Wins for Kilkenny and Carlow in the Leinster Camogie Championship Finals played at Nowlan Park on Sunday (June 7th) with Kilkenny collecting honours at Senior and Intermediate and Carlow claiming the Junior crown, reports Gerry O'Sullivan.
Kilkenny 2-11 Offaly 1-9
The extra defender is no stranger to Camogie as both sides played with sweepers in this tight battle for the entire first half.
Offaly got off to a dream start with Orlagh Kirwan in for the injured Michaela Morkan pointing after 58 seconds and quickly followed by a great Niamh Larkin goal. Offaly managed by former hurling star Barry Whelehan battled furiously but a brace of goals from Denise Gaule – the first from a penalty midway through the half proved decisive.
Kilkenny established a 2-3 to 1-1 lead going into the closing 10 minutes of the half and although the superb Siobhan Flannery knocked over three monster frees, the inability of Offaly to score from play proved their undoing.
They failed to score from play from the 3rd minute to the finish but their spirit and defending was superb.
Both sides reverted to normal formations for the second half. Kilkenny while under severe pressure throughout always had that little edge with the class of Michelle Quilty, Katie Power and Ann Dalton securing vital points when needed most.
Marian Crean, Jean Brady, Eleanor Clendennan (in goals) were to the fore for the Offaly rearguard and Siobhan Flannery nailed 5 second half placed balls but they needed a better return than a point from two second half penalties.
Kilkenny’s defence were superb particularly Edwina Keane at full-back, Catherine Foley and Colette Dormer. The score of the day came from a tremendous catch by Edwina Keane in the 54th minute. Her clearance found Denise Gaule whose well placed delivery found Michelle Quilty whose touch was sweet just like the score.
Kilkenny
Emma Kavanagh, Stacey Quirke, Edwina Keane, Catherine Foley, Jacqui Frisby, Collette Dormer, Davina Tobin, Aisling Dunphy, Claire Phelan, Michelle Quilty, Miriam Walsh, Ann Dalton, Aoife Neary, Denise Gaule, Katie Power
Subs used: Anna Farrell, Edel Maher
Offaly
Eleanor Clendennen, Fiona Stephens, Jean Brady, Linda Sullivan, Aisling Brennan, Michaela Morkan, Marian Crean, Roisin Egan, Arlene Watkins, Cailin Fitzgerald, Aoife Kelly, Siobhan Flannery, Niamh Larkin, Rachel Brennan, Tina Hannon
Subs used: Patrice Delaney, Helen Dolan, Mairead Jennings
Referee Ray Kelly
Leinster Intermediate Camogie Championship Final
Kilkenny 1-13 Meath 1-9
Elven wides, seven in the first half including 4 scoreable free were to prove costly for Meath in a very exciting Leinster Intermediate Championship final at Nowlan Park.
For long spells Meath dominated play with full back Claire Coffey and Christina Troy at centre-back outstanding and in attack Aoife Maguire was superb.
The Royals opened well and had three points from play from Jane Dolan, Aoife Minogue and Sinead Hackett but frees were being conceded and the excellent Kellyann Doyle punished Meath on three occasions in the opening 5 minutes to level the game.
A further costly foul was committed two minutes later. From the resultant free the ball was batted clear only for the rebound to be picked up by Jenny Clifford who goaled. It was the start of an excellent 10 minutes spell for the Cats who hit five points without reply from the excellent Laura Norris (3), Kellyann Doyle and Aisling Butler.
But Meath finished the half strongly despite two missed frees with a point from Aoife Minogue and a goal from the same player when her long range effort deceived the Kilkenny goalkeeper. Another point by Jane Dolan left just three points between the sides at the interval.
Meath came out for the second half in determined fashion and two points in as many minutes by Aoife Maguire and Megan Thynne cut the gap to the same margin.
Back came the home side with excellent scores from Kellyann Doyle to go 1-11 to 1-7 in front. However the next 15 minutes belonged to Meath and they really should have sealed victory in this spell. Two more missed frees didnt help their cause until Aoife Minogue took over this duty with some success and two scores from her had left just two points between the sides as the game approached the 59th minute.
However, another missed Meath free visibly deflated the side and Kilkenny capitalised on the error to clinch victory with points from Emma Comerford and Kellyann Doyle.
Kilkenny
Ann Marie Lennon, Ruth Jones, Brigid Grennan, Therese Muldowney, Ciara Farrell, Rebecca Cleere, Edel Frisby, Sarah Crowley, Kellyann Doyle, Aisling Butler, Laura Norris, Sarah Ann Quinlan, Claire Aylward, Sarah Walsh, Jenny Clifford
Subs used: Michaela Kenneally, Catherine Connolly, Niamh Bambrick, Niamh Leahy,
Meath
Eimly Mangan, Laura McGuire, Claire Coffey, Grace Colemabn, Aine Keogh, Christina Troy, Emma McGill, Jane Dolan, Maire Keogh, Aoife Minogue, Sinead Hackett, Katie Hackett, Lizzie Oakes Brennan, Edel Guy, Aoife Maguire
Subs used: Fia O'Brian, Aoife Thompson, Megan Thynne
Referee Jenny Byrne
Leinster Junior Championship Final
Carlow 6-23 Meath 0-0
Carlow got off to a flyer with a point in 31 seconds from Michelle Nolan and the onslaught didn’t stop there. By the 10th minute goals from Lorraine Bible and Marian Doyle has stretched their lead to 2-3 to no score as the Division 3 League champions took firm control of the game.
Vastly superior in all parts of the field with the half-back line of Kate Nolan, Emma Brennan and Breege Nolan rarely letting anything pass.
The onslaught from Carlow was unrelenting with Marian Doyle a prime target at full-forward and she finished the half with 5 points from play.
Meath’s Lisa Foley, Ciara Ashe and goalkeeper Aileen Coyle who replaced the injured Rebecca Scanlon after 9 minutes were among those who battled bravely but Carlow are in a different league and their superiority could not be denied.
Substitute Ciara Quirke picked up where Marian Doyle left off and further green flags were raised by Eleanor Treacy, Ali Ruschitzko (2) and Ciara Quirke in the second 30.
Carlow
Niamh Doyle, Niamh Canavan, Eimear Byrne, Aine Ryan, Kate Nolan, Emma Brennan, Breege Nolan, Eleanor Treacy, Teresa Meaney, Shannon Kavanagh, Lisa Abbey, Marian Doyle, Ali Ruschitzko, Lorraine Bible, Michelle Nolan
Subs used:Niamh Canavan, Ciara Quirke, Gillian English, Aine Kinsella, Susan Williams
Meath
Rebecca Scanlon, Lisa Foley, Amy Crosbie, Carol Nevin, Lauren McCann, Blanaid Keyes, Tara Scanlon, Taylor Little, Labhaoise Martyn, Rebecca McIntyre, Sinead Beagan, Ciara Ashe, Niamh McLoughlin, Jane Martyn, Juliette Walls
Subs used: Aileen Coyle, Aine Sheridan, Ruth Fagan, Chloe Mahon, Aine Brennan
Referee: Alan Doheny (Laois)
