Kilkenny Firsts settle for share of spoils on the road

The Kilkenny Ladies Firsts were back on the road on Saturday when they visited near rivals Naas in a mid-table clash in Division One of the Leinster League.

With a later than normal tip-off time of 4pm, the wet and dark conditions proved to be tricky for both sides to handle from the get-go. In a cagey opening quarter, both teams looked to get a foothold in the game and teased the opposition defences with long passes and overhead aerials.

Having settled into the game by the second quarter, Danny Mulligan’s side began to find their flow as Anna May Whelan, Cliodhna O’Connor and Sarah Richardson combined well on the right wing to put the Naas back line under pressure.

As the opening half drew to a close, a well-worked move by the Cats saw Gemma O’Dwyer and Sara Browne battle hard to earn the travelling team a penalty corner, which was eventually struck narrowly wide at the half time whistle.

The second half saw the game open up and both sides got themselves on the scoresheet. It was the home team that drew first blood within minutes of the restart. A quick break on the counter-attack from Nass caught the Kilkenny defence out of position allowing the home side to take the lead.

Much to the credit, the Cats lifted their spirits and went in search of an equaliser straight away. Attacking the right side of the pitch proved to be Kilkenny’s best chance at attacking the Naas goal and sure enough, a weaving run on the right wing saw Ally Carter draw the foul and win her team a vital penalty corner. Sue Shirley’s run of scoring continued when she stepped up to the mark and slotted home a well placed drag flick into the bottom corner of the Naas net.

With only a quarter left for play, both teams looked to pick holes in the opposition defence as they endeavoured to clinch the winning goal. Paula Farrell and Clair Phelan were on hand to put in two fine tackles in the dying minutes, while Kilkenny ‘keeper Jess Cary made an acrobatic save which would ultimately earn her side a vital league point. Both Naas and Kilkenny had to settle for an even share of the spoils at the final whistle.

The Cats are back on home soil next weekend when they take on Portrane at 12 noon in Kilkenny College on Saturday.

Kilkenny Firsts - Paula Farrell (captain), Clair Phelan, Jess Cary, Niamh Spratt O’Shea, Sara Browne, Sarah Richardson, Ciara Mahon, Sam Willis, Anna May Whelan, Gemma O’Dwyer, Ally Carter, Cliodhna O’Connor, Laura O’Neill, Sue Shirley.

Coach/Manager - Danny Mulligan/Jenny Wallace.