Eir U16A All Ireland Championship 5th Round
Kilkenny U16 A v’s Waterford U16A
Rower Inistioge GAA, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny.
This match was the final round of the All Ireland Series for both teams. A win for Kilkenny would put them top of the table and a win for Waterford could possibly secure an All-Ireland semi-final spot, with other results going the right way for them. Inistioge was the venue for this highly anticipated match against near neighbours and the pitch was in excellent condition. Waterford, who were playing against a stiff breeze in the first half, started the game brightly, winning the throw in and getting an immediate point from Sophie McCarthy, at full forward. They followed this up one minute later with another point from the very talented Laura Beresford, at half forward. Waterford were in control but Kilkenny settled after 5 minutes and their backs worked the ball to Sophie McCabe at full forward who beat her defender and rifled an unstoppable shot to the net. Rachael Duff followed this up with a quick point after she won the puck out, went direct for goal and sent the ball over the bar. Three minutes later, Kilkenny’s Elizabeth Sida won a free around the half forward line and the accurate Noa Bambrick stepped up to slot the free over the bar. Kilkenny had now found their rhythm and their defence were in control. The ever dependable Rachel Murphy found Kate Dalton in space, who gathered the ball and slotted another point for Kilkenny over the bar. Megan Harding followed this up with a superb point after receiving the ball from the hard working Sophie McCabe, who was having a titanic battle with Waterford’s Sophie Carroll Lawler at full back. The Kilkenny forwards were moving the ball around well and passing was accurate as Kate Dalton popped a hand pass to Sophie McCabe for her first point of the game. Unfortunately for Kilkenny, the hard-working Holly Drennan had to leave the field of play as she took a hard knock. Saidhbh Farrell, who has been out injured for a number of weeks, replaced her and slotted in seamlessly to the half back line. In the 18th minute, Rachael Duff won a tough ball off her marker and made a superb sprint from the half way line to take her second point of the game. She followed this up 3 minutes later with another point. Both teams fought hard in the closing minutes of the first half with all of the Kilkenny full back line; Sinead Cash, Robyn Corcoran and Ciara Joyce, working diligently to clear ball and Leyla Ahern finished off Kilkenny’s scoring in the first half with a well taken point from a tight angle. Half time score: Kilkenny: 1-8 Waterford 0-2.
Kilkenny made 3 substitutions at half time: Dearbhla Ryan came on for Leyla Ahern, Rebecca Smith replaced Elizabeth Sida and Ruby Norris came in for Megan Harding. Playing against the strong wind in the second half, Kilkenny worked the ball well through the lines to Dearbhla Ryan who scored Kilkenny’s first point of the second half. Noa Bambrick followed this up with another point for Kilkenny after Rebecca Smith picked her out for the pass and she accurately put it over the bar. Waterford responded well. Laura Beresford and Katie Mullane worked well in the forwards and were pressing on the Kilkenny goal. Rachel Tennyson in the Kilkenny goal, made an excellent save from point blank range to keep a clean sheet but minutes later, Waterford’s L. Beresford was rewarded with her second point of the game. Her teammate, Lilly-Ellen Costello, at corner forward added another point for Waterford after working hard to win possession. However, Kilkenny responded positively as corner forward, Dearbhla Ryan’s incredible first touch won her the ball, beating her marker and placed the ball in the corner of the net. Kilkenny were now back in control and they made three substitutions; Meabh Kenny came on for Sophie McCabe, Katie Mulcahy replaced Isabel Carroll and Ruby Mullins came on for Noa Bambrick. Waterford also made substitutions with Trudie O’Reilly replacing Rachel O’Donovan and Niamh Woods replaced Shannon Radley. Kilkenny continued with their scoring as the lively Ruby Norris placed the ball over the bar in the 45th minute. Waterford’s Katie Mullane at centre forward, stepped up her game and sent two excellent points over the bar, when Waterford needed them most. Also, the Waterford goalkeeper was busy and made a good save from Ruby Mullins to give Kilkenny a 45. Meabh Kenny stepped and put the 45 over the bar. However, R. Mullins wasn’t to be denied and as M. Kenny sent a high ball into Mullins at full forward, Mullins got a hurl to it and knocked it into the back of the net. Excellent precision from the St. Martins player at full forward. Moments later, Kilkenny made another substitution bringing Roisin Gibbons on for Rachael Duff and Waterford made 3 substitutions with Heather Power coming on for Lilly-Ellen Costello, Ciara Cullinane replacing Lizzie Prendergast and Heather O’Keeffe coming in for Sophie McCarthy. But it was Kilkenny who were in the ascendency and Ruby Norris scored her second point of the match. Kilkenny’s Rachel Murphy and Ciara Joyce were doing immense work in the backs and Kilkenny’s goalkeeper, Rachel Tennyson made another superb save in the dying minutes. The alert Robyn Corcoran cleared the ball from the backs and it worked its way into Ruby Norris’s hand. Norris took on her marker and winning the race, she was rewarded with a shot to the back of the net which resulted in the last goal and final score of the game. Kilkenny’s ability to field high ball in every line and find their team mates in space proved to be the difference between the two teams and they now march onto a deserving All Ireland Semi-final in two weeks’ time. But before that, they will play a Leinster Final this Friday evening, 10th April, in SETU Carlow against Dublin
Kilkenny team: Rachel Tennyson, Sinead Cash, Robyn Corcoran, Ciara Joyce, Holly Drennan, Rachel Murphy, Isabel Carroll, Amy Walsh, Elizabeth Sida, Rachael Duff (0-3), Noa Bambrick (0-2, 0-1 free), Megan Harding (0-1), Kate Dalton (0-1), Sophie McCabe (1-1), Leyla Ahern (0-1).
Subs: Heidi Culleton, Alice Maher, Saidhbh Farrell, Katie Mulcahy, Meabh Kenny(0-1,45), Dearbhla Ryan(1-1), Ruby Norris(1-2), Rebecca Smith, Roisin Gibbons, Ruby Mullins (1-0), Katie Harnett, Sarah Buggy.
Waterford team: Tianna Barrett, Rachel O’Donovan, Sophie Carroll Lawler, Amy Beresford, Doireann Power, Becky Sheridan, Lizzie Prendergast, Lily Codd, Aine Desmond, Laura Beresford (0-2), Katie Mullane (0-2), Shannon Radley, Erika Naughton, Sophie McCarthy (0-1), Lilly-Ellen Costello (0-1).
Subs: Mairi Phelan, Freya Bracegirdle, Niamh Woods, Leah Keane, Ciara Cullinane, Trudie O’Reilly, Lauren O’Connor, Heather Power, Heather O’Keeffe, Katelyn McCarthy, Maisie Roche, Aisling Counihan.
By PRO Sat 11th Apr
