Electric Ireland Minor A All Ireland Semi Final
Strong Second Half Performance sees Kilkenny Minor Girls Through to All Ireland Final
Kilkenny 4-14 Limerick 0-8
Kilkenny’s minor camogie girls qualified for the All Ireland final for the first time in four years with a convincing win away to Limerick last Saturday afternoon. After finishing third at the end of their minor group matches, the odds were against David Maher’s side making it to the final but strong performances away to Galway and now Limerick have now set them up for an All Ireland final against Cork in Kilkenny on Sunday 27th April. This win was a win for the whole panel of girls who overcame a nervous opening half display to press for home early in the second half and in truth this game was over as a contest well before the final whistle was sounded.
The venue for this match was Templeglantine in West Limerick which was a three hour drive to get to from Kilkenny and this perhaps contributed to a slow start by the Kilkenny girls in the hard fought opening exchanges. Limerick opened with a fine score from Caitlin Ryan in the second minute although a fine free from half way by Ona Kennedy levelled matters soon afterwards. Despite finding it hard to get a foothold in the match, Kilkenny received a tonic in the 5th minute when a ground pull by Emily Phelan found the net to open up a three point advantage. Limerick did recover and largely dominated play from the 10th to the 20th minute by which time they had reduced the deficit to 1-2 (KK) to 0-3 (L). However they were guilty of a number of wides when on top at this time and they were made to pay in the 23rd minute when a fine run by Niamh Davis saw her finish to the net and stretch the lead to 2-2 to 0-3. Both sides traded points from here to the break as Kilkenny points by Lucy Boyd and Ona Kennedy were cancelled out by a Caitlin Ryan free and a score from play by Hazel Horgan to leave the half time score at 2-4 (KK) to 0-5 (L). In truth, this margin flattered the Kilkenny girls as Limerick had more than enough chances to be much closer to them at this time.
Having fallen at the semifinal hurdle in 2024, Kilkenny opened the second half determined to avoid a repeat and three quick scores from the impressive Rachel Phelan, Aisling O’Sullivan and Molly Conroy stretched the lead out to eight points. Both sides traded scores from the 35th to the 50th minute to leave the score at 2-10 (KK) to 0-8 (L). Limerick tried hard to reduce the deficit but Kilkenny’s defence led by Caoimhe Power, Grace Brennan and Ona Kennedy repelled many attacks at this time. The Kilkenny management introduced substitutes into the last quarter and all of these helped the side drive home their advantage inside the final ten minutes. This was started by a smart finish to the net by Ciara O’Shea and another fine goal two minutes later by Lucy Boyd saw the game effectively end the match as a contest. Kilkenny went on to finish the match in style with further points from Molly Conroy, Aisling O’Sullivan and Shannon Doheny.
Kilkenny will be delighted to have qualified for an All-Ireland final in two weeks time but they will know that Cork will be a much more difficult test in this final. Competition for places will be intense in this squad which will be a welcome headache for the management team but the girls have also displayed a great team ethic in recent matches which will hopefully will stand to them in the final. Best on a day apart from those already mentioned were Ella Walton (who was assured in goal), Ciara Hickey in defence, the midfield pairing of Rachel Phelan and Eleanor Doheny (who got though a lot of action over the hour) while Niamh Davis and Aisling O’Sullivan shone well in the forwards.
Scores – Kilkenny – Ona Kennedy (0-7, 6f, 1 45), Lucy Boyd (1-1), Niamh Davis, Emily Phelan, Ciara O’Shea (1-0 each), Aisling O’Sullivan, Molly Conroy (0-2 each), Rachel Phelan, Shannon Doheny (0-1 each)
Cork – Caitlin Ryan (0-6, 5f, 1 45), Ciara Curtin, Hazel Horgan (0-1 each)
Kilkenny: Ella Walton (Tullaroan), Caoimhe Power (Windgap), Grace Brennan (Tullaroan), Jessica Smith (Barrow Rangers), Ciara Hickey (St Lachtains), Ona Kennedy (Windgap), Taylor Aylward (Ballyhale), Rachel Phelan (John Lockes), Eleanor Doheny (Tullaroan), Sadhbh Shefflin (Ballyhale), Aisling O’Sullivan (John Lockes), Niamh Davis (Danesfort), Emily Phelan (John Lockes), Lucy Boyd (Clara), Molly Conroy (St Brigids). Subs: Kate Meighan (Dicksboro), Rebecca Hayden (Graiguenamanagh), Shona Ruane (St Martins), Shannon Doheny (Tullaroan), Ciara O’Shea (Joint Captain, Windgap), Rhianna Scott (Barrow Rangers), Michelle Killeen (St Lachtains), Jill O’Brien (Danesfort), Siofra O’Leary (O’Loughlin Gaels), Roisin Burns (Lisdowney), Ella O’Reilly (Barrow Rangers), Ali Greaney (Dicksboro), Aoife O’Grady (St Annes), Aisling O’Shea (Windgap), Clara Walsh (Tullogher), Eabha Mullally (Glenmore), Jenny Saunders (Joint Captain, Windgap), Kate Dowling (Dicksboro).
Limerick: Emma Doherty, Tara Hynes, Cora Long, Kaelin Ryan, Eimear O’Donovan, Eve Cleary, Mai McKenna, Ciara Curtin, Caitlin Ryan, Anna Rose Benson, Aoife Moriarty, Maeve Geary, Amber O’Sullivan Hunt, Emma Mullins, Hazel Horgan
Referee: Justin Heffernan
