 53 mins.
Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork)
