Kilkenny intermediate winners Danesfort lose out in Leinster to Na Fianna

Despite dominating the second-half Danesfort agonisingly fell short of getting the score they needed to save themselves from the narrowest of defeats in this Leinster Intermediate Camogie Championship encounter at Baconstown on Sunday.

Behind 0-2 to 1-3 at the interval Danesfort were the more assertive, commanding attacking force conjuring up a string of relentless moves upfield in the second-half without managing to get the score they needed to draw level.

Encouraged by a sizeable contingent of supporters, the Kilkenny side were left to dwell on what might have been with some missed chances ultimately proving costly.

They were thwarted also by resolute, defensive stubborness shown by Na Fianna who, only a few weeks earlier, secured their third successive senior county title.

The experience and confidence gained on a run like that certainly came in useful in this highly entertaining encounter.

The scoring was low but that reality doesn't tell the full story about a physically demanding game in which both sits of players displayed a ferocious, unremitting commitment.

Crunching tackles and brave blocking were only two factors that ensured this was a compelling spectacle from start to finish.

Maybe it something to do with the lengthy trip up to the rural Meath venue but Danesfort took some time to settle into this game.

Na Fianna had the opposite experience. They were in the zone from the start - helped by a breeze that diminished as the afternoon wore on.

Emma Regan clipped over an early point for the home side and with just five minutes played outstanding midfielder Aoife Carey played the ball high into the Danesforth goalmouth.

Na Fianna's Katie Kelly brilliantly won possession, turned smartly and fired the ball into net, leaving Danesforth's Bronagh Davis with no chance.

Just five gone and already Danesfort were on the backfoot, big time.

They really had trouble in trying to contain Carey who was the dominant force in the midfield sector - and it got worse for the visitors when Na Fianna's Brodie Kelly pointed again.

Gradually the Kilkenny side started to get a foothold.

Players such as Olivia Mahony, Shauna Mahony and Ciara Gleeson began to win more ball and play it to colleagues such as Niamh Davis who, once supplied with possession, caused the Na Fianna defence plenty of headaches.

In the 15th minutes Danesfort finally, finally got on the scoreboard when Davis pointed superbly from an awkward angle from a free.

Brooke Flynn responded with a point for the home side as the tempo picked up.

Just before the interval Shauna Mahony embarked a forward surge, one of many she made throughout the game.

She passed to Louisa Gilmore who was fouled. Up stepped Oliva Mahony to strike the ball confidently over the bar.

Behind 1-3 to 0-2 at the break Danesfort needed a bright start to the second-half.

Instead Na Fianna added another point to their account, this time from Emma Regan, just after the restart.

Remarkably that was to be Na Fianna's last score as tenacious Danesfort took control.

They gradually chipped away at their opponents' lead. Deirdre Phelan slotted over a super point from play after she was picked out by Olivia Mahony, who became a highly influential figure in the tense closing stages.

She bravely stepped up to take the frees for her side and had a few efforts sail narrowly wide, including one that ended up hitting the side netting.

She did however, show nerves of steel by converting two frees in injury time, that gave her team, and their passionate supporters, real hope.

However there just wasn't enough time for the Kilkenny side to fashion an equaliser.

Danesfort fought the good fight but on this occasion, for this rising force in Kilkenny camogie, it just wasn't to be.

Danesfort will look back on this as a real missed opportunity but ultimately they just couldn’t get enough scores on the board with Katie Kelly’s opening half goal for Na Fianna proving their undoing in the end as their second half comeback came up short by the smallest of margins.

Na Fianna - Katie Mulvihill; Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Aisling Byrne; Meabh Downey, Gracie Grehan, Eimear Fagan; Leah Devine, Aoife Carey; Brodie Kelly (0-1), Erin Leddy, Aideen Slattery; Brooke Flynn (0-1), Emma Regan (0-2), Katie Kelly (1-0).

Subs - Niamh Mulvihill for Byrne 49 mins, Anna Carey for Kelly 51 mins.

Danesfort - Bronagh Davis; Clodagh Doyle, Grace Byrne, Jill O'Brien; Aileen Gleeson, Olivia Mahony (0-4 frees), Muireann Kelly; Shauna Mahony, Ciara Gleeson; Aoife Farrell, Rachel Phelan, Louisa Gilmore; Deirdre Phelan (0-1), Eve Dunne, Niamh Davis (0-1 free).

Subs - Lisa Fitzpatrick for Farrell 52 mins.

Referee - Shane Foley (Carlow)