Derry Girls demolished as Kilkenny camogie Cats storm into knockout stages

Glen Dimplex Senior All Ireland Championship

Kilkenny 4-17

Derry 0-7

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

Kilkenny will play Tipperary next Saturday with direct progression to the semi-finals as group winners up for grabs after making sure of qualification to the knockout stages by blitzing last year’s intermediate champions Derry in Freshford.

Straight from the throw-in, Kilkenny went on the attack. Julianne Malone gave them a perfect start when she quickly rifled the sliotar to the Derry net.

Aimee Lennon hit back with a point from play for Derry. Miriam Walsh added a point for Kilkenny, before Derry’s free taker Aine Barton hit over a point. That was as good as it got for the visitors as Kilkenny scored the next five points through Aoife Doyle and Aoife Prendergast (four frees) to march into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead

The home side kept the pressure on, Aoife Doyle striking a smart point over her shoulder in the 27th minute following Steffi Fitzgerald’s inch-perfect pass. Katie Nolan finished the first half scoring with a point to leave Kilkenny comfortable at the break (1-8 to 0-3).

The winners picked up where they had left off after the restart, Aoife Prendergast slotting over a lovely point from play. Aine Barton hit the next two points from frees for Derry, but Steffi Fitzgerald hit back with a nice point for Kilkenny.

With 37 minutes on the clock an Aoife Doyle goal saw Kilkenny put the tie to bed. The Cats opened up from there, hitting the next five points through Katie Nolan (3), Sophie O’Dwyer and Aoife Doyle.

Aine Barton stopped the rot with a pointed free for Derry before Kilkenny let rip again. Asha McHardy scored a fine point before Prendergast pounced for two goals in as many minutes, bringing her tally to 2-5.

Aine Barton (free) and Steffi Fitzgerald traded points, but Kilkenny were already assured of a big win.

Teams and scorers

Kilkenny – Aoife Prendergast (2-5, 0-4 frees); Aoife Doyle (1-3); Katie Nolan (0-4); Julianne Malone (1-0); Steffi Fitzgerald (0-2); Miriam Walsh, Sophie O’Dwyer, Asha McHardy (0-1 each).

Derry – Aine Barton (0-6, frees), Aimee Lennon (0-1).

Kilkenny – Roisin Breen; Michelle Teehan, Grace Walsh, Claire Phelan; Miriam Bambrick, Niamh Deely, Tiffanie Fitzgerald; Steffi Fitzgerald, Laura Murphy; Sarah Barcoe, Katie Nolan, Aoife Doyle; Julianne Malone, Miriam Walsh, Aoife Prendergast. Subs: Asha McHardy for Miriam Walsh (inj), Sophie O’Dwyer for Julianne Malone, Sinead O’Keeffe for Laura Murphy, Katie Byrne for Miriam Bambrick, Keara Ryan for Aoife Doyle.

Derry – Niamh Gribben; Ceat McEldowney, Niamh Quinn, Sinead McGill; Rachel Downey, Megan Donnelly, Aoife Ní Chasaide; Aine McGill, Dervla O’Kane; Leah Lennon, Aine Barton, Orlaith Hull; Anna Cassidy, Brid Rodgers, Aimee Lennon. Sub: Rachel McAllister for Aine McGill.

Referee – Andy Larkin (Cork).