Classy Kilkenny see off Cork to advance to under-16 camogie final
Kilkenny 3-18 Cork 2-10
On a bright and sunny afternoon in Fethard, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Cork faced off in the Eir U16 All-Ireland camogie semi-final, with a mild breeze favouring the Rebel County in the first half, as anticipation rippled through the expectant crowd.
From the first whistle, both teams competed strongly for every ball and it was Kilkenny’s Ruby Mullins who struck first, sending over a precise point after just two minutes.
Minutes later, Dearbhla Ryan at corner forward aimed for a point and was denied by Cork’s goalkeeper, Kayleigh Murphy, but Kate Dalton in the opposite corner fought through the scramble to fire home a crucial opening goal for Kilkenny.
After hard work by Ryan, she followed this up with her first point of the game. Kilkenny’s Isabel Carroll and Rachel Murphy were working well together in the half back line but Cork responded well to Kilkenny’s opening dominance and moments later, Niamh O’Conner opened their scoring with a well taken point. Kilkenny replied to this with another point from the lively Kate Dalton.
In the 26th minute, Noa Bambrick pointed a free for her opening score and one minute later, Kilkenny had their second goal.
Midfielder, Rebecca Smith picked out the advancing Rachael Duff, who handed the ball to Kate Dalton who in turn passed it to Maebh Kenny for an excellent taken goal into the top corner of the net.
Cork responded quickly with a point from Lauren McAuliffe but Kilkenny finished the half with three unanswered points from Rachael Duff and two from player of the match, Dearbhla Ryan.
Similar to the first half, the opening minutes of the second half were a battle between both teams but it was Cork who opened the scoring with a point from the energetic Niamh O’Connor.
Kilkenny’s Dearbhla Ryan replied with a neatly taken point after Ciara Joyce in defence cleared an excellent ball to Noa Bambrick who picked out Ryan. Bambrick herself followed this up with a well taken free.
Cork’s reaction to Kilkenny’s early points was immediate. In the 39th minute, Cork substitute Aoife White made a huge impact with a well taken goal and Niamh O’Connor followed this up with another accurate point.
Centre-back Rachel Murphy added to Kilkenny’s scoring with a well taken point from a free and Kate Dalton added another point.
Kilkenny’s Dearbhla Ryan took over the free taking duties and slotted over 2 points from the placed ball, while Rachael Duff added another point to increase Kilkenny’s tally.
Kilkenny’s forwards were attacking with every ball and as K. Dalton’s shot at goal was blocked by Kayleigh Murphy in the Cork goal, the ball rebounded to the alert Sophie McCabe who batted it into the back of the net. Cork responded with a point from the hard working Niamh O’Connor but Kilkenny were well in control and sensed the win was in sight.
Cork added a consolation goal in the final minute from a free taken by Ava Kenneally, but it was to be Kilkenny’s day and this group of girls now progress on to an All-Ireland final in two weeks’ time against Galway.
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Kilkenny: Heidi Culleton, Sinead Cash, Robyn Corcoran, Ciara Joyce (0-1), Saidhbh Farrell, Rachel Murphy (0-1 f), Isabel Carroll, Amy Walsh, Rebecca Smith, Rachael Duff (0-3), Noa Bambrick (0-2f), Ruby Mullins (0-1), Kate Dalton (1-2), Meabh Kenny (1-0), Dearbhla Ryan (0-7, 0-3f).
Subs: Alice Maher, Elizabeth Sida, Katie Mulcahy, Sophie McCabe (1-0), Leyla Ahern (0-1), Megan Harding, Holly Drennan, Roisin Gibbons, Katie Harnett, Sarah Buggy, Molly Ryan, Amy Hughes, Clea Whelan.
Cork: Kayleigh Murphy, Emma Dennehy, Ali McCarthy (C), Abby Keane, Saidhbhin Ni Lionsigh, Evelyn Ryan, Amy Walsh, Eabha Lynch, Kate O’Mahony, Simone Fitzgearld, Niamh O’Connor (0-6), Lauren McAuliffe (0-1), Alanah Murphy, Ava Kenneally (1-2 f), Ailbhe Byerley.
Subs: Faye Buckley, Urszula Berbecka, Liadh Sheehan, Aisling Ryan, Lara Daly, Aoife White (1-1).