Classy minors cruise to impressive victory

Kilkenny 1-27

Limerick 1-8

By Kilkenny People Newspaper Reporter

Kilkenny were in scintillating form as they sealed a place in the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Minor camogie championship after a convincing win over Limerick on Saturday afternoon in Fermoy.

Mike Wall’s Kilkenny side came into the game on the back of topping their group and they were never troubled as they eased to a 19-point success.

Kilkenny were without a number of regulars in their recent championship victory over Wexford as a result of a Covid outbreak in the squad but those players were back on board for Saturday’s win and they seemed to be firing better than ever.

Despite playing against the breeze in the opening half Kilkenny were much the better side and they eventually led on a 0-16 to 0-3 scoreline at the half-time interval with the forward threat of Amy Clifford, Sarah Barcoe and Emma Shortall among others leading the line in style for the Cats. Limerick had no answer to Kilkenny’s pace and power on the day.

Limerick will have been disappointed by their first half performance as they would have fancied their chances of causing an upset after reaching the Munster final earlier this year but Kilkenny were just on a different level and the Shannonsiders were simply outclassed as a result.

In direct comparison to their senior counterparts, who also had their Quarter-final wrapped up by half-time, it was more of the same for Kilkenny and they continued to dominate in the second period.

Limerick had a lot of pride at stake and they started the second half well with three points on the bounce to give the some hope of mounting a Lazarus-like comeback.

This talented Kilkenny outfit were never likely to allow Limerick a realistic way back into the game and with Emma Manogue and Amy Clifford knocking over successive points for the Cats.

In truth Amy Clifford was the real star on show for Kilkenny with her ace free taking also matched her ability from play and she got Kilkenny’s opening goal halfway through the second half to give her side a 1-19 to 0-6 lead at that stage.

Limerick kept plugging away but further points from Clifford, Manogue, Shortall and Asha McHardy pushed Kilkenny further clear on the scoreboard.

Limerick kept plugging away and they did get a late consolation goal but the damage had very much already being done as Kilkenny sauntered their way into the All-Ireland semi-final.

The Cats can now look forward to a meeting with Galway in Abbotstown on Saturday afternoon as they look to follow in the footsteps of the under-16s last month and make the final, something they haven’t done at this grade since 2015.

Scorers – Kilkenny – Amy Clifford (1-14, 8f), Sarah Barcoe, Emma Manogue, Asha McHardy (0-3 each), Emma Mulhall, Emma Shortall (0-2)

 Kilkenny: Ellie O’Neill (St Brigid’s); Laoise Nolan (Clara), Niamh Phelan (Dicksboro), Rachel Whelan (Clara); Aine Kirwan (Thomastown), Mairead Corcoran (Mooncoin), Sontae Jackson (Windgap); Emma Manogue (James Stephens), Anna Doheny (James Stephens); Emma Mulhall (Conahy), Asha McHardy (Dicksboro), Katie Byrne (Dicksboro); Sarah Barcoe (Thomastown), Emma Shortall (Clara), Amy Clifford (Dicksboro)