Glen Dimplex Senior All Ireland Championship 5th Round
Kilkenny 1-12
Wexford 1-7
By Aoife Lanigan, PRO
NEW team – same result! Kilkenny rang the changes, but left Wexford with their 100% record intact as they rounded off the group stages with a solid win over the Model County
The Cats gained a little revenge for their Leinster Semi Final loss to their rivals, while also using Saturday’s clash to give some much-needed game time to the panel. With their All-Ireland Quarter Final spot already secured, a total of 11 changes were made from the side who beat Clare in round four – but it did little to alter the team’s tempo
Kilkenny made the brighter start in Chadwick Wexford Park, opening score with a Claire Doheny point from play, before adding a second point from Emma Mulhall to move two clear after just over four minutes
Wexford however, responded in style a minute later when their midfielder Leah Furlong burst through the Kilkenny defence and found the back of the net with an excellent goal to put the hosts ahead
Kilkenny quickly replied with a point from Rachel Dowling after a poor clearance from the Wexford defence. There was a lull in the scoring over the next seven minutes until Wexford’s full forward Caoimhe Byrne pointed from play. Anais Curran then added a free but Kilkenny’s Laura Murphy converted a point from a placed ball before Katie Nolan added another point from play, leaving the sides level at the break, Kilkenny 0-5 Wexford 1-2
Although Wexford’s Anais Curran opened the second half scoring with a converted 45, Laura Murphy immediately levelled matters with a pointed free
It was at this stage that Kilkenny took control, edging ahead with a Laura Murphy 45 after Emma Mulhall’s shot was saved. Murphy doubled her side’s lead when she added another pointed free two minutes later
Katie Nolan struck over two points from play for the visitors, stretching the lead to four with 48 minutes played on the clock. Leah Furlong responded for Wexford with a point from play
In the 52nd minute, Kilkenny were awarded a penalty. Goalkeeper Jane Duggan produced a fine save but Katie Nolan was quickest to react to the rebound and she hit a ground shot to the back of the net, leaving Kilkenny six points in front
Caoimhe Byrne added another point from play, while Anais Curran converted a free all for the homeside. Kilkenny replied with a point from Laura Murphy before Leah Furlong raised another white flag for the homeside to reduce the deficit to four points
However, Kilkenny’s Leah Brett had the final say, scoring a great point while off balance, securing a five-point victory 1-12 to 1-7
Kilkenny will be hoping to continue their good form when they meet Waterford in the All-Ireland Quarter Final in Croke Park this Saturday. The game throws in at 1pm
Scorers – Kilkenny – Katie Nolan 1-3, Laura Murphy 0-5 (4f), Claire Doheny, Emma Mulhall, Rachel Dowling, Leah Brett 0-1 each
Wexford – Leah Furlong 1-2, Anais Curran 0-3 (3f), Caoimhe Byrne 0-2
Kilkenny: Ellen Gunner, Rachel Phelan, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Maria Brennan, Laura Phelan, Miriam Bambrick, Michelle Teehan, Laura Murphy, Emily Phelan, Ciara Dunne, Aisling O’Sullivan, Rachel Dowling, Claire Doheny, Emma Mulhall, Katie Nolan
Subs – Ciara O’Shea for Aisling O’Sullivan, Leah Brett for Emma Mulhall, Sofia Kerr for Maria Brennan, Una Duggan for Ciara Dunne, Aoife Norris, Angela Carroll, Caoimhe Dowling (Capt), Niamh Deely, Grace Brennan, Jessica Smith, Laura Greene, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Steffi Fitzgerald, Emma Shortall
Wexford: Jane Duggan, Leagh Maddock, Maeve Sinnott, Grace Ivanoff, Eirin O’Brien, Amy Cahill, Laura Dempsey, Leah Furlong, Layla Stafford, Siobhan Sinnott, Anais Curran (Capt), Kayla Reddy, Sadhbh Buttle, Caoimhe Byrne, Joanne Dillon
Subs – Sarah O’Donoghue for Kayla Reddy, Muireann Fitzpatrick for Siobhan Sinnott, Chloe Whelan for Eirin O’Brien, Ellen Coleman, Chloe Cashe, Leah Nolan, Linda Bolger, Clodagh Jackson, Ciara Butler, Kiera Dempsey, Keeva Steadmond, Kate Flood, Robyn Kinsella
Referee: Andy Larkin, Cork
By PRO Mon 6th Jul
