All square as Kilkenny and Galway camogie under-23s share spoils

Kilkenny’s under-23 team came away from UPMC Nowlan Park last Saturday with a draw against Galway which was a dress rehearsal for next Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Just last week Kilkenny were placed in fourth position on the table and set to play Cork in the semi-finals but after it was revealed in the referee’s match report that Cork had used an extra sub in the match against Kilkenny. The Cats were awarded the three points and, with Saturday’s draw, moved Kilkenny up to third in the table, with Cork now facing Tipperary in the other semi-final.

From the throw in, Galway went on the attack and midfielder Jennifer Hughes slotted over the bar.

Kilkenny equalised through Katie Byrne who had ventured forward and hit a lovely point.

Laura Kelly and Rachel Dowling swapped pointed frees before Galway then hit the next three points through their full-forward Cora Kenny, but Kilkenny came back into the game and hit the next three points through Rachel Dowling (free), Ellen Gunner and Amy Brennan.

Ellen Gunner’s point was an excellent score - Tara McGrath cleared it from defence and Gunner made a great catch between two Galway defenders as she turned and hit over a beauty.

Keara Ryan then slotted over a point for Kilkenny to put them ahead again before Katie Gilchrist equalised for the Westerners.

Heading towards the interval, Galway got in for a goal through Niamh McInerney.

Rachel Dowling converted a free on the stroke of half time to leave the score Galway 1-6, Kilkenny 0-7.

Kilkenny started the brighter in the second half and hit three points through Keara Ryan and Rachel Dowling (two frees) to go a point ahead.

Over the next 14 minutes, both teams tried to add to their tallies but to no avail.

Laura Kelly equalised for Galway with a point from play while Emma Mulhall and Rachel Dowling (free) slotted over a point each for Kilkenny to put them ahead again.

It looked like it might be Kilkenny’s day, but an infringement by the home side heading into injury time gave Laura Kelly a chance to equalise. She duly obliged to leave the final score Kilkenny 0-12 Galway 1-9.

The teams will now meet again at a Galway venue this Saturday with a place in the final of this new competition on the line.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny – Rachel Dowling (0-6, 0-5 frees); Keara Ryan (0-2); Katie Byrne, Amy Brennan, Ellen Gunner, Emma Mulhall (0-1 each).

Galway – Laura Kelly (0-4, 0-2 frees); Cora Kenny (0-3); Niamh McInerney (1-0); Jennifer Hughes, Katie Gilchrist (0-1 each).

Kilkenny – Sinead Farrell, Hannah Larkin, Katie Ryan, Sofia Kerr, Katie Byrne, Tara McGrath, Aisling Browne, Laura Phelan, Muireann Gannon, Amy Brennan, Ellen Gunner, Ciara O’Keeffe, Amy Cody, Rachel Dowling, Keara Ryan.

Subs: Lauren Ronan for Amy Cody, Emma Mulhall for Laura Phelan, Rachel Whelan for Tara McGrath, Eadaoin Coady for Ashling Browne, Kate McCluskey for Amy Brennan, Rachel Moloney, Maire Claire O’Dwyer, Emma Poyntz, Eabha Carroll, Anna Doheny, Katie Brennan, Julie Lennon, Rose Kelly, Niamh Holohan, Laoise Nolan, Caoimhe Carroll (captain), Grace Barcoe.

Galway – Laura Feeney, Reitseal Kelly, Orla Mullins, Ava Crowe, Katie Manning (Capt), Katie Anna Porter (vice-captain), Joanne Daly, Aoibhe Carr, Jennifer Hughes, Aoibheann Barry, Catherine Hanley, Laura Kelly, Niamh McInerney, Cora Kenny, Katie Gilchrist.

Subs: Aoibhe Joyce for Catherine Hanley, Alannah Fahy for Orla Mullins, Ava Bloomer for Aoibheann Barry.

Referee – Andy Larkin (Cork).