Cork 2-23
Kilkenny 1-5
Sunday’s under-23 All-Ireland camogie final proved a chastening experience for a youthful Kilkenny team who came up against a rampant Cork outfit laden with players who have featured on their county’s senior panel in recent seasons.
The Kilkenny squad was made up of a panel of 33 players drawn from outside of the current senior panel, while Cork brought in a number of players from their senior panel for this encounter at Fraher Field in Dungarvan. Players like Orlaith Cahalane, Maebdh Murphy and Ava Fitzgerald showed all of their senior experience from the throw-in; it was obvious from an early stage that Kilkenny’s task would prove difficult.
Although Keara Ryan got Kilkenny off the mark early, Cork replied immediately with a pointed free by Amy Sheppard and a sweet score from speedy midfielder Millie Condon before they struck their first goal in the eighth minute.
Orlaith Cahalane spent most of the game operating out towards midfield, and it was her stunning run up the middle which set up Ava McAuliffe to strike home from close range off her left. Centre back Laure Dunlea came up field to strike a point as Cork began to turn the screw early on their opponents.
Backed by the strong breeze, Cork points then flowed from Condon, McAuliffe, Niamh McNabola and a long distance free from goalkeeper Anna Kearney, who has also been called up to their senior squad. Up front for Kilkenny, only Amy Brennan was making any inroads for the attack with her sister Katie also doing her best as she fired over Kilkenny’s second point.
The Kilkenny defence however, were under constant pressure and points from Cahalane followed by a sweet strike off the hurley by player of the match, Ava McAuliffe, extended their lead to 1-9 to 0-2 after 21 minutes of play.
Amy Sheppard was very good from placed balls also as Kilkenny found difficulty against the wind in similar situations. Ellen Gunner did convert a free before the break, but Cork finished the half with a point from dominant centre forward Rose Murphy, who covered an amount of ground, to lead 1-13 to 0-3 at the interval.
Even with the wind behind them for the new half it was going to take a huge effort from the Kilkenny girls to get back into the game. After a couple of shots went wide of target, Kilkenny finally got the goal that they required when Amy Brennan, who worked hard in the square, lost the ball, but regained control to shoot low to the net off her left.
It was the tonic that Kilkenny needed, but Cork responded immediately. When Cara Duggan batted out a Cork shot on goal at the other end, it was Amy Sheppard who responded quickest, caught the sliotar and fired it to the Kilkenny net, making it 2-14 to 1-3 after 36 minutes.
Kilkenny tried everything they could, with Áine Rohan doing her best at centre back and Sofia Kerr putting in a good closing stint, but with further Cork points from the improving Niamh McNabola and the hard working Orlaith Cahalane, there was no way back now. Amy Brennan did pull back a good point and Ellen Gunner converted a free, but Cork had the luxury of withdrawing many of their senior panelists long before the final whistle.
These sides had met on April 19 with victory going to Kilkenny but Cork had 10 changes in personnel from that clash, while Kilkenny began this game with the same 15 players as that earlier meeting. Eleven of the starting Kilkenny team will be underage again in 2027, but on this occasion Cork were the stronger outfit.
Teams and scorers
Cork: Ava McAuliffe (1-5); Amy Sheppard (1-5 0-4 frees); Niamh McNabola (0-3); Millie Condon, Orlaith Cahalane (0-2 each); Laura Dunlea, Rose Murphy, Ciara Golden, Eimear Duignan, Maebh O’Brien (0-1 each).
Kilkenny: Amy Brennan (1-1); Ellen Gunner (0-2, frees); Keara Ryan, Katie Brennan (0-1 each).
Kilkenny: Cara Duggan (Dicksboro); Rachel Brennan (Tullaroan, captain), Katie Ryan (Clara), Sofia Kerr (Conahy Shamrocks); Niamh Phelan (Dicksboro), Áine Rohan (Carrickshock), Anna Doheny (Tullaroan); Caoimhe Power (Windgap), Kate McCluskey (St Brigid’s); Keara Ryan (Clara), Ellen Gunner (Conahy Shamrocks), Amy Brennan (Conahy Shamrocks); Leah Brett (St Brigid’s), Claire Doheny (St Brigid’s), Katie Brennan (Conahy Shamrocks). Subs:Lauren Ronan (St Brigid’s) for Keara Ryan, Lucy Boyd (Clara) for Leah Brett, Tara MacGrath (Dicksboro) for Niamh Phelan, Caoimhe Carroll (Dicksboro) for Anna Doheny, Marie Claire O’Dwyer for Ellen Gunner
Cork: Anna Kearney; Maebdh De Búrca, Aoife Barrett, Maebdh Murphy; Ava Fitzgerald, Laura Dunlea, Orlaith Cremins; Millie Condon, Avril Cashman; Niamh McNabola, Rose Murphy, Ciara Golden (captain); Amy Sheppard, Ava McAuliffe, Orlaith Cahalane. Subs: Eimear Duignan, Ciara Morrison, Maebh O’Brien, Amy McCarthy.
Referee: Karol Collins (Galway).
By PRO Sun 24th May
