There was disappointment for the Kilkenny senior camogie girls as they were caught by a late Galway flurry in Nowlan Park last Sunday as their league hopes were ended. Kilkenny led by four points at the interval —1-6 to 0-5 and a 45th minute goal from Shelley Farrell followed by a close range free by Aoife Neary restored that four point gap.
However, they failed to score over the closing 12 minutes as the Westerners produced a late rally scoring five consecutive points to pass Kilkenny at the winning post.
Kilkenny were forced to lineout without a number of players due to injury. Goalkeeper Catriona Ryan, Anne Dalton — who was on crutches, Michelle Quilty, and Edel Maher were all ruled out.
In a first-half that took a while to get going, Kilkenny led 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval, with the goal coming fortuitously in the 14th minute from an Aoife Neary free from 50 yards that went all the way to the net.
Neary also converted three pointed frees, as Katie Power, Marie O’Connor and Edwina Keane were also on target.
Shelley Farrell was introduced as a half-time substitution for Katie Power, as several positional switches were made.
Lizzie Lyng was switched from midfield to corner-back, with Colette Dormer going wing-back, and Deirdre Delaney switched to midfield.
Kelly Hamilton switched to centre-forward, even though she operated as a third midfielder, while Edwina Keane when moved to wing-forward also moved back to help around the middle area.
Kilkenny’s defensive approach finally caught up with them as Galway dominated the majority of possession during the second-half, as they outscored Kilkenny 0-9 to 1-1.
Galway drew level in the 40th minute as the Kilkenny defence came under so much pressure.
The Tribesladies scored four consecutive points from an Aislinn Connolly ’45, Rebecca Hennelly, Noreen Coen and Veronica Curtin —1-6 to 0-9.
However, the Kilkenny ladies despite having to whitstand a lot of pressure were still firm with Catherine Doherty and Elaine Aylward doing well.
Kilkenny regained the lead in the 45th minute, as a well worked movement saw Shelley Farrell clear through on goal in open space, as she kicked a low shot to the net in front of the unmarked goal.
Neary pointed a close range free to extend the advantage, but Kilkenny were continuing to be careless in possession.
Quickfire points from Niamh McGrath, and Veronica Curtin halved the gap to set up a tense closing 10 minutes, as Kilkenny were hanging on once again.
Noreen Coen who was very dangerous during the second-half pointed to leave the minimum between the sides, before Aislinn Connolly pointed the levelling free in the 57th minute after the ball was brought forward for dissent.
Galway were definitely the more probing side, with Noreen Coen and Veronica Curtin a constant danger during the second-half, and Curtin was the match winning heroine as she struck a superb winning point in the 60th minute to snatch a deserved victory.
Kilkenny tried in vain to find a leveller, but they didn’t do so and Galway held out for an overdue victory over Kilkenny, as the Kittens held the edge in the last five clashes between the sides.
Attention now switches to the O’Duffy Cup which begins away to Offaly on June 11.
Wexford easily defeated Tipperary 4-12 to 0-13 to set up a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland on April 17.
There was huge disappointment for the Kilkenny Intermediates who were well beaten by Cork on Saturday evening in their Division Two clash — 1-19 to 1-4, and team captain Siobhan Holland getting the Kilkenny goal.
The Under-16s confirmed top spot in their group winning all three matches, as they easily destroyed Derry 5-23 to 1-2 having led by 3-18 to 0-0 at the interval. Their semi-final opponents will be Clare who defeated Dublin 3-7 to 2-9, and there will be new Under-16 All-Ireland champions this year, as Galway’s quest for an All-Ireland hat-trick was ended by a 3-6 to 1-9 defeat to Tipperary.
Tipperary will play Cork in the remaining semi-final.
Meanwhile, Loreto will attempt to record consecutive All-Ireland Junior and Senior Colleges titles as they play St Patrick’s Maghera in Trim Co Meath on Saturday the setting for their senior final victory.
Throw-in is at 2pm, and victory for the city school will complete three-in-a-row of Junior All-Irelands, and a fourth title in five years.
