Electric Ireland Minor A All Ireland Championship – R. 1
Full Time Score: Kilkenny 03 – 11 Dublin 01 – 07
With pitches in Kilkenny unplayable due to the continued bad weather, Kilkenny welcomed Dublin, for the first round of five in their All-Ireland Championship campaign, to Fethard Town Park and availed of the excellent all-weather facilities there.
Kilkenny with 9 players on their panel that gained valuable experience as part of the All-Ireland winning Minor team last year played with the assistance of the wind in the first half, Dublin though made the better start and certainly took the game to Kilkenny in the opening 15 minutes, they were first to split the posts with a well taken point on the 3rd minute by Kay Ryan, this was immediately followed up with an equaliser by Holly Ryan, and a point from a free scored by Ona Kennedy, Dublin took the lead again with three points in a row from Sadhbh McCann, Clodagh Glennon and half back Eadoin McClean. A strong run from Shauna Mahony resulted in in another point from play followed by a point from Reka Kiss Kallo in what was Dublin’s fifth and final score of the half. An Emily Phelan goal and a point seemed to settle Kilkenny, and good work between the Kilkenny forwards set up Amy O’Shea for a point and a goal from Emily Cooney. Sadhbh Shefflin had to work hard for her long-range point and Emily Cooney popped over the last score of the half. (Score HT KK 2 -08 Dub 0 – 05).
Dublin had the advantage of the wind in the second half, but a Kilkenny goal by Amy O’Shea in the first minute, despite a quick point in reply from Sadhbh McCann, made it an uphill task for the Dubs. After Holly Ryan’s point on the 34th minute Kilkenny didn’t score for 10 minutes in which the backs would have been disappointed to concede a relatively soft Dublin goal followed by a point from Clodagh Glennan. This was Dublin’s last score of the game and Kilkenny finished strong with a point each from Shauna Mahony and Emily Cooney. The introduction of fresh legs from Leah O’Donovan and Katie O’Shea for Shannon Dohney and Hollie Ryan helped Kilkenny retain the upper hand, Emma Hogan and Aoibhinn Ryan continued to test the Dublin backline when brought on for Sadhbh Shefflin and Emily Cooney. Defender Sinead Jones made her debut in the last few minutes into the full back position for Erin Morrissey.
Overall, the management can be happy with the efforts of the team and will take positives from the performance on their first day in competitive Camogie together. Kilkenny will meet Dublin again on Sunday of next weekend in the semi-final of the Leinster Championship, after where many of these girls will have represented their respective schools in the Senior Post Primary semifinals on Saturday.
Our Minor B team will also play away to Dublin next Sunday in the quarter final of the Leinster Championship, with the U16A’s looking forward to playing the opening game of their All-Ireland campaign away to Limerick, having had both their U16A & B Leinster championship matches postponed this weekend due to unplayable pitches in Wexford.
Kilkenny Scorers: Amy O’Shea 1 – 02, Emily Cooney 1 – 02, Emily Phelan 1 – 01, Shauna Mahony 0 – 02, Holly Ryan 0 – 02, Sadhbh Shefflin 0 – 01, Ona Kennedy 0 – 1 (f).
Dublin Scorers: Clodagh Glennon 1 – 02, Sadhbh McCann 0 – 02, Kay Ryan 0 – 1, Reka Kiss Kallo 0 – 1, Eadaoin McClean 0 – 01.
Kilkenny Panel: Ella Walton (Tullaroan), Hannah Tennyson (Carrickshock), Erin Morrissey (Bennettsbridge), Mairead Duggan (St. Annes), Ali Greaney (Dicksboro), Ona Kennedy (Windgap), Aoife O’Grady (St. Annes), Shannon Doheny (Tullaroan), Eleanor Doheny (Tullaroan) Sadhbh Shefflin (Ballyhale), Shauna Mahony (Danesfort), Hollie Ryan (Bennettsbridge), Emily Phelan J.Capt. (John Lockes), Emily Cooney (Mooncoin), Amy O’Shea (Carrickshock), Orla Duggan (St. Annes), Aoibhinn Ryan (Tullogher), Leah O’Donovan J.Capt. (John Lockes), Chloe Teehan (St. Brigids), Sinead Jones (Glenmore), Lucy Coomey (James Stephens), Ellen Treacy (Thomastown), Katie O’Shea (Carrickshock), Oonagh Fitzgerald (Clara), Emma Hogan (Dicksboro), Tara Cody (St. Brigids), Ciara Hickey (St. Lachtains), Lily Ryan (Tullogher), Sinead Henderson (St. Annes), Ruth Crowley (O’Loughlin Gaels), Niamh Drennan (St. Annes).
Manager: David Maher, Selectors, Pascal Walsh, Paddy Moore, Derrick Brennan, Aoife Cantwell.
By PRO Fri 6th Feb
