U16A All Ireland Championship 1st Round
Kilkenny 1-16 Limerick 2-11
By Tom Egan
Kilkenny’ U16A camogie girls got their U16A All Ireland championship off to a winning start on a cold but dry afternoon in Thomastown last Sunday. After a number of relatively easy victories in recent weeks in the Leinster U16A championship, this was always going to be a step up in opposition for the local girls against a Limerick side featuring a number of girls from last year’s All Ireland winning team. Kilkenny were the dominant side for large parts of this match and will be pleased to have ground out the win in a tight final quarter when the deficit was down to the minimum on a number of occasions but they will know that improvements are needed going forward in the upcoming matches in this championship. For Limerick, they are one of five teams in this U16A championship and will be encouraged by the spirit shown in the second half and will fancy their chances of also making the All-Ireland semifinals after all five teams have played each other in league matches.
The opening exchanges saw a number of goal chances at either end with Kilkenny’s Katie Dunphy seeing her goal bound effort deflected wide of the goal while Limerick promptly went up the pitch and a smart goal finish from the lively Aisling Foley gave them a dream start as they faced into the elements. Kilkenny did take time to adjust to Limerick’s tenacity in competing for every ball but helped by frees from Amy O’Shea (3) and Muireann Kenny (1), they had drawn level (1-2 L to 0-5 KK) by the 20th minute. Kilkenny then started to get a hold of the contest and a fine Amy O’Shea finish to the net which was followed by fine points from Katie Dunphy, Holly Ryan and Aisleann Mullally, saw them lead 1-8 to 1-3 at the half time whistle.
The opening stages of the second half saw Kilkenny stretch their lead to 1-10 to 1-4 by the 40th minute thanks to scores from Emma Hogan and Holly Ryan but Limerick were now competing better in all areas and a goal from a 20M free by the accurate Isabelle Fitzgerald in the 41st minute brought the deficit back to three points. Limerick gradually eroded further into Kilkenny’s lead in the following ten minutes thanks to a number of debatable frees (the free count was 17 to 1 in favour of Limerick in the second half) and when Aisling Foley added two smart points from play in the 58th & 59th minute, the deficit was down to the minimum (1-14 KK to 2-10 L). Kilkenny did show good resolve in the closing moments and fine scores from their best forward Amy O’Shea in added time saw them get a deserved if unconvincing win at full time.
Best for the Kilkenny side on the day were Erin Morrissey, Hannah Tennyson, Eva Tynan, Emma Hogan, Muireann Kenny, Aisleann Mullally, Holly Ryan and Amy O’Shea. Both Kilkenny U16 sides (A and B) are out in Leinster finals next weekend with the U16A girls next outing in the All Ireland championship being an away fixture in Cork on the weekend of February 23rd.
Kilkenny: Clodagh Galway (Thomastown), Moya O’Shea (Carrickshock), Erin Morrissey (Bennettsbridge), Mairead Duggan (St Annes), Hannah Tennyson (Carrickshock), Maebh Kenny (Rower Inistioge), Eva Tynan (Dicksboro), Emma Hogan (Dicksboro) (0-1), Muireann Kenny (Rower Inistioge) (0-1F), Holly Ryan (Bennettsbridge) (0-3), Aisleann Mullally (Glenmore) (0-2), Grace Farrell (Piltown), Amy O’Shea (Carrickshock) 1-7, 0-3F), Eilish Keating (Young Irelands), Katie Dunphy (Tullaroan, Captain) (0-2). Subs: Caoimhe Corcoran (Mullinavat), Sian Bolger (St Martins), Niamh Drennan (St Annes), Ellen Treacy (Thomastown), Dearbhla Ryan (Tullogher, Katie O’Shea (Carrickshock), Colleen Byrne (Carrickshock), Lucy Lennon (James Stephens), Lilly Ryan Murray (Dicksboro), Onagh Fitzgerald (Clara), Blaithnaid Keane (Mooncoin), Ada Bambrick (Barrow Rangers), Aoibhe Burke (Emeralds), Ciara Joyce (Emeralds), Gwen Wade (Blacks & Whites), Lucy O’Gorman (Erins Own).
Limerick: Hazel Gleeson, Aoife Boyce, Eileen Herbert, Sarah Maher, Molly Walsh, Aoife Morrissey, Jenny Curtin, Sophie O’Grady, Milly O’Sullivan, Orla Frawley, Abbey Nealon, Claragh Collins, Aisling Foley, Isabelle Fitzgerald, Cadhla Heffernan. Subs: Ellen Moriarty, Roisin McNamara, Amy Gleeson, Ava McDonagh, Roisin Herlihy, Leanne Stritch, Emma O’Connor, Laura Minihan, Grace Dillon, Chloe Hussey, Katherine Leddy, Sara Ryan, Rachel Walsh, Megan O’Shea, Sarah Cagney, Ellie Fitzgerald.
By PRO Thu 20th Feb
