Michael O'Leary
Kilkenny 3-4
Cork 1-6
THE Kilkenny senior camogie girls continued their excellent start to 2010. They progressed to a National League semi-final on April 10 following this victory over All-Ireland champions, Cork in Mullinava
t on Saturday.
Kilkenny looked the sharper team throughout, and their inside forward line that included two goal heroine Deirdre Delaney troubled Cork from start to finish.
The Leesiders were without Gemma O’Connor, the travelling Briege Corkery and also Mary O’Connor who was on the subs bench, but all the same Kilkenny manager, Anne Downey will be well pleased following a strong team performance.
The winners got off to a whirlwind start. Inside two minutes ‘Young camogie player of the Year’ Denise Gaule set up Deirdre Delaney for a goal. Gaule did a lot of damage early on. She drew a foul in the 6th minute and Aoife Neary convert what was a straightforward free. Orla Cotter pointed in between (1-1 to 0-1).
Cork took over, and like against Tipperary in the Ragg last time out, Kilkenny went a good while without registering a score. They failed to score between the 6th and 31st minutes.
Barren spell
Cork managed to draw level during that period courtesy of 15th and 18th minute pointed frees from Rachel Maloney and a point shortly afterwards by Anna Geary. A long barren scoring spell endured from the 18th minute until the first minute of injury-time troubled before a magic moment produced by Kilkenny team captain Anne Dalton brought a smile back to the faces of local fans.
The lively Michelle Quilty raced through the Cork defence to set up Dalton. The latter sold a glorious dummy to an advancing defender before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Aoife Murray (2-1 to 0-4).
Neary (free) and the returning Jennifer O’Leary – this was her first inter-county game since the 2007 All-Ireland final defeat to Wexford – exchanged points as Kilkenny held the initiative at the interval, 2-2 to 0-5.
Again Kilkenny hit a 'no score' patch after the turn. They failed to score until the 49th minute. The Rebels took the lead courtesy of an equalising goal from Sile Burns and then a point from the same player (1-6 to 2-2).
However, the Kilkenny backs stood tall and firm with Catherine Doherty, Jacqui Frisby and centre-back Edwina Keane performing superbly. They showed great character as Delaney bagged her second goal to regain the initiative following great work by Michelle Quilty and sub Katie Power.
Cork were held scoreless during the closing 10 minutes. Aoife Neary pointed two frees to earn the League semi-final slot for the Cats, most likely against Galway in a repeat of last year's All-Ireland semi-final and 2008 League final.
Scorers: Kilkenny - Deirdre Delaney (2-0); Aoife Neary (0-4, frees); Anne Dalton (1-0).
