Kilkenny edged out in Under 16 Camogie Semi-Final with Cork

Kilkenny’s bid to win the under-16 A camogie All-Ireland title came to an agonising end when they fell to a two-point loss to old foes Cork.

The game, played in greasy underfoot conditions at Cork Camogie Grounds on Saturday, saw both defences on top for much of the hour. However, Kilkenny will know that this game could easily have been won with the tie very much in the balance until the final whistle. Had Kilkenny managed to convert frees won in the closing minutes, the result could have been very different.

Having lost heavily to Cork in an earlier league match, Kilkenny were the underdogs for this semi-final, but Canice Brennan’s team were determined to ensure this match would not follow a similar path. Kilkenny started with a sweeper in place, Holly Ryan dropping back to the midfield area. Cork did threaten early on, but wayward shooting saw them drive three wides in the opening three minutes.

Kilkenny gradually settled into the match, with Rachel Murphy, Ciara Joyce and Holly Ryan to the fore. After Amy O’Shea opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a free they got a further boost when Muireann Kenny crashed a 10th minute penalty to the net.

Cork continued to threaten and two points by the accurate Lexi Manley (one from a free, one from play) reduced the deficit to two points by the 15th minute. The lively Lea Meillouin was threatening every time the ball came her way in the second quarter and, having scored a point when a goal looked a certainty in the 20th minute, she duly found the net minutes later after a mixup between two Kilkenny defenders left her clear on goal – and her shot just crossed the goal line despite the valiant efforts of Clodagh Galway.

This goal levelled the match at 1-3 each after 24 minutes. Boosted by this score, Cork dominated the remaining minutes of this half, but only had a one point lead to show for this at half-time (1-5 to 1-4) with the hosts guilty of a number of poor wides in the opening period (Cork hit six wides to Kilkenny’s three).

The second half was a very even affair all through with both sides pressing to try and gain the advantage with an All-Ireland final place at stake. Defences were again on top for large periods and Kilkenny looked in good shape when points from Amy O’Shea (free) and Dearbhla Ryan gave them a 1-6 to 1-5 lead by the 36th minute.

Most scores during this period came from placed balls and three frees from Cork’s Lexi Manley were cancelled out by two from Amy O’Shea to leave the scores level at 1-8 apiece approaching the 50th minute. Further scores were traded from play by Cork’s Lauren O’Connor and Kilkenny’s Niamh Drennan to leave the scores tied at 1-9 each.

Kilkenny looked set to retake the lead on 54 minutes when Amy O’Shea stood over a difficult free from the sideline but this dropped short of the Cork goal line. Cork worked the ball upfield for captain Leah Hannigan to give them the lead that they would not relinquish to the end.

Kilkenny very much battled to the end, driven on by Erin Morrissey and Holly Ryan, but further chances were missed in the closing minutes - a 59th minute point from play by Lea Meillouin proved to be the last score of an intensely fought semi-final.

The Kilkenny players gave everything to the cause. On a day where defences largely dominated, the Kilkenny defence led by Erin Morrissey, Rachel Murphy and Ciara Joyce were excellent while Holly Ryan was everywhere in a midfield role.

Meanwhile, Cork were very relieved to survive this stern test and they now move on to play Galway in the under-16A final in UPMC Nowlan Park on May 3.

Teams and scorers

Cork - Lexi Manley (0-5, frees); Lea Meillouin (1-2); Leah Hannigan, Lauren O’Connor (0-2).

Kilkenny - Amy O’Shea (0-6, frees); Muireann Kenny (1-0, penalty); Grace Farrell, Dearbhla Ryan, Niamh Drenan (0-1 each).

Cork - Ciara Hynes; Faye Ronan, Rachel Jones, Aisling Coleman; Madeline Keane, Grace O’Connell, Ciara Roche; Orla Troy, Amber Bishop; Stephanie Dwyer, Cliona Harte, Lauren O’Connor; Lexi Manley, Leah Hannigan, Lea Meillouin.

Kilkenny - Clodagh Galway (Thomastown); Moya O’Shea (Carrickshock), Erin Morrissey (Bennettsbridge), Mairead Duggan (St Anne’s); Ciara Joyce (Emeralds), Eva Tynan (Dicksboro), Rachel Murphy (Tullogher); Emma Hogan (Dicksboro), Muireann Kenny (Rower-Inistioge); Holly Ryan (Bennettsbridge), Aisleann Mullally (Glenmore), Niamh Drennan (St Anne’s); Amy O’Shea (Carrickshock), Grace Farrell (Piltown), Dearbhla Ryan (Tullogher).

Subs: Caoimhe Corcoran (Mullinavat), Sian Bolger (St Martin’s), Hannah Tennyson (Carrickshock), Ellen Treacy (Thomastown), Katie O’Shea (Carrickshock), Eilish Keating (Young Irelands), Katie Dunphy (Tullaroan, captain), Colleen Byrne (Carrickshock), Lucy Lennon (James Stephens), Lilly Ryan Murray (Dicksboro), Onagh Fitzgerald (Clara), Blaithnaid Keane (Mooncoin), Aoibhe Burke (Emeralds), Gwen Wade (Blacks & Whites), Lucy O’Gorman (Erin’s Own), Maebh Kenny (Rower-Inistioge).