REPORT: Dicksboro and Athenry go in search of All-Ireland Final place - Kilkenny Live

Two thrilling semi-finals saw Athenry (Galway) and St Finbarr’s (Cork) secure their passage through to the AIB All-Ireland senior club camogie final at Croke Park in a fortnight.

It was utter heartbreak for Dicksboro who after claiming the county and provincial double, were hoping to re-create the heights of two years ago and go all the way to All-Ireland glory.

The winners squeezed past the Kilkenny champions on a 1-9 to 0-10 scoreline with a first half goal for Athenry the catalyst to a much improved second half showing.

READ NEXT: GAA President Jarlath Burns to visit Kilkenny GAA clubs in December 

Dicksboro made the stronger start with Rachel Dowling, Aoife Prendergast, Amy Clifford and Jenny Clifford all on target as the Kilkenny club burst out of the blocks with four points in six minutes.

The Dervla Higgins-inspired Athenry defence got to grips with things from here however and they were right back in the game when midway through the half, a long shot from Eimear Keane came back into play off the post and Jessica Gill was on hand to sweep home the game’s only goal

Therese Donoghue and Clodagh Burke added points in the second quarter as Athenry took a narrow 1-4 to 0-6 lead into the dressing room after hurling into a difficult wind.

That lead was doubled by Eva McGlynn after half-time but some outstanding freetaking from Aoife Prendergast kept Dicksboro in a game where scores grew increasingly hard to come by.

Higgins, Sinéad Feeney and top scorer Sabina Rabbitte were among the stars for Joe Rabbitte's charges as Athenry outscored their opponents by 0-3 to 0-1 in the final quarter to back up their historic win over reigning All-Ireland champions Sarsfields in the Galway final and secure their passage to Jones' Road. 

STAY TUNED FOR MORE ON KILKENNY LIVE/THE KILKENNY PEOPLE

FOR MORE KILKENNY GAA NEWS, CLICK HERE