Honours Even in tight U23 match in very difficult conditions
Kilkenny 1-10 Tipperary 2-7
Kilkenny and Tipperary U23s shared the spoils in a very competitive encounter in Dunmore in Round 3 of the U23 championship last Friday evening 10th April. This was a closely fought match all through with very little between the sides at any stage and perhaps a draw was the fairest result on a night where all ladies deserve huge credit for the huge commitment and skill shown throughout the hour on a very wet and cold evening in Dunmore.
Both sides tore into the action from the off in this Friday evening encounter and this saw both sides trade goals in the opening five minutes which saw the side tied at 1-1 each. Kilkenny’s goal was a fine finish from Claire Doheny in the second minute but Tipperary replied in the 5th minute when the lively Danielle Ryan finished to the net after a long run through from the sideline. Kilkenny edged the next few minutes thanks to scores from Leah Brett and Ellen Gunner (free) to lead 1-4 to 1-3 after 15 minutes but they were rocked moments later when a mixup from a dropping ball in the square saw Danielle Ryan score her second goal to put the Tipp girls in front. Both sides continued to commit to every ball for the remainder of this half but just one further Kilkenny point was added to leave the half time score at 2-3 (T) to 1-5 (KK).
Conditions if anything seemed to worsen as the second half started although Kilkenny did start again on the front foot and two pointed frees by Ellen Gunner saw them take the lead at 1-7 to 2-3 after 33 minutes. Tipp levelled soon afterwards with a pointed free from Eva O’Dwyer and ten scoreless minutes followed where Kilkenny had chances to edge clear but failed to take them. Tipp hit the front with an Eva O’Dwyer free in the 45th minute but two pointed frees from Ellen Gunner swung the advantage Kilkenny’s way as the match headed into the closing five minutes. A fine point from play from Tipp’s Danielle Ryan levelled matters in the 56th minute and while Kilkenny appeared to have edged the match when Leah Brett pointed from play approaching the 60th minute, there was still time left for Tipp’s Danielle Ryan to level the match for a final time with a well taken free from over 40 metres out. Overall, this result keeps both sides very much in the hunt to qualify for the U23 semifinals in this six team championship and next up for Kilkenny is a match against table toppers Cork on 19th April
Scorers – Ellen Gunner 0-6 (6f), Leah Brett 0-4, Claire Doheny 1-0
Tipperary – Danielle Ryan 2-3 (1f), Eva O’Dwyer 0-3 (3f), Niamh Cunneen 0-1
Kilkenny: Cara Duggan, Rachel Brennan, Rachel Whelan, Caoimhe Carroll, Niamh Phelan, Aine Rohan, Caoimhe Power, Keara Ryan, Anna Doheny, Lucy Boyd, Ellen Gunner, Claire Doheny, Lauren Ronan, Leah Brett, Molly Conroy
Subs: Amy Brennan, Sofia Kerr, Katie Brennan, Laoise Nolan, Rose Kelly, Marie Claire O’Dwyer, Kate McCluskey, Laura Doherty, Katie Ryan, Eabha Carroll, Anna Purcell, Tara McGrath, Michelle Killeen, Amy Cody, Louise Hickey, Aoife Shealy, Niamh Davis, Shona Ruane.
Tipperary: Molly O’Dwyer, Aoife Mellerick, Katie Fitzgerald, Lilly Fahie, Paula Quirke, Miriam Murphy, Kate Dowling, Anna Fahie, Ellen Cunneen, Maeve Cunneen, Niamh Cunneen, Eimear Fogarty, Grace Moloney, Danielle Ryan, Eva O’Dwyer
Subs: Aoife Gleeson, Sarah McLoughlin, Emma Kelly, Anna O’Brien, Lucy Heffernan, Kate Ferncombe, Caitlyn Treacy, Elena McGrath, Emma Darcy, Ciara Shelly, Ava Bevans, Jennifer Heffernan, Emly Spillane, Aoife Fitzgerald, Shona McBride.
Referee: Patrick Murphy.
By PRO Mon 20th Apr
