Hungry Kilkenny roar into All-Ireland final with big win over Limerick

A powerful and polished performance saw the Kilkenny minor camogie team book their place in the All-Ireland final.

The Cats made it to the final showdown for the first time in four years with a convincing win away to Limerick on Saturday afternoon. After finishing third at the end of their minor group matches, the odds were against David Maher’s side making it to the final, but strong performances away to Galway and now Limerick earned them a showdown against Cork in Kilkenny on Sunday, April 27.

This win was a win for the whole panel of girls who pressed for home early in the second half. Having undertaken a three-hour drive to get to the venue it was no surprise that Kilkenny made a slow start to proceedings in Templeglantine. Limerick opened with a fine score from Caitlin Ryan in the second minute, although an Ona Kennedy free from half-way levelled matters soon afterwards.

Despite finding it hard to get a foothold in the match, Kilkenny received a tonic in the fifth minute when a ground pull by Emily Phelan found the net to open up a three point advantage. Limerick did recover and largely dominated play between the 10th and 20th minutes, by which time they had reduced the deficit to two points (1-2 to 0-3), but they were guilty of a number of wides when on top.

The hosts were made to pay for that when, with 23 minutes on the clock, Niamh Davis ended a fine run with a searing strike to stretch Kilkenny’s lead to five points (2-2 to 0-3). The sides traded points from here to the break as Kilkenny scores from Lucy Boyd and Ona Kennedy were cancelled out by a Caitlin Ryan free and a score from play by Hazel Horgan.

At half-time Kilkenny led by double figures (2-4 to 0-5), but Limerick had more than enough chances to be much closer to them at this time.

Having fallen at the semi-final hurdle in last year’s championship, Kilkenny opened the second half determined to avoid a repeat - three quick scores from the impressive Rachel Phelan, Aisling O’Sullivan and Molly Conroy stretched their lead to eight. The sides swapped scores for a spell but, by the 50th minute, Kilkenny were still well ahead (2-10 to 0-8). Limerick tried hard to reduce the deficit but a strong Kilkenny defence led by Caoimhe Power, Grace Brennan and Ona Kennedy kept them at bay.

Kilkenny made a number of changes in the last quarter, the fresh legs helping the side drive home their advantage inside the final 10 minutes. Their run to victory was started by a smart finish to the net from Ciara O’Shea, before another goal two minutes from Lucy Boyd pushed them well clear, with further points from Molly Conroy, Aisling O’Sullivan and Shannon Doheny sealing an impressive win.

The winners, who are already looking forward to the final, had strong performances from goalkeeper Ella Walton, Ciara Hickey in defence, the midfield pairing of Rachel Phelan and Eleanor Doheny, who got through a lot of action over the hour, while Niamh Davis and Aisling O’Sullivan shone well in the forwards.

Teams and scorers

Kilkenny - Ona Kennedy (0-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 45); Lucy Boyd (1-1); Niamh Davis, Emily Phelan, Ciara O’Shea (1-0 each); Aisling O’Sullivan, Molly Conroy (0-2 each); Shannon Doheny, Rachel Phelan (0-1 each).

Limerick - Caitlin Ryan (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 45); Ciara Curtin, Hazel Horgan (0-1 each).

Kilkenny - Ella Walton (Tullaroan); Caoimhe Power (Windgap), Grace Brennan (Tullaroan), Jessica Smith (Barrow Rangers); Ciara Hickey (St Lachtain’s), Ona Kennedy (Windgap), Taylor Aylward (Shamrocks, Ballyhale); Rachel Phelan (John Lockes), Eleanor Doheny (Tullaroan); Sadhbh Shefflin (Ballyhale), Aisling O’Sullivan (John Lockes), Niamh Davis (Danesfort); Emily Phelan (John Lockes), Lucy Boyd (Clara), Molly Conroy (St Brigid’s).

Subs: Kate Meighan (Dicksboro), Rebecca Hayden (Graignamanagh), Shona Ruane (St Martin’s), Shannon Doheny (Tullaroan), Ciara O’Shea (Windgap), Rhianna Scott (Barrow Rangers), Michelle Killeen (St Lachtain’s), Jill O’Brien (Danesfort), Siofra O’Leary (O’Loughlin Gaels), Roisin Burns (Lisdowney), Ella O’Reilly (Barrow Rangers), Ali Greaney (Dicksboro), Aoife O’Grady (St Anne’s), Aisling O’Shea (Windgap), Clara Walsh (Tullogher), Eabha Mullally (Glenmore), Jenny Saunders (Windgap), Kate Dowling (Dicksboro).

Limerick - Emma Doherty; Tara Hynes, Cora Long, Kaelin Ryan; Eimear O’Donovan, Eve Cleary, Mai McKenna; Ciara Curtin, Caitlin Ryan; Anna Rose Benson, Aoife Moriarty, Maeve Geary; Amber O’Sullivan Hunt, Emma Mullins, Hazel Horgan.

Referee - Justin Heffernan (Wexford).