u16s Do The Double in Leinster

On Sunday, 5^th May, our u16 A and B squad travelled to the Halo Tiles Centre of Excellence in Ferns, Co. Wexford for the Leinster Camogie Finals day. To have both teams compete in a final on the same day is an unusual occurrence and to win both was certainly an added bonus. The A team were competing in the Cup final. Their opposition was a Dublin side that were well fancied due to their very good run through the Leinster campaign, with the only points dropped from a draw with Kilkenny in early April. Kilkenny had the same impressive run with wins over Wexford and Offaly and that draw with Dublin. The scene was set for a tough battle and the setting was perfect. A lovely bright day in the sunny south east albeit with a strong breeze across the field that threatened rain but thankfully, this did not appear.

Kilkenny started the strongest and the early signs indicated that they were the stronger team on the day. With a half time score of Kilkenny 1-8 to Dublin’s 5 points, nothing was guaranteed. When play resumed, Kilkenny picked up where they left off and got two early points. Their work rate all over the field was phenomenal, giving the Dublin girls little or no chance of getting some free flowing movement. They went on to win on a score-line of 4-15 to 1-13 with the Dublin goal coming in the dying minutes of the game. A good result on the back of a wonderful performance. Niamh Phelan picked up the Player of the Match award playing at no. 5.

Earlier in the day, the B team played Wexford in the B Competition Shield final. The fact that both the A and the B teams train together was evident in the similar styles which both teams brought to the field. The girls worked tirelessly, always playing as a cohesive unit and running off the shoulder prepared to take the pass if required. Wexford started the game very well and were a couple of points up in the early stages but the Kilkenny girls settled into the game and at half time, the score was Kilkenny; 1-4, Wexford; 0-5. The second half was again a battle for possession with both sides giving it their all. Kilkenny’s second goal came in the 18^th minute of the second half which left four points between the sides, the widest gap in the match thus far. In the remaining time, Kilkenny added a further two points to win 2-8 to 0-8.

Well done to all the players and the management team of Mark Brett, Seamus Dunne, Colin Ahearne, Brian Barcoe, Danny Ryan, Derek Comerford, Catherine Hehir Peters, Caroline Ahearne, Eileen Dunne and Theresa Aylward.