Performance levels a big positive for Kilkenny camogie manager Chap Cleere

Kilkenny senior camogie manager Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere was happy to see his side pick up their first league points of the year and the way they performed against Clare impressed the Blacks and Whites man.

“I’m delighted with the performance and I suppose in the first half especially we were very sharp and we had a nice little lead at half-time,” he said.

“The second half was a bit stop-start and we couldn’t really get into the rhythm that we wanted but any day that you score 1-19 you’d be happy,” he added. “We’d like to tighten up on a few things but yeah it was a good win.

“We probably started quiet enough really and in fairness to Clare they brought a huge intensity and physicality to the game as well. Once Aoife (Doyle) got the goal, we settled into it and got some lovely scores after that.

“We kept on hurling and again in the second half we probably didn’t play as well as we’d like but having said that anytime you win by 10 points it’s a good day’s work.”

The likes of Katie Byrne, Keara Ryan and Rosin Breen all performed well and Cleere is pleased with how some of the new faces have settled into the team.

“Katie Byrne had a fantastic game today as did Keara Ryan and Roisin Breen in goal did great too,” he said. “Anybody that’s getting a chance is giving us a headache as they are all taking their opportunity.

“That’s what we want and we want the girls to take the chance when we get it as it makes training very competitive and it’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.”

Steffi Fitzgerald is one of the more established players in the team and even in a new position, the Young Irelands star is flourishing.

“First and foremost Steffi is a fantastic camogie player and the way the game has gone when you are attacking you are all attacking and when you are defending you are all defending.

“To be fair to Steffi she’s been brilliant all year and she’s going really well for us at the moment and you could play her anywhere. She’s put in a performance as she’s just really one of those honest players and she was super again today,” the Kilkenny manager added.

Kilkenny now head into a fortnight’s break before travelling to Galway for what will be another big test.

“The win was good to get a bit of confidence as it’s a new group of players together and a new panel and a new management team.

“With that comes a little bit of excitement as well as some pressure and we probably played better last week even though we lost but we came up short so getting the win keeps us in the hunt for the league which is what we want.”