Under 16s claim big win over Dublin

All Ireland U16A All Ireland Championship 1^st Round

Kilkenny 3-12

Dublin 1-5

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

Meeting for the third time this season and a week after Kilkenny defeated Dublin in the Leinster U16A Final by a point, Kilkenny had a comprehensive win over the Metropolitan girls in the 1^st Round of the U16A All Ireland Championship played in UPMC Nowlan Park last Sunday

It was a fantastic experience for the U16s to play in UPMC Nowlan Park

Kilkenny’s Joint Captain Emily Phelan opened the scoring inside the first minute with a point from play. Then Eva Collis, Dublin’s corner forward got in for a goal in the 4^th minute

But two minutes later, Kilkenny cleared the sliotar upfield, Ella Walton ran along the endline, she cut back in and riffled a shot to the back of the net

Ella Corris pointed for the Dubs which was sandwiched between two Muireann Kenny pointed free for the homeside

Holly Ryan tagged on a point for Kilkenny before Kate Keaney and Eva Collis added points for Dublin

Kilkenny’s other Joint Captain Leah O’Donovan put her name on the score sheet when the sliotar emerged from a Ruck. Gathering possession, she coolly slotted the ball over the bar

In the 23^rd minute, Ella Walton got in for her second goal. Kilkenny’s first shot was blocked, but Ella put her boot to the sliotar and kicked it into the net past the Dublin goalkeeper

Molly Bourke then added two points from play for Dublin to leave the homeside three points in front at the break (2-5 to 1-5)

TOOK CONTROL

On the resumption of play, Kilkenny took complete control. They kept Dublin scoreless, despite the visitors having multiple chances

Muireann Kenny added to her tally with two points from placed balls. The hard-working Sadhbh Shefflin then got onto the score sheet with a fine point from play

Muireann Kenny increased the lead with two pointed frees before Kilkenny substitute Kadhla Croke got in on the scoring with a lovely point on the run

Muireann Kenny tacked on her seventh point from a free before, in additional time, Kilkenny’s Emma Hogan ran at the Dublin defence and hit a rasper of a shot

It came back off the crossbar and Shauna Mahony pulled first time to send the sliotar to the back of the net

The Referee blew the full-time whistle soon after and Kilkenny were victorious on a 3-12 to 1-5 scoreline

Kilkenny now play Limerick in the 2^nd Round of the U16A All Ireland Championship in Newcastle West next Sunday 12^th May at 2pm

Scorers – Kilkenny – Muireann Kenny 0-7 (7f), Ella Walton 2-0, Shauna Mahony 1-0, Emily Phelan, Holly Ryan, Leah O’Donovan, Sadhbh Shefflin, Kadhla Croke 0-1 each

Dublin – Eva Collis 1-2, Molly Bourke 0-2, Kate Keaney 0-1

Kilkenny – Caoimhe Corcoran, Ayesha Belalaoui, Olivia Dunphy, Ali Greany, Taylor Aylward, Ciara Hickey, Aoife O’Grady, Sadhbh Shefflin, Aoibheann Ryan, Leah O’Donovan (Joint Captain), Ruth Crowley, Holly Ryan, Ella Walton, Emily Smith (Joint Captain), Muireann Kenny

Subs – Shauna Doheny for Ayesha Belalaoui, Mia Dunne for Aoife O’Grady, Shauna Mahony for Leah O’Donovan, Eleanor Doheny for Ruth Crowley, Emma Hogan for Ella Walton, Kadhla Croke for Holly Ryan, Chloe Teehan for Sadhbh Shefflin, Eibhlin Thompson, Sinead Jones, Megan Trait, Tara Cody, Lilly Ryan, Keelin Byrne, Eva Tynan, Sian Bolger, Maria Ryan, Katie Chambers, Ona Kennedy, Kate Meighan

Dublin – Xiou (Iona) Wu, Roisin Nolan, Lucy Brady, Cara Coffey, Caoimhe Brady, Sadhbh McGeough, Ellie Reen, Jocelyn Hanks, Ella Jenkins, Ava O’Neill, Molly Bourke, Kate Keaney, Eva Collis, Clodagh Hogan (Capt), Niamh Hyland

Subs – Anna Magee, Kaci Hodgins, Emma Redden (Vice Captain), Cliodhna Thomas, Emma Ryan, Laura McGlinchey, Meadhbh Ni Chleirigh, Naomi Crilly, Reka Kiss Kallo, Robyn Costello, Roisin Murray, Sadhbh Lynch, Sadhbh McCann, Sophie McDonnell

Referee – Donnacha O’Callaghan