Classy Cats see off Clare to get off the mark in league campaign

Kilkenny produced a polished display as they overcame Clare in Division 1A of the Very Camogie League in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon

Apart from a brief period at the start of the contest, it was a game that the home side controlled for the most part as Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere got his first win as senior boss.

An opening half goal from Aoife Doyle as well as free-scoring displays from Steffi Fitzgerald and Katie Nolan will have pleased Kilkenny supporters.

It was also a game where all six starting forwards got on the scoresheet from play and sets the Cats up well for future games with Galway, Waterford and Tipperary.

After a narrow loss to All-Ireland champions Cork in the league opener, Kilkenny were eager to get up and running, but with Lorna McNamara converting two frees inside the opening ten minutes, it was Clare who held the early advantage.

Katie Nolan got Kilkenny’s only score in that early spell but it wasn’t long until the side in black and amber took complete control of proceedings.

After a Katie Power point attempt rebounded off the post, the sliotar arrived into the hand of Aoife Doyle who ran past a defender before blasting a shot to the net.

The goal really took the wind out of Clare’s sails as the winners knocked over the next seven points on the trot.

Steffi Fitzgerald, who was lining out in a new role at centre-forward, was very influential in this period as she knocked over three efforts from distance.

Nolan, Miriam Bambrick and Julianne Malone also found their range and by the 20 minute mark, Kilkenny led 1-8 to 0-2.

Clare replied with points from McNamara and Aine O’Loughlin while Katie Nolan’s only pointed free of the game brought an end to the half’s scoring as the Cats looked all but home in leading 1-9 to 0-4.

Clara’s Keara Ryan had a very enterprising debut and she grabbed the opening score of the second half to make it a nine point game.

Clare then rallied with an effort from Niamh Mulqueen followed up by McNamara netting a penalty in the 34th minute.

Kilkenny then threw on some big guns from the bench including vice-captain Aoife Prendergast, Sophie O’Dwyer and Asha McHardy and it very much paid dividends.

Within minutes of her introduction, Prendergast shot over on the turn before Julianne Malone doubled her tally for the afternoon.

Clare kept plugging away and got further scores from McNamara, Caoimhe Cahill and Niamh Mulqueen but they were left chasing shadows for much of the second period.

Steffi Fitzgerald continued to dictate play and herself and Aoife Prendergast succeeded in sharing the free taking load after Katie Nolan was taken off.

Asha McHardy and Katie Power also got in on the act before the end as Kilkenny cruised to a comprehensive success in the end as they won out on a 1-19 to 1-9 scoreline.

While Clare were disappointing and tougher tests await, Kilkenny can be very happy with how they performed in what is a pretty new look team with new faces really making a mark.

The likes of Jenny Clifford, Grace Walsh and Miriam Walsh still have to come back into the fold as well and the Noresiders will be content with their lot ahead of facing a stiffer examination away to Galway on Saturday week.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny - Steffi Fitzgerald (0-5, one free), Katie Nolan (0-4, one free), Aoife Doyle (1-0), Aoife Prendergast (0-3, two frees), Julianne Malone (0-2), Miriam Bambrick, Asha McHardy, Katie Power, Keara Ryan (0-1 each)

Clare - Lorna McNamara (1-5, four frees), Niamh Mulqueen (0-2), Caoimhe Cahill, Aine O’Loughlin (0-1 each)

Kilkenny - Roisin Breen; Michelle Teehan, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Katie Byrne; Niamh Deely, Kellyann Doyle, Miriam Bambrick; Laura Murphy, Laura Norris; Katie Power, Steffi Fitzgerald, Julianne Malone; Aoife Doyle, Katie Nolan, Keara Ryan.

Subs: Aoife Prendergast for A Doyle h/t, Laura Greene for Norris 45 mins, Asha McHardy for Nolan 49 mins, Ciara Phelan for Teehan 49 mins, Sophie O’Dwyer for Ryan 54 mins.

Clare - Racheal Daly; Caoimhe Lally, Abby Walsh, Rachel Minogue; Ciara Grogan, Ellen Casey, Susan Daly; Caoimhe Carmody, Zi Yan Spillane; Grace Carmody, Caoimhe Cahill, Jennifer Daly; Lorna McNamara, Aine O’Loughlin, Niamh Mulqueen.

Subs: Lynda Daly for J Daly 26 mins, Laoibhse O’Donnell for Spillane h/t, Aoife Andersen for G Carmody h/t, Laoise Ryan for Minogue 46 mins.

Referee - Justin Heffernan (Wexford).