The Kilkenny Intermediate team were winners and losers when they hosted Laois at Danesfort on Sunday.
Going into the match, the home side were level on points with Derry & Carlow. To qualify for the semi-final they had to win by 12 points or more.
However after a sterling performance, they came up 4 points short
From the throw in, Laois attacked and Noelle Murphy, the Kilkenny keeper cleared on three occasions, the last one for a 45 metre free from which Sarah Ann Fitzgerald pointed. Orla Hanrick (K) levelled and the winners went ahead with a Mags Fennelly point. Sarah Ann Fitzgerald (L) levelled with a 7th minute free.
Following some good interplay between Mary O’Connell (K) & Georgina Kelly (K), the latter scored a fine point.
Ella Moore (K) collected the pucked out and fired Kilkenny 2 points clear. The homeside began to get on top and Christine Lyng piled on the pressure when hand passing to the net on 11 mins, 1-4 to 0-2.
Sarah Ann Fitzgerald was awarded a free which reduced the arrears to 4 points. Christine Lyng was again on the scoresheet when she sent over a fine point in the 17th minute and minutes later.
Both sides had missed chances before half time, at which stage Kilkenny were 1-6 to 0-3 ahead
In the new half play went to and fro until the 41st minute when Orla Hanrick fired over a fine point to push the home side further ahead. The same player repeated the act but Laois attacked and snatched a goal through Linda Keys (1-8 to 1-3).
From the puck out, Ella Moore (K) gathered and set up Niamh Bambrick to blast a pile driver to the Laois net.
Charged up by the goal the home side took off and fired home a further 2 points in quick succession through Orla Hanrick and Niamh Bambrick (2-10 to 1-3).
Laois found their second wind and fought back gamely to score a great point by Sarah Ann Fitzgerald and quickly followed with a goal by Elizabeth Ryan and another point by Sarah Ann Fitzgerald to cut the deficit to 2-10 to 2-5.
Kilkenny’s Orla Hanrick replied with a point but Laois again came back with points from Sarah Ann Fitzgerald (free) and Rosemarie Bermingham.
Niamh Bambrick put Kilkenny 5 points ahead and Orla Hanrick added a free shortly afterwards.
The home side were awarded a penalty when Niamh Bambrick was fouled. Orla Hanrick’s shot was saved but Christine Lyng reacted quickest to the breaking ball to slot home the last score
Scores – Kilkenny – Christine Lyng 2-2, Orla Hanrick 0-6 (2 frees), Niamh Bambrick 1-2, Ella Moore, Mags Fennelly, Georgina Kelly 0-1 each
Laois – Sarah Ann Fitzgerald 0-6 (6 frees), Linda Keyes, Elizabeth Ryan 1-0 each, Rosemarie Bermingham 0-1
Kilkenny – Noelle Murphy, Danielle Kenny, Brigid Kilbane, Ailish Butler, Mary O’Connell, Ciara Murphy, Mairead Kennedy, Margaurite Hoynes (c), Ella Moore, Mags Fennelly, Orla Hanrick, Noelle Maher, Georgina Kelly, Niamh Bambrick, Christine Lyng
Subs – Chloe Purcell for Ciara Murphy, Aoife Norris, Vivienne Forristal, Niamh Madden, Maureen Walsh, Sarah Whelan, Laura Wall, Aisling Butler, Catherine Murphy, Siobhan Corcoran, Amy Morrissey, Eadaoin Murphy, Eilish Regan
Laois – Laura Dunne, Aoife Collier, Niamh Coss, Aoife Hyland, Maggie Hogan, Aisling Burke, Rosemarie Bermingham, Elizabeth Ryan, Rebecca Williams, Sarah Ann Fitzgerald, Casey Conroy, Mary Keating, Eimear Guidrea, Aisling O’Dea, Linda Keyes
Subs – Holly Kilcare for Linda Keyes, Katie Gaughan, Joan Dollard, Sarah Creagh, Laura Peake, Alison McEvoy
Ref – Andrew Larkin, Cork
By kristinagunn Fri 14th Apr
