Champions: Goals came at the right time as hard working Cats deliver the perfect team performance to land their eighth minor All Ireland
Electric Ireland Minor A All Ireland Final
Kilkenny 3-8 Cork 0-8
by Aoife Lanigan, PRO
Kilkenny were crowned Minor A All Ireland Camogie Champions for the 8th time after an electric performance against Cork
The Cats greater goal power saw them get the better of their old rivals in a perfect team game at UPMC Nowlan Park
A determined Kilkenny went on the attack straight from the throw in, Eleanor Doheny driving the sliotar towards goal. A great catch saw Lucy Boyd win possession before she slotted the ball over the bar. Two minutes later, Kilkenny Joint Captain Ciara O’Shea found the target with a point after the sliotar broke kindly for her, while being batted out of defence
It got even better for the hosts. From the resulting puckout, Taylor Aylward cleared upfield to Molly Conroy who laid off a handpass to Niamh Davis.
Setting off at speed towards the Cork goal, she pulled the trigger – Kilkenny were 1-2 to 0-0 after three & a half minutes
A stunned Cork regained their composure and started to settle into the match. They scored the next three points, Clara Murphy (two frees) & Ally Mulkerrins getting them on the board
However, they had to alert in defence as the hosts kept hunting for big scores. Molly Conroy was only denied a second goal for Kilkenny after Cork goalkeeper Anna Kearney made a superb save
After a tough start, Cork were dealt a blow when they lost influential midfielder Catherine Murphy with a shoulder injury after 19th minutes, which led to a long stoppage before play resumed
Ona Kennedy pointed a free for the Cats with Maebh O’Brien replying for Cork, Emily Phelan was on target for Kilkenny with a fine point with another Murphy free for Cork making it 1-4 to 0-5
Just before half time, Aisling O’Sullivan pointed to see Kilkenny lead by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break
On the resumption of play, Kilkenny continued where they had left off in the first half. Rachel Phelan winning a free for Kilkenny on the 50m line. Ona Kennedy stood over the sliotar. Taking aim, she sent it towards the Cork goal, the sliotar went all the way to the back of the net
Kennedy converted another free for Kilkenny before Cork were awarded a Penalty for a foul on Tara Goulding. Rachel Murphy took the Penalty, but Ella Walton leaped off her line and got her hurl to the sliotar, saved it and the danger was cleared
Great Pass
That save was a blow to Cork’s hopes, but only served to spur Kilkenny on. Emily Phelan added another point for Kilkenny after a great stick pass to her from Eleanor Doheny, pushing the homeside 2-7 to 0-5 ahead with 46 minutes gone
Murphy pulled a point back for Cork from a free but , in the 55th minute, Emily Phelan finished any chance of a Cork fightback when she rattled the back of the net for Kilkenny’s third goal (3-7 to 0-6)
Shona Cronin pointed a free for Cork & she added another from a 45, but they were no more than consolation scores
The final say went to the Champions. The last score of a memorable game was a well struck effort by Sadhbh Shefflin, a score which sparked scenes of celebration as Kilkenny ran our deserving winners, adding a crown to Minor A titles won in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015 & 2021
Scorers – Kilkenny – Ona Kennedy 1-2 (1-2f), Emily Phelan 1-2, Niamh Davis 1-0, Lucy Boyd, Ciara O’Shea, Aisling O’Sullivan, Sadhbh Shefflin 0-1 each
Cork – Clara Murphy 0-4 (4f), Shona Cronin (0-2, 1f, 1 45), Ally Mulkerrins, Maebh O’Brien 0-1 each
Kilkenny: Ella Walton (Tullaroan), Caoimhe Power (Windgap), Grace Brennan (Tullaroan), Jessica Smith (Barrow Rangers), Ciara Hickey (St Lachtains), Ona Kennedy ( 0-7, 6f, 1 45, Windgap), Taylor Aylward (Ballyhale), Rachel Phelan (John Lockes), Eleanor Doheny (Tullaroan), Lucy Boyd (Clara), Aisling O’Sullivan (John Lockes), Niamh Davis (Danesfort), Emily Phelan (John Lockes), Ciara O’Shea (Joint Captain, Windgap), Molly Conroy (St Brigids)
Subs: Shona Ruane (St Martin’s) for Molly Conroy, Shannon Doheny (Tullaroan) for Taylor Aylward, Sadhbh Shefflin (Ballyhale) for Aisling O’Sullivan, Rebecca Hayden (Graiguenamanagh) for Ciara Hickey, Jill O’Brien (Danesfort) for Jessica Smith, inj, Michelle Killeen (St Lachtain’s), Kate Meighan (Dicksboro), Rhianna Scott (Barrow Rangers), 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).
Cork: Anna Kearney, Ally McGrath, Laoise Ahern, Saoirse Cunningham, Millie Lombard, Caoilainn Ryan, Aisling Cussen, Jess Murphy, Catherine Murphy, Rachel Murphy, Captain, Clara Murphy, Ava McAuliffe, Ally Mulkerrins, Tara Goulding, Maebh O’Brien
Subs: Ciara Kelleher for Catherine Murphy, inj, Aoife Cotterell for Maebh O’Brien, Shona Cronin for Tara Goulding, Shauna O’Driscoll for Ally Mulkerrins, Kate O’Sullivan for Ciara Kelleher, Tara O’Donoghue, Sophie Donohoe, Ava Ashman, Avril Cagney, Cara O’Sullivan, Meg Twomey, Ava McSweeney, Caoimhe Horgan, Eabha O’Connor, Nikki Hosford
Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)
