Cats strike gold against Greenfield to grab first EY league win

The Kilkenny Ladies first team played host to Galway side Greenfields on Saturday in a blustery Kilkenny College.

Having had the experience of playing two EY2 games already, the Cats were determined to get their first win under their belt against the youthful side from the West.

It was clear from the get-go that the home side meant business and attacked the opposition circle with menace through pacy wingers Ally Carter and Lily Grace. The pick of Kilkenny’s chances in the opening quarter fell to sharpshooter Sue Shirley, but her well-struck shot was batted away by the Greenfield’s goalkeeper to keep the game very much in the balance.

Kilkenny continued to show their class in the second quarter and began to control the tempo of the game. The Cats managed to win themselves their only penalty corner of the game following some nice link up play between Niamh Spratt O’Shea, Sinead Connery and Tyla Sanderson. Katie Leslie stepped up to the mark and made no mistake, rattling the back of the net from the top of the circle, to give her side a well-deserved lead going into the half time break.

It was much the same from the hosts in the second half, as they looked to build on their one goal advantage. Midfielders Paula Farrell and Ally Williams played countless inch-perfect passes into oncoming forwards Sara Browne and Cliodhna O’Connor, who was unlucky not to bag herself a goal.

The experienced Linda Caulfield made a darting run towards the latter end of the third quarter and eventually found herself in enough space to get a blistering strike away. Caulfield’s effort was no match for the Greenfield’s defence, and sailed into the bottom left corner of the goal to give the Cats a two goal cushion.

The final quarter saw the Galway side make a break for the Kilkenny goal, but defenders Ciara Clarke and Sarah Richardson and ’keeper Jess Cary were on hand to shut down any threatening attacks. Kilkenny ran out as eventual 2-0 winners, much to the delight of the home crowd.

This Saturday sees the Cats take on Cork Harlequins in Kilkenny College at 1.30pm in the next round of the EY2 Hockey League.

Kilkenny Firsts - Jess Cary (GK), Ciara Clarke, Sophie Naughton, Ally Williams, Sinead Connery, Linda Caulfield, Lily Grace, Paula Farrell (C), Sara Browne, Cliodhna O’Connor, Niamh Spratt O’Shea, Ally Carter, Sue Shirley, Sarah Richardson, Katie Leslie, Tyla Sanderson.

Coaches/Manager - Gavin Bourke and Evan Matthews/Jenny Wallace.