Intermediate ladies suffer severe hiding

National camogie league division two

Derry 3-15
Kilkenny 0-4

By Michael O’Leary

A Disastrous day at the office for Kilkenny intermediate camogie girls who suffered a demoralizing 20-point defeat to their Northern counterparts played in Blanchardstown on the Navan Road last Sunday afternoon.

It was a day to forget for the girls who would’ve targeted the Derry game as recording their first victory following a highly encouraging draw against Cork in Mullinavat.

However, they looked a beaten docket from an early stage as Derry dominated in every facet of play. The Northern girls led 1-9 to 0-0 in first-half injury-time, before a Tara Warren pointed free finally opened their account.

Kilkenny added further second-half points from Tara Warren(free), and efforts from play by Emma Carroll and Mags Fennelly.

Derry though were able to pick off their scores with such consummate ease and further second-half goals from Kerrie Graham and substitute Keelin Bradley confirmed their far superior dominance.

Only for the heroics of the Kilkenny full-back line of the tight-marking Roisin Fennelly, the games best performer in Alison Walsh – superb at full-back – and Elaine O’Shea, the margin could easily have been far greater.

As it was it proved to be a horrendous setback to Kilkenny, and unfortunately nothing else to write about in a bad weekend for Kilkenny camogie.

With the under-16s shipping an 11-point defeat in Ballinasloe, the under-14s compiled a weekend of misery as they were well beaten 4-8 to 1-5 by Dublin in the opening game of the Leinster championship in Trinity Gaels.

Meanwhile, national league division one semi-finals has paired a repeat of last years semi-finals on April 10^th.

Kilkenny who already topped Division One A as group winners have a confirmed semi-final date with Galway on April 10^th after the tribeswomen confirmed their runners-spot with a 3-12 to 0-11 victory over Dublin when a second goal from Veronica Curtin only ensured victory in what was generally a hard fought encounter.

While it’s a clash of the defending League and O’Duffy champions as Cork face Wexford with the Rebellettes overturning a 5-point half-time deficit to record a hard-earned 0-12 to 1-7 victory over Tipperary.

Kilkenny Team: Anne Marie Lennon, Roisin Fennelly, Alison Walsh, Elaine O’Shea, Niamh Kelly, Roisin Byrne, Mariga Nolan, Eilish Cantwell, Lisa Phelan, Niamh Byrne, Emma Carroll, Aine Fahey, Noelle Corrigan, Tara Warren, Mags Fennelly,

Subs: Nicola Butler, Catherine Walsh, Lizzie Byrne, Anne-Marie Walsh, Laura Walker,

Referee: Karl O’Brien(Dublin)

Kilkenny senior girls lay down a marker

National camogie League Division One

Kilkenny 3-4
Cork 1-6

Kilkenny senior camogie girls continued their excellent start to 2010 progressing straight to a national league semi-final on April 10^th following a 4-point victory over defending senior All-Ireland champions Cork down in Mullinavat played last Saturday afternoon.

Possessing the advantage of having match practice in their demolition of Tipperary, Kilkenny looked the sharper team as a result with the inside forward line including two goal heroine Deirdre Delaney troubling the Cork defence. The defending All-Ireland champions were minus the services of Gemma O'Connor, the travelling Briege Corkery and also Mary O'Connor who was only a substitute, but Anne Downey will be greatly pleased with a more consistent team performance.

They made a whirlwind start inside two minutes when 'Young Camogie Player of the Year' Denise Gaule set up Deirdre Delaney to blast past Aoife Murray, and Gaule was doing damage early when she drew a foul in the 6^th minute for Aoife Neary to convert a straightforward free, after Orla Cotter pointed in between. 1-1 to 0-1. Cork took over, and similar to the Tipperary clash in the Ragg, Kilkenny went long periods without registering a score. They failed to score from the 6^th till the 31^st minute, as Cork only managed to draw level during that period courtesy of 15^th and 18^th minute pointed frees respectively from Rachel Maloney and a point shortly afterwards by Anna Geary.

A long barren scoring spell endured from the 18^th minute till the first minute of injury-time before a magic moment produced by Kilkenny team captain Anne Dalton was worth the long wait. The lively Michelle Quilty raced through the Cork defence to set up Dalton as she sold a glorious dummy before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Aoife Murray. 2-1 to 0-4.

Neary(free) and the returning Jennifer O'Leary - playing first inter-county game since 2007 All-Ireland final defeat to Wexford - exchanged points as Kilkenny held the initiative at the interval. 2-2 to 0-5. Of concern, Kilkenny went through another long scoreless spell failing to score after half-time till the 49^th minute, as the Rebelettes took the outright lead courtesy of an equalizing Sile Burns goal in the 33^rd minute, before having to wait till the 46^th minute for Burns to point the close-range leading free. 1-6 to 2-2.

However, the Kilkenny backs stood tall with Catherine Doherty, Jacqui Frisby and centre-back Edwina Keane performing superbly, and they showed great character as Delaney bagged her second goal to regain the initiative following great work from Michelle Quilty and Katie Power - introduced as an early substitute -. 3-2 to 1-6. Cork were held scoreless during last 10 minutes as Aoife Neary pointed two frees to assure their league semi-final spot most likely against Galway in a repeat of last years All-Ireland semi-final and 2008 national league final. The westerners look odds-on for a runner-up spot following an emphatic 8-point defeat to Wexford.

Scorers - Kilkenny Deirdre Delaney 2-0 Aoife Neary 0-4(all frees) Anne Dalton 1-0

Cork - Sile Burns 1-1(0-1 free), Rachel Maloney 0-2(frees), Orla Cotter, Anna Geary and Jennifer O'Leary all 0-1 each

Teams -

Kilkenny:
Catriona Ryan, Amy Butler, Catherine Doherty, Jacqui Frisby, Lizzie Lyng, Edwina Keane, Eimear Lyng, Elaine Aylward, Keeva Fennelly, Michelle Quilty, Anne Dalton, Kate McDonald, Denise Gaule, Deirdre Delaney, Aoife Neary,

Subs: Katie Power, Sarah Dermody,

Cork:
Aoife Murray, Lydia O'Connell, Catriona Foley, Joanne O'Callaghan, Elaine O'Riordan, Rena Buckley, Pamela Mackey, Orla Cotter, Eimear O'Sullivan, Julia White, Anna Geary, Jennifer O'Leary, Sile Burns, Rachel Maloney, Katriona Mackey,

Referee: Eamonn Browne(Tipperary)

Much improved intermediates unluckily denied

National camogie league division two

Kilkenny 3-6

Cork 3-6

The Kilkenny Intermediate camogie girls are progressing greatly through the group stages of the intermediate, and last Saturday in Mullinavat they were unluckily denied by a last gasp ’45 from ace sharpshooter Michelle Browne.

Becoming more familiar with playing together as a team, Kilkenny are starting to gel as a unit much more effectively.

Making four changes in personnel from the heavy defeat to Tiperary and numerous positions and with only four players – Edel Frisby, Lisa Phelan, Tara Warren and Mags Fennelly – lining out in the same positions as the previous fixture, the switches paid handsome dividends and the mentors will have been very pleased with a highly encouraging performance.

Cork made a magnificent start as Browne bagged a goal in the 4^th minute, before adding a pointed free to complete a great start.

However, Kilkenny began to settle and struck double glory in a two minute spell in the 11^th and 13^th minutes respectively.

Aine Fahy operating at wing-forward soloed through the Cork defence before the handpassing the sliothar into an empty net, before gaining a slice of fortune within two minutes.

Tara Warren was attempting a point but she mis-hit her attempt, and the ball broke loose to youngster Mags Fennelly who grabbed control of possession and struck an excellent shot past the Cork netminder. 2-0 to 1-1.

Kilkenny were motoring and Warren pointed a free second later, before this action packed clash saw Cork restore parity in the 17^th minute when Denise Luby took advantage of a slack clearance by Kilkenny goalkeeper Laura Walker when striking home from close range. 2-1 each.

Emma Carroll pointed to regain the Kilkenny lead in the 19^th minute as therewasn’t a score registered until the 26^th minute.

Luby pointed the leveling free, before goalscorers Fennelly and Fahy pointed in quick succession. 2-4 to 2-2.

However, Cork had the last laugh of the opening half as a Michelle Browne goal regained the Rebelletes lead. 3-2 to 2-4.

Defences tightened up greatly after the restart, with forwards not finding as much space.

Browne and Warren exchanged pointed frees early in the second-half, before Mags Fennelly bagged her second goal in the 41^st minute taking advantage of a Cork mix-up.

3-5 to 3-3.

Alin O’Donovan and Tara Warren exchanged points in the 51^st and 52^nd minutes respectively, and with Kilkenny maintaining their two point advantage in the closing minute’s victory was within their grasp.

However, Michelle Browne pointed from play in the 57^th minute and in the 3^rd minute of injury-time Cork were awarded a 45.

Browne, who starred in the 2008 All-Ireland intermediate final defeat to Kilkenny stepped up and safely negotiated her strike with consummate ease to deny Kilkenny victory.

Disappointment at losing the extra point so late on, but the Intermediate girls making major progress and only improve in the months ahead.

Next up is a clash against Derry next Sunday to be played at a halfway venue.

Scorers: Kilkenny – Mags Fennelly 2-1 Aine Fahey 1-1 Tara Warren 0-3(0-2 frees), Emma Carroll 0-1

Cork – Michelle Browne 2-4(0-2 frees 0-1 ’45), Denise Luby 1-1(0-1 free), Alin O’Donovan 0-1

Kilkenny team: Laura Walker, Roisin Fennelly, Anne Marie Walsh, Sarah Shore, Edel Frisby, Roisin Byrne, Mariga Nolan, Eilish Cantwell, Lisa Phelan, Lucinda Gahan, Emma Carroll, Aine Fahey, Noelle Corrigan, Tara Warren, Mags Fennelly,

Subs: Alison Walsh for Anne Marie Walsh and Davina Tobin for Sarah Shore both half-time,

Referee: Andrew Monahan (Clare)

Neary’s Golden hat-trick secures victory

National camogie league division one

Kilkenny 5-5
Tipperary 0-11

By Michael O’Leary

An important victory for last years all-Ireland senior camogie finalists Kilkenny secured the minimum of a play-off place in the group stages of the national camogie league as they cruised to victory in the end over Tipperary played at a dry but windy pitch in the Ragg last Sunday. A 9-point victory would suggest highly impressive display, but that wasn’t the case.  Kilkenny made a good start and goals from Michelle Quilty and Aoife Neary gave them a 2-1 to 0-2 lead after 12 minutes.  However, they failed to register a single score until the 41^st minute, as Tipperary took control adding 8 unanswered points during that period without playing any great hurling. However, Kilkenny dug deep and goals from Aoife Neary(2) and a 5^th goal from Marie Dargan ensured an easy victory in the end.

It’s a sign of the times in camogie that Kilkenny won by 9-points, went half the game failing to register a single score, yet despite being obviously pleased with the important matter of 2 points, the girls were not overly delighted at the full-time, and know there is plenty of aspects of their game to work on.  It’s only early March after all.

Tipperary’s top scorer Clare Grogan(0-8 0-6 frees 0-1 ’45) opened the scoring with a brace of points, before Aoife Neary converted a straight-forward free, before striking double glory in the 11^th and 13^th minutes respectively.

Great work down the left-wing from Jacqui Frisby and Marie Dargan, saw Edwina Keane race through on goal only for her blocked shot to be slammed home by the opportunism of Michelle Quilty. Buoyed on by that goal, they stretched the lead further within two minutes when Elaine Aylward’s shot cause hesitancy amongst the Tipperary full-back line, and Aoife Neary took advantage with a glorious overhead strike and Kilkenny appeared to be in cruise control. However, Anne Downey’s troops became somewhat sloppy and complacent in their play and lost their focus, allowing Tipperary to narrow the gap as they trailing by the minimum at the interval. 2-1 to 0-6.

The premier ladies completely owned possession during the opening 10 minutes of the restart, as they added further points from Grogan(3 2f 1’45) and a further effort from Geraldine Kinnane. 0-10 to 2-1. However, Kilkenny responded and took control for the last 20 plus minutes outscoring their opponents 3-3 to 0-1. A swift direct puck-out from Catriona Ryan saw Aoife Neary cut loose soloing through the Tipperary defence, before handpassing the sliothar into an empty net. 3-1 to 0-10. Edwina Keane pointed a free to regain the winners lead, and Katie Power and Marie Dargan adding further points, Kilkenny applied a double dose to rub salt into Tipp’s wounds. Neary completed her hat-trick in the 45^th minute, after been set by the strong foraging by Michelle Quilty, while a Marie Dargan goal in the 53^rd minute after a great run from Edwina Keane applied the crowning glory.

However, Dargan’s participation ended soon afterwards when she had to be stretchered off after she was the victim of a reckless challenge from an opponent.

A 9-point victory despite not the most fluent of displays, and apart from the golden hat-trick of Neary, others to impress was Catriona Ryan who was coolness personified in goal, Catherine Doherty, Anne Dalton and Lizzie Lyng who produced a superb second-half performance, while Elaine Aylward lining out in midfield, Michelle Quilty and the lively Marie Dargan also showed up well.

Player of the match: Aoife Neary(Kilkenny)

Lack of consistent outstanding performers over the hour makes Neary’s hat-trick the obvious stand out choice. The Tipp full-back line feared panic when the twice all-star was in possession.

Scorers – Kilkenny: Aoife Neary 3-2(0-2 frees), Marie Dargan 1-1 Michelle Quilty 1-0 Edwina Keane(free) and Katie Power 0-1 each

Tipperary: Claire Grogan 0-8(0-6 frees 0-1’45), Cora Hennessy, Jill Horan, and Geraldine Kinnane all 0-1 each

Teams

Kilkenny – Catriona Ryan, Amy Butler, Catherine Doherty, Jacqui Frisby, Lizzie Lyng, Anne Dalton, Eimear Lyng, Elaine Aylward, Keeva Fennelly, Michelle Quilty, Katie Power, Marie Dargan, Deirdre Delaney, Edwina Keane, Aoife Neary,

Subs: Collette Dormer, Denise Gaule, Claire Delaney, Briona Langton, Laura Kavanagh

Tipperary – R. Kenneally, T. Shortt, Mairead Lutterell(Windgap), G. Stapleton, M. Shortt, T. O’Halloran, M. Tynan, J. Horan, J. McGrath, C. Hennessy, C. Devane, G. Kinnane, N. Walsh, C. Grogan, A. MoLoughney,

S. Ryan, N. Flanagan,

Referee: Eadhmonn MacShubhne(Dublin)

Brave battling intermediates no match for Tipp

National camogie league division two

Tipperary 2-12
Kilkenny 0-5

By Michael O’Leary

Tipperary’s second string cruised to victory over a youthful Kilkenny outfit in the preceding division two clash, as two quick-fire goals early on proved decisive with Kilkenny hopes dealt a major blow. To their credit Kilkenny never gave up, and worked very hard but they were always facing an uphill battle.

Kilkenny started brightly and dominated possession in the opening 5 minutes as Anna Farrell pointed a free. However, Tipperary took over and goals in the 6^th and 9^th minutes respectively effectively sealed this contest.

Firstly, Alison Lonergan’s shot was blocked off Roisin Byrne, before making no mistake by following up on the rebound, before a rather strange goal set Kilkenny back even further. Tipperary centre-forward Siobhan McGrath raced through and her shot caused a mix-up in the Kilkenny full-back line, as the green flag was waved. 2-0 to 0-1.

Kilkenny’s only other point during the opening-half came from Tara Warren following a long distance free by Elaine O’Shea, but Tipperary took complete control pointing at will as they led 2-7 to 0-2 at the interval.Further points from Ciara Johnson(2), Siobhan Ryan(2 1f), Noreen Flanagan, Jackie O’Connor, and Siobhan McGrath confirmed Tipperary’s superior dominance as they were in cruise mode. Kilkenny to their credit never threw in the towel and battled bravely despite their difficulties, restricting Tipperary to 5 second-half points as Kilkenny added points from Anna Farrell(free), sister Michelle – introduced as a substitute -, and a great point from fellow sub Catherine Walsh.

Their is room for further potential improvement with numerous All-Ireland under-age and indeed members of the 2008 intermediate All-Ireland in their ranks. The intermediate grade is difficult to build teams from with a collection of players often not having played together before, and indeed last Sunday was only the second time these group of players would’ve played together as a unit. The fact Kilkenny never gave up and didn’t lose heart offers encouragement for the reminder of the league campaign. The defence battled bravely in trying circumstances with Edel Frisby and Roisin Byrne doing their utmost, and Mariga Nolan performing well in the second-half.

Lucinda Gahan worked trojanly and Anna Farrell was Kilkenny’s best performer, with sister Shelley looking lively in possession when introduced as an early substitute.

Scorers: Tipperary – Siobhan McGrath 1-1, Alison Lonergan 1-0,Ciara Johnson + Siobhan Ryan(2 frees) 0-3 each, Jackie O’Connor + Elaine Hough 0-2 each, Noreen Flanagan 0-1

Kilkenny – Anna Farrell 0-2(frees), Tara Warren, Shelley Farrell + Catherine Walsh all 0-1 each

Kilkenny: Anne Marie Lennon, Mariga Nolan, Alison Walsh, Roisin Byrne, Edel Frisby, Elaine O’Shea, Roisin Fennelly, Aine Fahey, Lisa Phelan, Ellis Cantwell, Lucinda Gahan, Anna Farrell, Emma Carroll, Tara Warren, Mags Fennelly,

Subs: Shelley Farrell, Catherine Walsh, AnneMarie Walsh, Davina Tobin + Elizabeth Byrne,

Tipperary: C. Kenneally, S. Ryan, S. O’Neill, M. Barry, E. Spillane, S. Larkin, J. Kirwan, C. Kenny, S. Ryan, N. Flanagan, S. McGrath, J. O’Connor, E. Hough, C. Johnston, A. Lonergan,

Subs: S. Dwyer, + D. Dunne

Referee: Ger O’Dowd(Limerick)