Cats hopes dashed as Deise strike injury-time equaliser

Glen Dimplex Senior All Ireland Championship 3^rd Round

Kilkenny 1-13 Waterford 1-13

by Aoife Lanigan, PRO

It was honours even as Kilkenny and Waterford shared the senior camogie spoils at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday.

If the League match between these two sides was anything to go by – the Cats edged the game on a 2-10 to 0-13 scoreline back in March – this clash was always going to be a tight affair

Waterford were quick off the mark, opening the scoring with a pointed free from Beth Carton, before Lorraine Bray and Carton added a point apiece. The Cats were slower to get moving, but Katie Nolan scored the home side’s opening point with a 12th minute free.

It was nip and tuck in the opening quarter. Beth Carton tacked on another point, before Katie Power and Julianne Malone hit back with points for Kilkenny to leave the bare minimum between the sides (0-4 to 0-3).

Roisin Kirwan added another point for Waterford to put them two points ahead, but the game was about to take a twist. With 25 minutes on the clock Katie Nolan took a shot at the target, but the sliotar was deflected away from the goal. The danger wasn’t over, as Aoife Doyle was the quickest to react and pulled first time on the loose ball, driving it to the back of the net and Kilkenny into the lead.

Waterford didn’t panic and reacted to conceding that goal by hitting the next two points through Carton, before Aoife Doyle equalised with a point from play.

Heading towards the half-time whistle, Waterford made another break. After a Carton free from 50m out on the Ardán Breathnach side dropped short, Mairead O’Brien pounced on the loose sliotar. Her shot was unstoppable, flying past ’keeper Aoife Norris and rocketing into the top corner of the net.

There was still time for Katie Nolan to convert a free, but Kilkenny were two points behind the Deise women at half-time (1-7 to 1-5).

The sides resumed their battle on the restart, Aoife Prendergast and Beth Carton trading pointed frees. Miriam Walsh halved the deficit when she scored a point from a tight angle, splitting the posts despite losing her balance as she struck.

That score gave Kilkenny a jolt of confidence, as they hit the next three points through Katie Nolan, Julianne Malone and Aoife Doyle. However, Beth Carton slotted over two points to equalise the match again.

The game was still in the melting pot, as both sides fought for supremacy. Miriam Walsh and Sarah Barcoe grabbed points for the Cats, while Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett replied in kind for the Munster side.

Heading towards the full-time whistle, Kilkenny were awarded a 50 metre free at the Ardán de Gras side of the pitch. Substitute Sophie O’Dwyer held her nerve, converting the placed ball to put Kilkenny ahead.

However, there was still time for Waterford to make one last charge. With the game in injury-time, the Deise equalised with a point through Mairead O’Brien. With little between the sides throughout, it was a fair result.

Kilkenny will play Derry at home in their next game on Saturday, June 22.

Teams and scorers

Kilkenny – Aoife Doyle (1-2); Katie Nolan (0-3, 0-2 frees); Miriam Walsh, Julianne Malone (0-2 each); Aoife Prendergast (0-1 free); Katie Power, Sarah Barcoe, Sophie O’Dwyer (0-1 each).

Waterford – Beth Carton (0-9, 0-6 frees); Mairead O’Brien (1-1); Lorraine Bray, Niamh Rockett, Roisin Kirwan (0-1 each).

Kilkenny – Aoife Norris, Kellyann Doyle, Grace Walsh, Ciara Phelan, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Niamh Deely, Miriam Bambrick, Laura Greene, Laura Murphy, Katie Nolan, Katie Nolan, Aoife Doyle, Julianne Malone, Miriam Walsh, Aoife Prendergast.

Subs: Sarah Barcoe for Aoife Prendergast, Steffi Fitzgerald for Katie Nolan, Michelle Teehan for Kellyann Doyle, Asha McHardy for Katie Power, Sophie O’Dwyer for Julianne Malone (inj).

Waterford – Brianna O’Regan, Keeley Corbett Barry, Allanah McNulty, Kate Lynch, Bervin Bowdren, Laoise Forrest, Clodagh Carroll, Orla Hickey, Lorraine Bray (Capt), Roisin Kirwan, Tara Power, Beth Carton, Mairead Power, Mairead Power, Niamh Rockett.

Subs: Annie Fitzgerald for Tara Power, Sarah Lacey for Roisin Kirwan.

Referee – Cathal McAllister (Cork).