Kilkenny and Waterford play out tense Centra Camogie League derby encounter

Two goals from Beth Carton, one from a penalty, helped Waterford edge past Kilkenny in a tense local derby at Azzurri Walsh Park in Division 1A of the Centra Camogie League on Saturday.

Niamh Rockett also chipped in with five points, including the first three that were crucial to the Suirsiders getting of to a dream start.

Meanwhile, the loss is far from fatal for the Noresiders, with a place in the league final still a possibility if they can beat Antrim at home next weekend and win their third league match of the season in the process.

The loss will be somewhat disappointing for Kilkenny's management following Cork's nine-point win against the stripey women last weekend. However, with wins against Galway and Tipperary in their first two matches, there is still plenty of reason for optimism.

Playing into a fresh breeze, the Déise were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead when Róisín Kirwan’s interception and Alannah O’Sullivan’s delightfully weighted pass combined to set up Carton on the 15 minute mark. The Waterford talisman still had work to do but she powered past two tacklers and finished off her left for a crucial goal.

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Seven of the next ten points either side of half-time went Kilkenny’s way with Aoife Prendergast frees the source for six of them. The Dicksboro sharpshooter carried a disproportionate amount of the scoring load for the Cats however, shooting 0-12 (11 frees) over the hour.

Waterford didn’t get as many points from dead balls but did get the game’s vital score from a Carton penalty. The full-forward hammered the sliotar the top corner after being fouled just when the Cats were gathering momentum.

Who will join Michael Boland’s squad in the final is still wide open, with Kilkenny, Galway, Cork and Tipperary all still in the mix. 

More to follow...

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