Kilkenny Ladies Juvenile Footballers added another crown to their haul this year when they won the Leinster Under 16 ‘C’ Shield by beating Carlow at Tinryland by 5:6 to 3:10.
This was a game full of drama, plenty of excellent scores, near misses, good defending which was finally decided as the match entered injury time by some cute forward play by Kilkenny to earn a fully deserved victory.
Kilkenny took control of the match early with a goal from Ailish Butler after six minutes, following some good play by Joanne O’Hanrahan and Claire Nolan. Scores followed from Niamh Donnelly 1:1 and points from Eimer Fitzpatrick and Siobhan Corcoran, with Carlow replying with 3 points. The Kilkenny back line were on top with the breeze on their backs. Enya Foley was in fine form in goal, with Nelle Henderson and Ciara Farrell commanding at full and centre back, ably assisted by Niamh Quigley, Maeve O’Conner and Alice Carey to leave the half time score at 2:3 to 0:3.
Kilkenny started the second half well with a Niamh Donnelly goal, however Carlow came storming back into the match and put Kilkenny on the rack scoring 1-5 without reply to leave the minimum between the teams after 50 minutes.
Kilkenny regrouped and the introduction of Miriam Walsh steadied the defence, along with great work from Anna Walpole, Orla Butler and Sinead Whelan a better supply of ball was going upfield. Finnoula Quinlan got on the end of a long ball and provided an expert finish for a goal. Carlow continued to press and took some good scores to stay in touch, before substitute Alice O’Hanlon grabbed a goal to put Kilkenny two up.
The game was now fever pitch with possession moving freely from end to end. Carlow scored a goal to put them a point up as the game moved close to injury time, when Alice O’Hanlon scored an excellent point to tie the game.
Kilkenny needed cool heads to find a winner, and from a free near midfield the quick thinking Ciara Farrell found Sinead Whelan who slotted over to put Kilkenny one up. From the kick out Ailish Butler won good possession, with Sinead Whelan again working off the shoulder she took the pass to score from a difficult angle to seal a well deserved victory.
Captain Niamh Quigley accepted the Shield on behalf of the team and Nelle Henderson’s display won her player of the match.
The panel: Enya Foley, Alice Carey, Nelle Henderson, Anna Walpole, Niamh Quigley, Ciara Farrell, Maeve O’Conner, Claire Nolan, Ailish Butler, Finnoula Quinlan, Joanne O’Hanrahan, Eimer Fitzpatrick, Niamh Donnelly, Siobhan Corcoran, Sinead Whelan, Miriam Walsh, Alice O’Hanlon, Orla Butler, Miriam Holden, Ellie Barcoe, Noelle Murphy, Denise Daly, Jennifer Norris, Sinead Mc Carthy.
