Camogie- Neighbours Waterford prove too strong for Kilkenny Intermediates

Kilkenny made the short journey to the WIT Arena on Saturday to take on near neighbours Waterford in the second round of the Division 2 National League.

This would be a stiff test for the Kilkenny side with Waterford having been relegated from Division One last year.

Lining out at the windswept venue, Kilkenny played with the elements in the first half. However, with 11 minutes on the clock it was Waterford who held the upper hand with a 0-3 to 0-2 lead.

Kilkenny worked hard to get back on level terms and were all square a couple of minutes later (0-4 to 0-4). However, the Cats suffered a huge blow in the 27th minute, when Vikki Falconer shot home a goal for Waterford to push them 1-4 to 0-4 ahead.

Kilkenny rallied and by the half-time interval the scores were tied 1-4 to 0-7.

Waterford had the breeze in the second half and they utilised it very well.

Team captain Lorraine Bray was instrumental in midfield and acted like the conductor of an orchestra. Kilkenny struggled after the break. They failed to register a single point in 30 minutes of the second half, only breaking their barren spell when Asha McHardy grabbed a consolation point in injury time.

The home side, however, had no problem scoring. Beth Carton (0-4), Lorraine Bray and Vikki Falconer (0-3 each) and Niamh Ahearne and Sarah Lacey all shot over points to leave the home side outscoring their opponents 0-12 to 0-1 in the second half.

Waterford will now qualify for the knockout stages of the National League, Kilkenny will travel to Westmeath in round three with victory also guaranteeing John Scott and his team a place in the knockout stages.

Teams & Scorers

Waterford: Vicki Falconer (1-3), Beth Carton (0-5, 0-3 frees), Lorraine Gray (0-5), Sarah Lacey (0-2), Niamh Ahearne (0-1).

Kilkenny: Asha McHardy (0-5, 0-3 frees), Aine Phelan (0-2), Carlise Comerford (0-1).

Kilkenny: Sinead Farrell; Sinead O’Keeffe, Roisin Phelan, Aideen O’Connor; Mairead Corcoran, Ciara Murphy, Niamh Sweeney; Claire Nolan, Laura Hegarty; Tara Ronan, Hannah Scott, Carlise Comerford; Leann Fennelly, Aine Phelan, Asha McHardy.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Keeley Corbett Barry, Iona Heffernan, Mairead Power; Aoife Landers, Orla Hickey, Rachael Walsh; Lorraine Bray, Clara Griffin; Tara Power, Beth Carton, Sarah Lacey; Niamh Ahearne, Vikki Falconer, Roisin Kirwan.

Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath).