All Ireland final beckons after Cats win Battle Royal with Meath

Kilkenny 0-13

Meath 0-9

It was a real battle, but the Kilkenny Intermediate team came through a tough test to book their place in the All Ireland Final

John Scott’s side earned a meeting with Antrim in the September 12^th decider at Croke Park thanks to a hard fought win over Meath at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday

Ciara O’Keeffe opened Kilkenny’s account in the first minute slotting over a fine point from play. Jane Dolan equalised for the Royal County with a point from a 45m free

Sophie O’Dwyer pointed a similar score for Kilkenny in the 4^th minute, before Amy Gaffney and Jane Dolan (f) pointed for Meath to put them a point ahead by the 9^th minute

Didn’t panic

Kilkenny did not panic, Sophie O’Dwyer hit an equaliser, before Ciara O’Keeffe put Kilkenny in front again with a point from play just before the Waterbreak (0-4 to 0-3)

After the short break, Sophie O’Dwyer extended the Cats lead with pointed frees. Jane Dolan (f) and Aoife Minogue (f) again narrowed the gap to a point, when they pointed in the 23^rd and 26^th minute for Meath

Kilkenny closed out the first half the stronger. Points from Sophie O’Dwyer (2) and Danielle Quigley left the score 0-9 to 0-5 in favour of the Cats

Meath were quick to nibble away at Kilkenny’s lead after the restart, Jane Dolan pointing a free for the Royals. Sophie O’Dwyer replied with all most similar score immediately from the 45m line for Kilkenny before Amy Gaffney and Sarah Walsh swapped points.

Upped Tempo

Heading towards the second waterbreak, Kilkenny upped the tempo. Running towards goal, Sarah Walsh she hit a rasper of a shot at the target but it was deflected out for a 45 by the Meath goalie, Sophie O’Dwyer converted the 45’ free, pushing the gap out to five points heading into the final quarter (0-12 to 0-7)

It was back to four, when Jane Dolan converted a 30m free, the score coming after the Kilkenny defence overcarried the sliotar while trying to clear their lines

Kilkenny’s sharpshooter Sophie O’Dwyer added her 9^th point from a 45m free in the 51^st minute, before Dolan slotted over a point for the Royals from a placed ball

Over the next 7^th minutes, play went from end to end but neither side could add to their tally despite several opportunities

It was a tense finish, but there were roars of joy from the Kilkenny camp when the Referee blew the full time whistle. With it the Cats were back in the All Ireland final for the first time since 2016

Kilkenny Scorers – Sophie O’Dwyer (0-9, 8f), Ciara O’Keeffe (0-2), Danielle Quigley, Sarah Walsh (0-1 each)

Meath – Jane Dolan (0-6, 6f), Amy Gaffney (0-2), Aoife Minogue (0-1, 1f)

Kilkenny – Sinead Farrell, Niamh Leahy, Roisin Phelan (Capt), Ciara Murphy, Sarah Crowley, Leann Fennelly, Tiffany Fitzgerald, Laura Hegarty, Ciara Phelan, Eva Hynes, Sarah Walsh, Ciara O’Keeffe, Sophie O’Dwyer, Hannah Scott, Danielle Quigley

Subs – Maria Doheny for Eva Hynes, Jennifer Leahy for Laura Hegarty, Caoimhe Dowling for Hannah Scott

Meath – Maggie Randle (Vice Captain), Louise Donoghue, Ellen Burke, Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Maeve Clince, Tracy King, Aoife Minogue, Kristina Troy (Capt), Amy Gaffney, Grace Coleman, Jane Dolan (Vice Captain), Maire Kirby, Sinead Hackett, Megan Thynne

Subs – Aedin Slattery for Maeve Clince, Leah Devine for Grace Coleman

Referee – Kevin O’Brien, Limerick