Glen Dimplex Senior Championship Rd 1
Kilkenny 3-26
Derry 0-9
By Martin Quilty
Kilkenny delivered a clinical performance as they overwhelmed Derry to get their All Ireland campaign off to a winning start
The Cats were top class and always in command at the GAA Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg on Saturday as they shook the Oaf Leaf County for a 3-26 to 0-9 win
Kilkenny made the trip North the night before the game, a move that paid off as they were fresh and sharp right from the first whistle
Led by the ever-reliable Laura Murphy, who contributed a phenomenal 0-9 (five frees), Kilkenny’s forwards were electric, while their defence watertight for most of the game, and their midfield relentless
In what was a statement victory, a Murphy free inside the opening minute, set the tone. Derry answered briefly through Orlaith Hull, but the momentum quickly shifted in Kilkenny’s favour
Mary O’Connell and Sarah Barcoe lit up the scoreboard early on, with Barcoe showcasing her sharp shooting and smart movement throughout the match
By the quarter-hour mark, the kittens were purring with confidence. Points from Steffi Fitzgerald and Caoimhe Keher Murtagh kept the pressure on, while the small Kilkenny crowd had something to cheer about in the 17th minute when Katie Nolan slotted home a beautiful goal, her low strike slipping beneath the Derry keeper Niamh Gribben after a slick team move
Kilkenny were hungry on Saturday; they hunted in packs, chased every ball and there was no way they were conceding a goal, Aoife Norris was virtually a spectator for most of the game
The forward line was rich with the delivery of ball coming from the backs and midfielders, resulting in all six of the starting forward line getting on the scoreboard by half time. The passing from players was crisp and sharp and the support play was a real joy to watch, as was the interplay with the forwards
Kilkenny never relented in their work-rate, while their touch, passing and communication was excellent
By halftime, the scoreboard read Kilkenny 1-15, Derry 0-3. But for some missed chances and the brilliance of Gribben in the Derry goal, the margin could have been greater
While the game was all but over, Derry to their credit, came out with renewed intent for the second half
Eabha McElhinny and Orlaith Hull added scores that gave the Oak Leaf county a brief glimmer of pride, but Kilkenny quickly snuffed out any hopes of a comeback.
INSTANT IMPACT
Sophie Holden was introduced and made an instant impact—her point in the 47th minute was literally her first touch on the ball. This was followed very quickly by a powerful solo goal as she burst through the Derry backline and rifled into the net. Holden would get 1-3 in a three-minute spell that really underlined the dominance of the stripey women.
Steffi Fitzgerald added another second goal just before the final whistle, rounding off a superb individual performance with a tally of 1-4 from play
Not to be overshadowed, Barcoe and Murphy kept piling on the pressure, with the final point from Barcoe bringing her personal total to 0-4.
Derry battled admirably in spurts, with Orlaith Hull notching 0-5, but the gap in sharpness and experience was evident. Players like Sinead McGill and Aimee Lennon added late points, but it was too little, too late.
With this kind of firepower and team cohesion, Kilkenny took every opportunity to notch up a large score just in case that score-difference would come into play later in the group.
For Derry, it’s back to the drawing board—but the experience of facing a side of this calibre could yet prove invaluable.
Kilkenny will host the Deise next Saturday in Kilkenny with a venue and time not yet known
On a side note, the facilities in Owenbeg are second to none, from the dressing rooms to the stand for supporters, while the reserved seating for the media really added to the occasion.
Teams:
Derry: Niamh Gribben, Eimear Doherty, Roisín Cassidy, Leah Lennon, Anna McDaid, Aoife Ní Chaiside, Niamh Quinn, Rachel McAllister, Aine McGill, Sinead McGill, Conla Kerr, Eabha McElhinney, Jackie Donnelly, Aimee Lennon, Orlaith Hull
Subs: Meabh Boylan for E. Doherty, Caoimhe Higgins for S. McGill, Cliodhna McElhinney for E. McElhinney
Kilkenny: Aoife Norris, Ava Brett, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Ciara Phelan, Niamh Deely, Katie Power, Caoimhe Dowling, Aobha O’Gorman, Sarah Barcoe, Mary O’Connell, Laura Murphy, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Katie Nolan, Aoife Prendergast, Steffi Fitzgerald
Subs: Kellyann Doyle for A. Prendergast, Sophie Holden for K. Nolan, Maria Brennan for T. Fitzgerald, Asha McHardy for M. O’Connell, Laura Greene for A. O’Gorman
Scorers:
Derry:- Orlaith Hull (0-5, 3f), Aine McGill, Sinead McGill, Eabha McElhinney and Aimee Lennon (0-1 each)
Kilkenny:- Laura Murphy (0-9, 6f), Steffi Fitzgerald (1-4), Sophie Holden (1-3), Katie Nolan (1-1), Sarah Barcoe (0-4), Aoife Prendergast (0-2), Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Mary O’Connell, Kellyann Doyle (0-1 each)
Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)
By PRO Thu 29th May
