Kilkenny minor camogs make great start to All-Ireland campaign

The ability to take their scores at will, plus some slick team moves, gave the Kilkenny minor camogie team a distinct advantage over Dublin in this championship opener at the Fethard Town Park Astro pitch on Sunday.

The Kilkenny forwards led the way up front with each player scoring from play while their appetite to work off the ball was commendable. The half-forward line in particular worked their socks off, with wing-forwards Sadhbh Shefflin and Hollie Ryan moving all over the field while centre-forward Shauna Mahony was central to almost every move up front.

Some excellent defending also contributed with Hannah Tennyson, Mairéad Duggan and Aoife O’Grady particularly prominent throughout.

Kay Ryan opened the Dublin account but Hollie Ryan replied immediately following good work by Mahony and Shefflin, before Ona Kennedy pointed a free. Dublin settled quicker on the 4G pitch and struck over three unanswered points through Sadhbh McCann, Clodagh Glennon and midfielder Jocelyn Hanks to move clear (0-4 to 0-2) after 12 minutes.

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Shauna Mahony and Reka Kalló exchanged points before Kilkenny struck for their first goal. After some teak tough defending by Mairéad Duggan, Erin Morrissey made a relieving clearance which was fielded by Shauna Mahony who set up Emily Phelan to rifle home.
excellent catch

Four minutes later, it was Phelan again who took an intelligent delivery from Aoife O’Grady before splitting the Dublin posts.

Amy O’Shea added another after fielding an excellent catch off a Hannah Tennyson delivery before we were treated to goal number two.

When Emily Phelan intercepted a short Dublin puckout, she passed to Sadhbh Shefflin who set up Emily Cooney to goal from close range.

Kilkenny were now on top and added three more points before the break to lead 2-8 to 0-5 at half-time.

The Cats continued in similar vein right after the interval when Sadhbh Shefflin made a piercing run through the Dublin rearguard which ended up with Amy O Shea striking low to the Dublin net from an angle on the right. Hollie Ryan added a point and Kilkenny led 3-9 to 0-6 five minutes into the new half.

Dublin did strike back, however. After Ella Walton had saved a good shot from Kate Keaney, the ball broke out to Sadhbh McCann who sneaked a shot inside the right hand post, while Kay Ryan added her second point of the day to reduce the gap to eight points at the three quarter stage.

Kilkenny finished the stronger though and tacked on two more points via Emily Cooney and Shauna Mahony.

Undoubtedly, there will be stiffer tests ahead but it was a good start to a busy campaign.

Teams and scorers

Kilkenny - Amy O’Shea (1-2, 0-1 free); Emily Cooney (1-2); Emily Phelan (1-1); Hollie Ryan, Shauna Mahony (0-2 each); Ona Kennedy (0-1 free); Sadhbh Shefflin (0-1).

Dublin - Sadhbh McCann (1-1); Kay Ryan (0-2); Réka Kiss Kalló, Jocelyn Hanks, Clodagh Glennon, Anna Magee (0-1 each).

Kilkenny - Ella Walton; Hannah Tennyson, Erin Morrissey, Mairéad Duggan; Ali Greaney, Ona Kennedy, Aoife O’Grady; Shannon Doheny, Eleanor Doheny; Hollie Ryan, Shauna Mahony, Sadhbh Shefflin; Amy O’Shea, Emily Cooney, Emily Phelan.

Subs: Leah O’Donovan for Shannon Doheny, 50 mins; Aibhínn Ryan for Hollie Ryan, 50 mins; Emma Hogan for Emily Cooney, 54 mins; Katie O’Shea for Sadhbh Shefflin, 55 mins; Sinéad Jones for Erin Morrissey, 56 mins.

Dublin - Iona Wu; Róisín Nolan, Lucy Brady, Emma Ryan; Eadaoin McClean, Ava O’Neill, Cara Coffey; Réka Kiss Kalló, Jocelyn Hanks; Clodagh Glennon, Anna Magee, Erin Dunne; Sadhbh McCann, Kate Keaney, Kay Ryan.

Subs: Aoibhinn O’Gorman for Anna Magee, 38 mins; Emma Broderick for Erin Dunne, 41 mins; Clodagh Hogan for Jocelyn Hanks, 44 mins; Robyn Costello for Clodagh Glennon, 53 mins; Niamh O Brien for Eadaoin McClean 55 mins.