U23 All Ireland Championship 1st Round
Kilkenny 3-16
Waterford 0-4
By Aoife Lanigan, PRO
The Kilkenny U23s showed no mercy as they opened their All Ireland championship in ruthless fashion
The Cats hit the ground running, setting the tone with early strikes as they eased past Waterford in Ardmore on Sunday
Kilkenny opened the scoring in style, Amy Brennan grabbed a goal inside the first minute. Centre forward Lucy Boyd slotted over a nice point before Kelsie Obanya slotted over the home sides first point in the 7th minute
There would be no revival, as Kilkenny hit 1-4 without reply – Lauren Ronan & Ellen Gunner nabbed two points apiece, with Leah Brett raising the green flag
Uphill Task
Katelyn Lyons replied with two pointed frees for the Deise, but they were left facing an uphill task when, on 27 minutes, Brett grabbed her second goal of the game
Katelyn Lyons closed out the 1st half scoring with a pointed free, but Waterford were staring down 3-5 to 0-4 deficit
Kilkenny kept control of the game in the second half, keeping the opposition scoreless
Leah Brett opened Kilkenny’s second half account with a fine point from play. Amy Brennan tacked on two points before Ellen Gunner added another two pointed frees
Claire Doheny slotted over a lovely point while on the run. Gunner then tacked on two more pointed frees
Doheny then scored her second point before substitute Molly Conroy scored a lovely point after breaking away from two defenders
Ellen Gunner converted her seventh point late on, leaving Kilkenny as convincing winners
The Cats are at home to Galway in the 2nd Round of the Championship this Sunday in MW Hire Training Centre, Dunmore @ 2pm
Scorers – Kilkenny – Ellen Gunner 0-7 (6f), Leah Brett 2-1, Amy Brennan 1-2, Claire Doheny, Lauren Ronan 0-2 each, Lucy Boyd, Molly Conroy 0-1 each
Waterford – Katelyn Lyons 0-3 (3f), Kelsie Obanya 0-1
Kilkenny: Cara Duggan, Rachel Brennan (Captain), Rachel Whelan, Sofia Kerr, Niamh Phelan, Aine Rohan, Anna Doheny, Keara Ryan, Caoimhe Power, Lauren Ronan, Lucy Boyd, Ellen Gunner, Leah Brett, Amy Brennan, Claire Doheny
Subs: Molly Conroy for Leah Brett, Katie Brennan for Amy Brennan, Rose Kelly for Lauren Ronan, Eabha Carroll for Lucy Boyd, Laoise Nolan for Sofia Kerr, Tara McGrath, Amy Cody, Laura Doherty, Michelle Killeen, Katie Ryan, Marie Claire O’Dwyer, Aoife Shealy, Anna Purcell, Caoimhe Carroll, Kate McCluskey, Shona Ruane, Louise Hickey, Niamh Davis
Waterford: Hayleigh Acheson, Faye Murphy, Anna McGoldrick, Jane Landers, Ceire Ryan, Abbie Burrows, Ciara Sherlock, Rebecca Farrell, Kelsie Obanya, Rebecca Mason, Ali Ferguson, Holly O’Sullivan, Onelia Whelan (Captain), Niamh Hally, Katelyn Lyons
Subs: Kaci Brazil for Ceire Ryan, Emily Foran for Jane Landers, Molly Kenneally for Niamh Hally, Emma Walsh for Onelia Whelan, Eimear Griffin for Rebecca Mason, Rhona Drohan (Joint Captain), Molly Kearney, Kate McIntosh, Aine Power, Deirdre Roche, Clodagh Landers, Hannah Godkin, Ailish O’Donovan, Hannah Hamilton, Aoife Hartley
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
By PRO Wed 1st Apr
