Camogie Division 1A National League Round 4
Kilkenny 2-18 Waterford 2-13
By Aoife Lanigan, PRO
Kilkenny Senior Camogie team got their first win in the Very League Division 1A when they defeated neighbours Waterford in a wet & windy UPMC Nowlan Park last Saturday
In the 3rd minute, Abbie Flynn split open the Kilkenny defence and she passed the sliotar to an unmarked Mairead O’Brien who rattled the back of the net. Niamh Rockett converted a free for Waterford to put them 1-1 to 0-0 ahead
Mary O’Connell opened Kilkenny’s scoring with a point from play in the 7th minute. Laura Murphy then converted two frees for the homeside to narrow the gap. Rockett slotted over two frees for Waterford in the 12th & 14th minutes
Kilkenny’s Vice Captain Kellyann Doyle received a Katie Nolan delivery and riffled in a goal after 15 minutes, to level matters, but Waterford tagged on two more points through a Niamh Rockett free & a point from play from Orla Hickey. These were to be Waterford’s last score of the first half
The second quarter of the match was a one sided affair with Kilkenny taking complete control. Steffi Fitzgerald added a point before Laura Murphy converted a free to level the match again
Katie Nolan slotted over a point after a quick free from Laura Murphy found Nolan unmarked
In the 21st minute, Steffi Fitzgerald played in a great ball to Kellyann Doyle, she turned and buried the sliotar into the back of the net
Laura Murphy added another two points from placed balls & Steffi Fitzgerald tagged on two points as well, one of the points was a great point over her shoulder
This left the interval score 2-10 to 1-5 on favour of the homeside
On the resumption of play, Laura Murphy (f) and Mairead O’Brien traded points. Then Katie Nolan scored a point for Kilkenny after a quick free from midfield found her again unmarked
Caoimhe Keher Murtagh pointed in the 36th minute, meaning all six Kilkenny forwards had scored. Katie Nolan tagged on another point for Kilkenny which was sandwiched between two Niamh Rockett frees
Waterford substitute Molly Comerford also scored a fine point from play. Niamh Rockett was on target again from a free to leave the score 2-14 to 1-9 after 44 minutes
Orla Hickey & Niamh Rockett slotted over a point a piece for Waterford. Katie Nolan & Sophie Holden hit the target, either side of the 55th minute, but a goal & point from O’Brien and Rockett’s eight point of the afternoon reduced the margin to leave the final score Kilkenny 2-18 Waterford 2-13
Kilkenny head to Dublin next weekend in O’Toole Park, Crumlin for the last Round of the Very League & a win will guarantee they stay in Division 1A next year
Kilkenny: Aoife Norris, Ava Brett, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Ciara Phelan, Miriam Bambrick, Caoimhe Dowling, Niamh Deely, Laura Greene, Aobha O’Gorman, Mary O’Connell, Steffi Fitzgerald, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Laura Murphy, Kellyann Doyle (Vice Captain), Katie Nolan
Subs – Danielle Quigley for Miriam Bambrick, Asha McHardy for Aobha O’Gorman, Claire Doheny for Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Sophie Holden for Mary O’Connell, Ali Kennedy, Michelle Teehan, Carlise Comerford, Anna Doheny, Angela Carroll, Mairead Kennedy, Maria Brennan, Sophie O’Dwyer, Ciara Dunne, Rachel Dowling, Lauren Ronan, Niamh Crowley
Waterford: Noelle Murphy, Rachael Walsh, Keeley Corbert Barry (Vice Captain), Alannah McNulty, Bevin Bowdren, Lorraine Bray (Captain), Iona Heffernan, Orla Hickey, Eimear O’Neill, Beth Carton, Abbie Flynn, Niamh Rockett, Annie Fitzgerald, Mairead O’Brien, Kate Lynch
Subs – Tara Power for Alannah McNulty, Maggie Gostl for Abbie Flynn, Aoife Landers for Iona Heffernan, Alannah O’Sullivan for Kate Lynch, Katelyn Gardner, Niamh Ahern, Sarah Morrissey. Onelia Whelan, Clodagh Curran, Jordan Scholtz, Alex Healy, Brianna O’Regan
