Kilkenny 2-7
Galway 7-9
Goals win matches and they most certainly did for Galway in this lively U16A championship semi-final in cloudy MacDonagh Park, Nenagh
In the first minute Katie Gilchrist slotted over a 25-metre free for Galway. Three minutes later, the same Galway player planted the sliotar in the Kilkenny net, after she ghosted in behind the defence
Amy Clifford grabbed the losers first point when she fired over a 30-metre free on five minutes
The Westerners went further ahead when Katie Gilchrist pointed from two placed balls in the 7th & 8th minutes
A name synonymous with Galway hurling Sabina Rabbitte rattled the net a minute later while Amy Clifford collected the puck out to shoot over a nice point in reply
By the 10-minute Galway were rampant and went 10 points clear as Emma Madden slammed home their 3rd goal
Amy Clifford nabbed a fortuitous goal when her shot rebounded off the crossbar back to her and she doubled on the sliotar to send it to the net. That left the score at the end of the first quarter at Galway 3-3 Kilkenny 1-2
Lucy Gately added a point for the winners but there was a prompt reply from Leah Brett seconds later
There was a lull in scoring over the following seven minutes before Sabina Rabbitte pointed. Kate Lyng replied for the Kittens
Amy Clifford pointed from a 25-metre free while another household Galway name Niamh McInerney had a neat point
Kilkenny’s leading scorer had her sides last score of the half when she slotted over another nice point
However, Sabina Rabbitte closed out the first half with a well taken goal to leave the scoreboard reading 4-6 to 1-6 in favour Galway
On the resumption the girls from the West pressed hard. They were rewarded firstly with a Chloe Farragher point and then a Katie Gilchrist 20-metre was walloped to the net
Play flowed from end to end over the next 15 minutes without either side registering a score. Katie Gilchrist broke the drought when she pointed a 30-metre free in the 53rd minute
Keara Ryan and Sabina Rabbitte exchanged points approaching the end of normal time with the score at Galway 5-9 Kilkenny 1-7
In injury time the Westerners added another two goals through Katie Gilchrist and Sabina Rabbitte while Keara Ryan added to the Kittens tally by slotting home a fine goal
Scorers – Kilkenny – Amy Clifford (1-4, 2f), Keara Ryan (1-1), Leah Brett, Katie Lyng (0-1 each)
Galway – Katie Gilchrist (3-4, 1-3f, 1 45), Sabina Rabbitte (3-2), Emma Madden (1-0), Lucy Gately, Niamh McInerney, Chloe Farragher (0-1 each)
Kilkenny – Amy Lehane, Mairead Corcoran, Patsy Kenny, Cliodhna O’Shea, Niamh Phelan, Aine Kirwan, Kate McCluskey, Captain, Ellie Peters, Sarah Barcoe, Kate Lyng, Bri O’Donoghue, Leah Brett, Eva Collins, Amy Clifford, Aine Doyle
Subs – Marie Claire O’Dwyer for Cliodhna O’Shea, Keara Ryan for Kate Lyng, Hannah Cooney for Eva Collins, Roisin Ahern, Alison Donnelly, Lauren Comerford, Hannah Larkin, Grace Keoghan, Leah Hanrahan, Anna Doheny, Ruth Ryan, Ciara Dunne, Katie Ryan, Grainne Glynn, Katie Bookle
Galway – Amy Hawkins, Eabha Niland, Aisling Donnellan, Laura Kelly, Katie Anna Porter, Caoimhe Starr, Jacqueline Glynn, Emma Madden, Ciara Hickey, Chloe Farragher, Keisha Coleman, Niamh McInerney, Lucy Gately, Sabina Rabbitte, Katie Gilchrist
Subs – Sara Lyons for Jacqueline Glynn, Ciara Grealish for Katie Anna Porter, Niamh Spellman for Niamh McInerney, Cathy Moran, Kaci Moran, Ciara Kyne, Brennagh Lee, Ally Gilcreest, Amy Higgins, Alanna Reynolds, Maire Madden, Kristen Lawless, Shannon Rabbitte
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
By kristinagunn Wed 14th Aug
