Leinster U16A Championship 3rd Round
Saturday 28th February 2026
Kilkenny 3-14
Dublin 3-6
Kilkenny faced a tough battle against a determined and well prepared Dublin team, on a fresh sunny day in UCD. Rachael Duff opened the scoring with a point, after Roisin Gibbons won the throw in and gave it straight to Duff. With early pressure on the Kilkenny goalkeeper, Rachel Tennyson, the Kilkenny backs worked hard through Rachel Murphy to get the ball up the field, where Megan Harding won it and put it over the bar for Kilkenny’s second score. Dublin’s goalie was also tested early on but Dublin backs, Chloe Madden and Laoise O’ Sullivan got the ball away from the danger area. Straight away, Dublin won a free on their half forward line and a very lively Sarah Blessington at wing forward, slotted it over the bar. Kilkenny responded immediately as Kate Dalton won a tough battle with her marker, Faye Frain, popped it into Racheal Duff who got her second point of the game. The Dublin players then picked up the pace and scored 1-3 in the next 15 mins, with 3 points from the impressive Sarah Blessington (2 from frees) and a goal from corner forward, Freya Ryan. Suddenly, Dublin were 4 points up and were showing great confidence all over the field. But the Kilkenny girls responded with 2 points from Megan Harding of Erins’s Own (1 free) and a point from Dearbhla Ryan from Tullogher. With 5 mins additional time in the first half, Dublin’s Freya Ryan was causing the Kilkenny backs problems and she ran in from the corner and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Half time score: Kilkenny 0-6 Dublin 2-4.
One substitution at half time: Amy Walsh came on for Katie Mulcahy.
Kilkenny started the second half much brighter and with more urgency. Dearbhla Ryan took a well-earned point after one minute of play and shortly after, Megan Harding won a throw in ball, controlled it skilfully and added a second point. There was ferocious work from all backs over the next ten minutes with Robyn Corcoran, Alice Maher and Rachel Murphy working tirelessly for Kilkenny and Chloe Maddan, Erin Peppard and Maria Burke (Dublin) working well together to clear many threatening passages of play. In the 13th minute, Dearbhla Ryan added a point to Kilkenny’s score and followed it up with a deserved goal: Noa Bambrick sent a perfect ball into Ryan who raced towards goal and took her chance. Kate Dalton, who was now playing at corner forward added to the goal count after Rachael Duff hand passed her the ball and she responded quickly to bat it into the back of the net. With these 2 quick goals, all of a sudden, the match turned on it’s head. Dublin introduced 2 subs, Ciara Lane and Alanna O’Brien and they responded well to Kilkenny pressure with a point from Sarah Blessington and followed it up with a goal from Katie Quigley at full forward: a long ball from Cara Philips was blocked on the Kilkenny goal line by Rachel Tennyson but the quick response from Quigley made sure it was in the back of the net. However, this was Dublin’s last score of the game. Kilkenny stepped up their intensity and points followed from Megan Harding (2), Roisin Gibbons (1), Rachael Duff (1), Katie Harnett (1) and a well taken final goal from Sophie McCabe. Kilkenny’s backs, with Elizabeth Sida, Alice Maher and Isabel Carroll all had an impressive and domineering second half and kept the ball up in the forwards. All forwards were rotating and caused much hardship for the Dublin backs in the closing minutes. Final score: Kilkenny 3-14 Dublin 3-6.
Kilkenny team: Rachel Tennyson (Piltown), Katie Mulcahy (Bennettsbridge), Robyn Corcoran (John Lockes), Alice Maher (Barrow Rangers), Isabel Carroll (St. Lachtains), Rachel Murphy (Tullogher), Katie Harnett (Erins Own), Roisin Gibbons (Emeralds), Elizabeth Sida (O’Loughlin Gaels), Megan Harding (Erins Own), Noa Bambrick (Barrow Rangers), Kate Dalton (St. Lachtains), Rachael Duff (Blacks & Whites), Sophie McCabe (Thomastown), Dearbhla Ryan (Tullogher). Subs: Amy Walsh (Dicksboro)
Dublin team: Mary Nearny (St Judes), Rachel Leahy (Kevins), Chloe Madden (Kevins), Laoise O’Sullivan (Round Tower Clondalkin), Maria Burke (Na Fianna), Erin Peppard (St. Finbars), Faye Frain (Faughs Celtic), Sinead Gleeson (Round Tower Clondalkin), Eva O’Meara (St Judes), Sarah Blessington (Faughs Celtic), Grace Wilson (Erins Isle), Cara Philips (St Brigids), Sofia Dowdall (Lucan Sarsfields), Katie Quigley (St Judes), Freya Ryan (St Brigids). Subs: Ciara Lane (Ballinteer St. Johns), Alanna O’Brien (Na Fianna).
By PRO Thu 5th Mar
