Goals decide game as impressive Tribeswomen head West with win

U23 All Ireland Championship 2^nd Round

Kilkenny 0-13

Galway 2-14

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

Kilkenny tasted defeat against the reigning U23A All Ireland Champions, Galway when the Westerners visited MW Hire Training Centre, Dunmore last Sunday in the 2^nd Round of the U23A All Ireland Championship

Kilkenny opened the scoring with a point from Claire Doheny after 37 seconds. Amy Brennan added to Kilkenny’s tally with a nice from play. Emily Lawless slotted over Galway’s first point in the 4^th minute

Claire Doheny and Alannah Fahy traded points, before Katie Gilchrist converted two pointed frees for the visitors to put them a point ahead

Ellen Gunner replied a pointed free to equalise the match. In the 12^th minute, Galway got in for a goal, when Alannah Fahy got in behind the home sides defence and hit a rasper passed the goalkeeper

Leah Brett & Ellen Gunner hit over a point each for the stripey girls. Kerri O’Driscoll tagged on a point for Galway to put them two points ahead

Kilkenny then hit the next three points through Ellen Gunner (2 45s), but the visitors hit back with three points of their own, through Ava Bloomer & Katie Gilchrist (2)

Ellen Gunner closed out the first half scoring, with a pointed free for Kilkenny to leave the interval score 1-8 to 0-10 in favour of Galway

Kilkenny started the brightest in the second half with Lauren Ronan & Amy Brennan hitting a point each. The visitors hit four points without reply from Aoibhe Joyce, Katie Gilchrist, Emma Madden & Orla Mullins. Lauren Ronan & Katie Gilchrist swapped points

Then in the 49^th minute, Katie Gilchrist scored Galway’s second goal. Over the next 11 minutes, both teams tried to add to their tallies, but both defences stood strong until Galway’s substitute Leah Murphy slotted over a point from play

Heading towards the full-time whistle, Katie Gilchrist hit over a pointed free for the visitors, leaving them seven points clear

Kilkenny are at home to Tipperary in the 3^rd Round of the Championship on Friday night 10^th April

Scorers – Kilkenny – Ellen Gunner 0-6 (5f), Claire Doheny, Lauren Ronan, Amy Brennan 0-2 each, Leah Brett 0-1

Galway – Katie Gilchrist 1-6 (4f), Alannah Fahy 1-1, Emily Lawless, Kerri O’Driscoll, Ava Bloomer, Aoibhe Joyce, Emma Madden, Orla Mullins, Leah Murphy 0-1 each

Kilkenny: Cara Duggan, Rachel Brennan (Captain), Rachel Whelan, Sofia Kerr, Niamh Phelan, Aine Rohan, Anna Doheny, Keara Ryan, Caoimhe Power, Lauren Ronan, Lucy Boyd, Ellen Gunner, Leah Brett, Amy Brennan, Claire Doheny

Subs: Tara McGrath for Niamh Phelan, Molly Conroy for Ellen Gunner, Rose Kelly for Leah Brett, Laoise Nolan, Caoimhe Carroll, Katie Brennan, Katie Ryan, Louise Hickey, Eabha Carroll, Laura Doherty, Katie McCluskey, Amy Cody, Anna Purcell, Michelle Killeen, Marie Claire O’Dwyer, Aoife Shealy, Shona Ruane, Niamh Davis

Galway: Laura Freeney, Allison Greaney, Laoise McGrath, Sarah Lyons, Chloe Allen, Aoibhe Joyce, Emily Brogan, Orla Mullins, Emma Deeley, Kerri O’Driscoll, Catherine Hanley, Ava Bloomer, Emily Lawless, Alannah Fahy, Katie Gilchrist

Subs: Emma Madden for Alannah Fahy, Kayla Earner for Catherine Hanley, Katie Lawless for Allison Greaney, Sophie Flynn for Kerri O’Driscoll, Leah Murphy for Ava Bloomer, Caoimhe Hickey, Zoe Rodgers, Leanna Nic Dhonncha, Leah O’Halloran, Eva McGlynn

Referee: Barry Nea, Westmeath