Last year’s defeated All-Ireland senior camogie finalists Kilkenny begin their O’Duffy Cup campaign as they face Galway in the opening round of the Gala All-Ireland senior camogie championship in Nowlan Park tomorrow (Saturday ) afternoon with a 1 o’clock throw-in. It is a repeat of last year’s enthralling semi-final clash where a goal in the 4th minute of injury-time by substitiute Marie O’Connor gave Kilkenny a deserved victory.
That result gave Kilkenny their first All-Ireland senior final appearance since 2001 where despite their best attempts the experience of Cork proved too strong on the day.
Over the last five years, Kilkenny camogie has achieved every honour in the game and they’ve dominated at under-age. The majority of those players now provide the nucleus to the senior outfit, and with a good combination of experience including five of last year’s All-Ireland team the long awaited famine without the O’Duffy Cup should end sooner rather than later.
The Kilkenny senior team are a very settled outfit and they’ve good strength and depth as back up. Catriona Ryan is one of the top goalkeepers in the country, while the full-back line of Amy Butler, Catherine Doherty and all-star Jacqui Frisby are the best in the land.
Leanne Fennelly has found her natural home at defence in the centre-back position, while the experience of Elaine Aylward, Lizzie Lyng, and Eimear Lyng along with 19-year-old Kate McDonald provide a solid and stubborn defensive backbone.
A number of their attacking players have achieved Ashbourne Cup success like Anne Dalton, Katie Power, Collette Dormer and Michelle Quilty.
Those are proven senior performers and they’ll take plenty of watching by opposing defences.
Apart from Deirdre Delaney who recently underwent a successful operation and is on her way to recovery, Kilkenny are at full-strength.
They’ve had the edge over Galway in recent times and with home advantage, Anne Downey’s troops should begin their campaign with a good victory.
Kilkenny then face the trip down to leeside to face All-Ireland champions Cork tomorrow week, and after a bye round of fixtures, home games against Tipperary and Dublin, concluded by away trips to Clare and league champions Wexford will determine the destination of possible O’Duffy Cup success.
