All Ireland U16A Semi final
Cork 1-11 Kilkenny 1-9
Kilkenny’ bid to win the U16A camogie All Ireland title came to an agonising end in Cork Camogie Grounds last Saturday afternoon when they fell to a two point defeat to hosts Cork. This was a match played in greasy underfoot conditions with both defences on top for much of the hour and Kilkenny will know that this game could easily have been won with the game very much in the balance until the final whistle. Indeed, had Kilkenny managed to convert second half frees in the closing minutes, this match could have been won on a day where scores were hard to come by.
Having lost heavily to Cork in an earlier league match, the Kilkenny girls were very much the underdogs for this semifinal clash but Canice Brennan’s team were determined from the start to ensure that this match would not follow a similar path. Kilkenny did start with a sweeper in place with Holly Ryan dropped back to the midfield area and Cork did threaten early on but wayward shooting saw them drive three wides in the opening three minutes. Kilkenny gradually settled into the match with Rachel Murphy, Ciara Joyce and Holly Ryan to the fore and after Amy O’Shea opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a free, they got a further boost when Muireann Kenny crashed a 10th minute penalty to the net. Cork continued to threaten and two points by the accurate Lexi Manley (1 from a free and one from play) reduced the deficit to two points by the 15th minute. The lively Lea Meillouin was threatening every time the ball came her way in the second quarter and having scored a point when a goal looked a certainty in the 20th minute, she duly found the net minutes later after a mixup between two Kilkenny defenders left her clear on goal – and her shot just crossed the goal line despite the valiant efforts of Clodagh Galway. This goal leveled the match at 1-3 each after 24 minutes, and boosted by this score, Cork did dominate the remaining minutes of this half but only had a one point lead to show for this at half time (1-5 to 1-4) with the hosts guilty of a number of poor wides in the opening period (Cork 6 wides to Kilkenny’s 3).
The second half was a very even affair all through with both sides pressing to try and gain the advantage with an All Ireland final place at stake. Defences were again on top for large periods and Kilkenny looked in good shape when points from Amy O’Shea (F) and Dearbhla Ryan gave them a 1-6 to 1-5 lead by the 36th minute. Most scores during this period came from placed balls and three frees from Cork’s Lexi Manley were cancelled out by two from Amy O’Shea to leave the scores level at 1-8 a piece approaching the 50th minute. Further scores were traded from play by Cork’s Lauren O’Connor and Kilkenny’s Niamh Drennan to leave the scores tied at 1-9 each. Kilkenny looked set to retake the lead on 54 minutes when Amy O’Shea stood over a difficult free from the sideline but this dropped short of the Cork goalline and Cork worked the ball upfield for captain Leah Hannigan to give them the lead that they would not relinquish to the end. Kilkenny very much battled to the end driven on by Erin Morrissey and Holly Ryan but further chances were missed in the closing minutes and a 59th minute point from play by Lea Meillouin proved to be the last score of an intensely fought semi final.
The Kilkenny management and players will know that this was a match that could have been won in the closing stages but they also know that the girls gave everything to the cause on the day. It wasn’t to be in the end but on a day where defences largely dominated, the Kilkenny defence led by Erin Morrissey, Rachel Murphy and Ciara Joyce were excellent while Holly Ryan was everywhere in a midfield role. Meanwhile, Cork were very relieved to survive this stern test and they now move on to play Galway in the U16A final in Nowlan Park on 3rd May.
Scorers: Cork: Lexi Manley (0-5, 5F), Lea Meillouin (1-2), Leah Hannigan (0-2), Lauren O’Connor (0-2).
Kilkenny: Amy O’Shea (0-6, 6F), Muireann Kenny (1-0, P), Grace Farrell, Dearbhla Ryan, Niamh Drennan (0-1 each)
Kilkenny: Clodagh Galway (Thomastown), Moya O’Shea (Carrickshock), Erin Morrissey (Bennettsbridge), Mairead Duggan (St Annes), Ciara Joyce (Emeralds), Eva Tynan (Dicksboro), Rachel Murphy (Tullogher), Emma Hogan (Dicksboro), Muireann Kenny (Rower Inistioge), Holly Ryan (Bennettsbridge), Aisleann Mullally (Glenmore), Niamh Drennan (St Annes), Amy O’Shea (Carrickshock), Grace Farrell (Piltown), Dearbhla Ryan (Tullogher). Subs: Caoimhe Corcoran (Mullinavat), Sian Bolger (St Martins), Hannah Tennyson (Carrickshock), Ellen Treacy (Thomastown), , Katie O’Shea (Carrickshock), Eilish Keating (Young Irelands), Katie Dunphy (Tullaroan, Captain). Colleen Byrne (Carrickshock), Lucy Lennon (James Stephens), Lilly Ryan Murray (Dicksboro), Onagh Fitzgerald (Clara), Blaithnaid Keane (Mooncoin), Aoibhe Burke (Emeralds), , Gwen Wade (Blacks & Whites), Lucy O’Gorman (Erins Own). Maebh Kenny (Rower Inistioge),
By PRO Sun 27th Apr
