Kilkenny Seniors through to Quarter Finals of League after emphatic win over Offaly

Kilkenny 4-21

Offaly 0-8

Kilkenny upped their display from their first outing against Dublin to dispense an Offaly team that had also beaten the Dubs, on a scoreline 4-21 to 0-8 to make it two wins from two

Kilkenny flew out of the blocks, by the 10^th minute, they had 1-4 on the scoreboard, while keeping Offaly scoreless. The points coming from the excellent Mary O’Connell, three lovely points from play and a free from sharpshooter Denise Gaule. The goal coming from Miriam Walsh, after a shot Michaela Kenneally had dropped short, Miriam flicked the sliotar away from the goalie, turned and blasted it to the back of the net

Offaly got off the mark in the 11^th minute with a point from play from full forward Kate Kenny

Denise Gaule extended Kilkenny’s lead with a point from play heading to the first waterbreak leaving the score 1-5 to 0-1

Sharpshooter Gaule slotted over another pointed free after the mini break

Susan Earner’s team settled and were more competitive for a short period. Dual star Grainne Egan slotting over two frees and Grainne Dolan pointing from play, but Gaule added two points and O’Connell added another point to her tally to make it 1-9 to 0-4 at the interval

Offaly needed to come out fast upon the resumption, but Brian Dowling’s team had different ideas

A Miriam Walsh point from play and a Gaule pointed free extended Kilkenny’s lead. In the 33^rd minute, Aoife Doyle latched onto a lovely pass by Grace Walsh and slotted it passed Jennings in the Offaly goal

Steffi Fitzgerald then got on the scoreboard with a fine point from midfield. Gaule pointed a free in the 38^th minute which was sandwiched between two Offaly points by Aisling Brennan and Mairead Teehan.

Mary O’Connell slotted over her fifth point in the 44^th minute. Katie Nolan registered the third goal mid-way through the second half when she volleyed the sliotar into the bottom corner of the net, after Jennings had saved Gaule’s drive

Mary O’Connell and Aoife Doyle added further points for Kilkenny, with the Cats leading 3-15 to 0-6 after 50 minutes

Siobhan Flannery scored Offaly’s final two points from placed balls in the 52^nd and 53^rd minutes

Kilkenny hit a purple patch in the final 10 minutes, hitting 1-4 without reply. Points coming from Laura Murphy, Aoife Prendergast, Aoife Doyle and Laura Norris. The goal from Gaule after a neat Aoife Prendergast pass to leave the final score at 4-21 to 0-8

Kilkenny play Limerick next Saturday 5^th June @ 5pm in St Brendan’s Park, Birr in the Division 1 Quarter Final

Scorers – Kilkenny – Denise Gaule (1-8, 5f), Mary O’Connell (0-6), Aoife Doyle (1-2), Miriam Walsh (1-1), Katie Nolan (1-0), Steffi Fitzgerald, Laura Murphy, Aoife Prendergast, Laura Norris (0-1 each)

Offaly – Grainne Egan (0-2, 1f), Siobhan Flannery (0-2, 1f 145), Kate Kenny, Aisling Brennan, Mairead Teehan, Grainne Dolan (0-1 each)

Kilkenny – Emma Kavanagh, Michelle Teehan, Davina Tobin, Collette Dormer, Kellyann Doyle, Claire Phelan, Grace Walsh, Niamh Deely, Miriam Bambrick, Denise Gaule, Mary O’Connell, Michaela Kenneally, Steffi Fitzgerald, Miriam Walsh, Aoife Doyle

Subs : – Aoife Prendergast for Colette Dormer, Katie Nolan for Miriam Walsh, Lydia Fitzpatrick for  Michaela Kenneally, Laura Murphy for Davina Tobin, Laura Norris for Steffi Fitzgerald

Offaly – Mairead Jennings, Sarah Walshe, Triona McDonald, Lorraine Keena, Amy Byrne, Aisling Brennan, Sharon Shanahan, Roisin Egan, Orlagh Kirwin, Emma Mulrooney, Grainne Egan, Grainne Dolan, Sarah Harding, Kate Kenny, Orla Maher

Subs : – Mairead Teehan for Orla Maher, Christine Cleary for Grainne Egan, Siobhan Flannery for Kate Kenny, Caitlin O’Meara for Mairead Teehan, Michaela Morkan for Triona McDonald