Experience tells as Cats see off Trinity in tense League tie

The Kilkenny Ladies were on the road again on Saturday for the third week in a row as they faced off against Dublin side Trinity.

With only a point separating the sides on the league table, the game was set up to be a tight encounter from the offset.

The opening quarter was a cagey affair as both squads looked to settle into the game. A slow start from Kilkenny allowed Trinity to break quickly up the field and the hosts managed to win the first penalty corner of the game. Kilkenny goalkeeper Kate Freeman had her defence well organised as Ciara Clarke and Niamh Spratt O’Shea calmly dealt with any threat on the Kilkenny goal.

With a wealth of experience in the midfield, Linda Caulfield, Sinead Connery, Paula Farrell and Anna May Whelan soon began to grow into the game.

The Cats controlled the second quarter as they surged forward in search of the opening goal. With seconds to spare in the first half, Aisling Morrissey found herself one on one in front of goal, but a sliding save from the Trinity ’keeper meant that there was nothing between the sides at the half-way mark.

With the game still very much in the balance, it was all to play for in the second half. The deadlock was finally broken in the final quarter after Megan Sherwood made a darting run up the right wing of the pitch. Sherwood played a dangerous ball into the opposition circle and Sara Browne was on hand to get a vital deflection at the back post.

After a tight battle, Browne’s late winner saw the Cats take all three points from the game. Kilkenny will hope to keep up their winning streak on Saturday as they host Clontarf in Kilkenny College at 12 noon.

Kilkenny Firsts - Kate Freeman, Ciara Clarke, Niamh Spratt O’Shea, Emma Simmons, Sarah Wilson, Sinead Connery, Linda Caulfield, Anna May Whelan, Gemma O’Dwyer, Paula Farrell, Laura Walshe (captain), Megan Sherwood, Sara Browne, Aisling Morrissey, Sass Thompson.

Coach: Gavin Bourke.