Kilkenny firepower too much for newly promoted Westmeath

Kilkenny 6-23

Westmeath 1-7

Kilkenny gave an awesome display of great teamwork and scoring when they beat Westmeath in the second round of the Liberty Insurance Senior All Ireland Championship in John Lockes Park, Callan on Saturday

Last year’s Intermediate champions Westmeath overcame Limerick last week in their first ever appearance in the Senior ranks, so Kilkenny were taking them seriously

Ava Balfe opened the scoring for Westmeath with a point from play after only 12 seconds before Miriam Walsh started a scoring spree for Kilkenny in the 4^th minute

Laura Murphy played the ball upfield to Aoife Doyle, who found Miriam Walsh unmarked in front of goal. She buried the sliotar into the back of the net.

Brilliant Lob

A minute later, Aoife Doyle lobbed Fiona Keating brilliantly from the next attack after blocking the Westmeath’s goalies attempted clearance. Within seconds, Doyle was setting up Walsh for her second goal

Denise Gaule (KK) added three points over the next three minutes, two from play. Heading towards the waterbreak, Aoife Doyle and Gaule added further points for Kilkenny to leave the score Kilkenny 3-5 to Westmeath 0-1 at the break

After the waterbreak Kilkenny continued their scoring spree, keeping the Lakesiders scoreless. In the 17^th minute, Gaule pointed a 21m free

Over the next 10 minutes, the home side added a further 2-5 to their tally as Anne Dalton 0-3, Aoife Doyle 1-1, Miriam Walsh 1-0 all from play and Denise Gaule 0-1 from a 21m free

Leading up to the half time, Westmeath had only their second score of the half when Pamela Greville pointed from a 14m free to see the scoreboard reading Kilkenny 5-11 to Westmeath 0-2

The home side again were quickly out of the blocks when play resumed, Gaule finding the back of the net following good build up play from Laura Murphy and Anne Dalton

It was all about the home side as Miriam Walsh 0-2, Aoife Doyle, Denise Gaule and Anne Dalton 0-1 each to widen the gap to 32 pts by the 40 minute

Sheila McGrath gave the Midlanders a brief reprieve when she slotted over a point in the 42^nd minute, but there was a quick reply as Denise Gaule 0-2 and Miriam Walsh 0-1 to push the Cats further ahead

Then as play moved towards the second water break in one of the few opportunities that Westmeath had of breaking through the Kilkenny defence, Pamela Greville had a goalward shot rebound off the upright but Megan Dowdall managed to flick the ball to the net. Pamela Greville added two points for the visitors one from a 21m free and the other from a Penalty

The homeside replied with 4 points as Mary O’Connell (f), Laura Norris, Anne Dalton (f) and Laura Murphy brought their tally to 6-23. Westmeath had the final two scores of the game as Megan Dowdall pointed from play and Pamela Greville fired over a 30m free to leave a 31 point gap between the sides at the final whistle

Following their two wins already, Kilkenny top their group and have already qualified for the All Ireland Semi Finals. They will play Limerick in their last game of the group stages. The match is scheduled for UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday 8^th November

Scorers – Kilkenny – Denise Gaule (1-9, 4f), Miriam Walsh (3-3), Aoife Doyle (2-3), Anne Dalton (0-5, 1f), Laura Norris, Laura Murphy (0-1 each), Mary O’Connell (0-1, 1f)

Westmeath – Pamela Greville (0-4, 3f), Megan Dowdall (1-1), Ava Balfe, Sheila McGrath (0-1 each)

Kilkenny – Aoife Norris, Davina Tobin, Colette Dormer, Grace Walsh, Meighan Farrell, Claire Phelan, Michelle Teehan, Anna Farrell, Aoife Doyle, Laura Murphy, Lydia Fitzpatrick, Anne Dalton, Miriam Walsh, Denise Gaule, Katie Nolan

Subs – Mary O’Connell for Lydia Fitzpatrick, Catherine Foley for Davina Tobin, Laura Norris for Miriam Walsh, Danielle Morrissey for Denise Gaule, Edel Coonan for Anna Farrell, Emma Kavanagh, Niamh Deely, Steffi Fitzgerald, Lucinda Gahan (Captain), Aoife Prendergast, Noreen O’Keeffe, Aisling Nolan, Laura Hegarty, Michaela Kenneally, Ciara Phelan

Westmeath – Fiona Keating (Captain), Emily McCabe, Meabh Scally, Laura Dotherty, Amy Cully, Fiona Leavy, Sarah King, Caoimhe McCrossan, Muireann Scally, Megan Dowdall, Sheila McGrath, Aoife Dotherty, Ava Balfe, Pamela Greville, Denise McGrath

Subs – Megan Ennis for Sarah King, Aoife O’Malley, Emma Broughan, Roisin Brennan, Roisin Scally, Caoimhe Scally, Aisling Egerton, Aoife Boyle, Niamh Horan, Sandra McGrath, Mairead McCormack