Glen Dimplex Senior All Ireland Championship 1st Round
Kilkenny 3-19
Limerick 1-11
By Aoife Lanigan, PRO
Kilkenny opened their Glen Dimplex Senior All Ireland Championship Campaign with a comprehensive victory over Limerick
Limerick opened the scoring with a goal from Sarah O’Gorman after 37 seconds, this was followed by a point by the Treaty women’s Captain Orlaith Kelleher. By the time, Limerick scored again, Kilkenny had 2-7 on the board
Aoife Prendergast scored the home side’s first point from a free after 3 minutes. Laura Greene slotted over a lovely point after a neat pass from Caoimhe Keher Murtagh
In the 5th minute, Aoife Norris drove a free out of defence and the sliotar beat the Limerick defence and Aoife Prendergast capitalised to rattle the back of the net. This gave the hosts their first lead of the afternoon 1-2 to 1-1
Further points from Prendergast (3f), Laura Greene & Caoimhe Keher Murtagh pushed Kilkenny further ahead
Kilkenny’s lead got bigger midway through the half as they got a second goal. A great cross field ball from Angela Carroll met the run of Prendergast and the Dicksboro woman found the net for the second time – 2-7 to 1-1 the Kilkenny lead as Limerick struggled at the back despite playing a sweeper
Limerick kept fighting & hit three of the next four points, Donna Kenny (2) & Laura Southern and Kilkenny’s point through Aoife Prendergast
However, the Cats finished the half on top, Laura Murphy, Asha McHardy & Emma Shortall among the scorers as the homeside took a 2-12 to 1-5 lead into the half time break
On the resumption of play, Kilkenny get the perfect start to extend their lead. From the throw in, Laura Murphy passed to Laura Greene, the latter struck the sliotar towards the Limerick goal
The defence let the sliotar bounce in front of them but Sarah Barcoe was alert & nipped in to poke the ball home for the home side’s third goal
Donna Kenny slotted over two points for the Treaty women before Aoife Prendergast (f), Emma Shortall & Sarah Barcoe slotted over a point each to extend their lead
Limerick then hit three points of their own through Donna Kenny (f), Laura Southern (f) & Orlaith Kelleher, but just like the end of the first half, Kilkenny finished the strongest, with points from substitute Rachel Dowling (2), Aoife Prendergast (from midfield) and Sarah Barcoe to win 3-19 to 1-11
Kilkenny head to Parnell Park next Saturday afternoon (4.30pm) to take on Dublin
Scorers – Kilkenny – Aoife Prendergast 2-8 (7f), Sarah Barcoe 1-2, Laura Greene, Emma Shortall, Rachel Dowling 0-2 each, Asha McHardy, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Laura Murphy 0-1 each
Limerick – Donna Kenny 0-5 (3f), Laura Southern 0-4 (2f), Sarah O’Brien 1-0, Orlaith Kelleher 0-2
Kilkenny: Aoife Norris, Maria Brennan, Michelle Teehan, Ava Brett, Caoimhe Dowling (Capt), Niamh Deely, Angela Carroll, Laura Greene, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Aoife Prendergast, Laura Murphy, Asha McHardy, Emma Shortall, Steffi Fitzgerald, Sarah Barcoe
Subs – Tiffanie Fitzgerald for Michelle Teehan, Katie Nolan for Emma Shortall, Rachel Dowling for Steffi Fitzgerald, Rachel Phelan for Laura Greene, Emily Smith for Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Ellen Gunner, Miriam Bambrick, Laura Phelan, Sofia Kerr, Jessica Smith, Emma Mulhall, Ciara Dunne, Claire Doheny, Una Duggan, Aisling O’Sullivan
Limerick: Sarah Gillane, Teresa Dore, Ciara O’Riordion, Ellie Woufle, Sophie O’Callaghan, Stephanie Woulfe, Eimear O’Donovan, Ailbhe Larkin, Orlaith Kelleher (Capt), Donna Kenny, Lizanna Boylan, Ciara Curtin, Sarah O’Brien, Laura Southern, Shauna Cunningham
Subs: Cliodhna Ryan for Sophie O’Callaghan, Maeve Geary for Ailbhe Larkin, Mai McKenna for Teresa Dore, Ciara Neenan for Donna Kenny, Ciara Mulqueen, Aine Foley, Karen Cunningham, Carla Griffin, Kaelin Ryan, Ellen Meehan, Sophie O’Keeffe, Rebecca Delee, Emily O’Halloran, Dearbhla Egan, Ella Hession
Referee: Brian Kearney, Kildare
By PRO Wed 27th May
