Keher Murtagh double helps Kilkenny end league campaign on a high

Very League Division 1A Round 5

Kilkenny 2-10

Waterford 0-13

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

Kilkenny finished their Division 1A League campaign on a high scoring a three point win over Waterford on Saturday

The Cats were quick off the mark at a bright and blustery SETU Arena, opening the scoring with just 20 seconds gone on the clock as Steffi Fitzgerald split the posts after a neat pass from Julianne Malone

Niamh Rockett quickly equalised for the Deise women with a point from play, but Julianne Malone scored a great point to put the stripey women back in front after a one-two with Katie Power. The visitors suffered a blow when losing Julianne Malone to injury after 10 minutes. However, her replacement Caoimhe Keher Murtagh would make her own mark on the game

The sides continued to duck it out, Steffi Fitzgerald and Beth Carton trading points. Carton then scored a pointed free which was sandwiched between a Sophie O’Dwyer (f) and Miriam Bambrick. That left the score 0-5 to 0-3 in favour of Kilkenny after 17 minutes, but a run of four unanswered points from Beth Carton (3, 1f) and Lorraine Bray saw Waterford go two points ahead

Then in first half injury time, Kilkenny took a lead they would not lose. The move started when Steffi Fitzgerald played the sliotar to Caoimhe Keher Murtagh. Gathering possession she turned her marker and ran at speed towards the Waterford goal, pausing only to drill a powerful shot to the top corner of the net. A monumental score, it left the Cats with their noses in front at the interval (1-5 to 0-7)

Play resumed with Sophie O’Dwyer and Beth Carton swapped frees on the restart. Kilkenny then took a big step towards the win when with 40 minutes on the clock, Keher Murtagh drilled a low shot under the hurl of Brianna O’Regan to extend the Cats lead (2-6 to 0-8)

Waterford tried to rally, Carton pointed free, but Katie Power and Aoife Doyle cancelled that out with a point apiece for Kilkenny

The Deise kept pressing and after Carton converted two frees, they had a great goal chance. Mairead O’Brien put substitute Abby Flynn through on goal but Aoife Norris came off her line and deflected the sliotar out for a 45, which Carton converted

Kilkenny substitute Katie Byrne popped up with a fine point. Orla Hickey tacked on a point for the Deise women before another Kilkenny substitute Asha McHardy pointed from play to seal victory for the Black and Amber women

With the League group games now finished, Kilkenny’s attentions turns to Westmeath and the Leinster Championship Quarter Final

Scorers – Kilkenny – Caoimhe Keher Murtagh 2-0, Steffi Fitzgerald 0-2, Sophie O’Dwyer 0-2 (2f), Aoife Doyle, Julianne Malone, Miriam Bambrick, Katie Power, Katie Byrne, Asha McHardy 0-1 each

Waterford – Beth Carton 0-10 (7f), Orla Hickey, Niamh Rockett, Lorraine Bray 0-1 each

Kilkenny – Aoife Norris, Michelle Teehan, Niamh Deely, Ciara Phelan, Miriam Bambrick, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Laura Norris, Kellyann Doyle, Laura Greene, Steffi Fitzgerald, Katie Power, Aoife Doyle, Julianne Malone, Sophie O’Dwyer, Aoife Prendergast

Subs – Caoimhe Keher Murtagh for Julianne Malone inj, Katie Byrne for Laura Norris, Sinead O’Keeffe for Kellyann Doyle, Asha McHardy for Aoife Prendergast, Katie Nolan for Sophie O’Dwyer, Sarah Barcoe for Katie Power inj, Roisin Breen, Niamh Phelan, Keara Ryan, Roisin Phelan, Emily McCarthy, Emma Shortall, Danielle Quigley, Claire Doheny, Laura Murphy

Waterford – Brianna O’Regan, Keeley Corbett Barry, Clodagh Carroll, Aoife Landers, Bevin Bowdren, Tara Power, Mairead O’Brien, Lorraine Bray (Captain), Orla Hickey, Niamh Rockett, Beth Carton, Aine Power, Kate Lynch, Roisin Kirwan, Alannah O’Sullivan

Subs – Abby Flynn for Roisin Kirwan, Alannah McNulty for Alannah O’Sullivan, Rachel Walsh for Aine Power, Shauna Fitzgerald for Bevin Bowdren, Laoise Forrest, Iona Heffernan, Hayleigh Acheson, Sarah Lacey, Sarah Morrissey, Natasha Dobbyn, Anna Hickey, Ciara O’Sullivan, Dearbhla Beresford, Niamh Curran, Onelia Whelan, Katelyn Gardner

Referee – Cathal McAllister