Hard-working Kilkenny intermediates maintain unbeaten start to the league

The Kilkenny intermediates recorded their third win on the trot when beating Wexford in the third round of the Very League Division 2B at St Mary’s Rosslare on Saturday.

Oonagh Byrne opened the scoring for Wexford with a point from play.

Danielle Morrissey equalised for Kilkenny with a point from play. The latter then put Kilkenny ahead with a pointed free.

The Slaneysiders then hit 1-3 without reply through Oonagh Doyle (0-3, two frees), with the goal coming from Sal Doyle. This left the score at 1-4 to 0-2 after 19 minutes.

Kilkenny were under pressure, but kept Wexford scoreless for the remainder of the half. The visitors struck five points through Danielle Morrissey (two frees) while Ellen Gunner scoring three impressive points from play to leave the score level at the interval 0-7 to 1-4.

On the resumption of play, Ellen Gunner added another point to her tally to put Kilkenny a point ahead before Oonagh Doyle equalised for Wexford with a pointed free.

Danielle Morrissey scored two points (one free) while Laura Greene fired over a point to put three points between the teams.
Grace Roche took a shot towards the Kilkenny goal, it seemed to be going over the bar, but it deceived the goalie and went in over her head and into the back of the net.

The game was now level 0-11 to 2-5. However, Kilkenny didn’t panic and scored the next two points through Danielle Morrissey and substitute Claire Doheny.

Heading into the final seven minutes of the match, Wexford were awarded a free in their own half.

They hit a high delivery towards the Kilkenny goal, it deceived the defenders and Oonagh Doyle was on hand to flick to the net.

This put Wexford ahead by a point. Again, Kilkenny fought back. They worked the sliotar up towards the Wexford goal and were awarded a free, Danielle Morrissey stood up and converted the resulting free to equalise the match.

A short time later, Kilkenny were awarded a free again and Morrissey duly converted.

After Wexford pucked out the sliotar, the referee blew the full time whistle, leaving Kilkenny victorious on a 0-15 to 3-5 scoreline.

Kilkenny now play Cork in the final round of the Very League in Piltown on Saturday.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny – Danielle Morrissey (0-9, 0-7 frees); Ellen Gunner (0-4); Laura Greene, Claire Doheny (0-1 each).

Wexford – Oonagh Doyle (1-5, 0-3 frees); Sal Doyle, Grace Roche (1-0 each).

Kilkenny - Cliona Murphy; Hannah Larkin, Hannah Scott (C), Katie Byrne, Ava Shefflin, Roisin Phelan, Rachel Brennan, Anna Doheny, Laura Greene, Eimear Leahy, Ellen Gunner, Danielle Morrissey, Danielle Quigley, Emily Hughes, Emma Mulhall.

Subs: Afton Grace for Danielle Quigley, Aoife Cantwell for Anna Doheny, Keara Ryan for Emma Mulhall, Claire Doheny for Emily Hughes, Aine Doyle for Eimear Leahy, Sinead Farrell, Niamh Leahy, Mairead Kennedy, Kate McCluskey, Jenni O’Dea, Caroline Kennedy, Jane Cass.

Wexford – Emma Kiely, Kelly Anne Dempsey, Loren Doyle, Sinead Furlong, Lorna Fortune, Derbhla Doyle, Grace Roche, Aoife Doyle, Karen Tomkins, Sal Doyle, Lettie Whelan, Oonagh Doyle, Ciara Butler, Siobhan Sinnott, Caoimhe Byrne.

Subs: Aoife McCrea, Orla Redmond, Ellie O’Connor, Shauna Kelly, Kate Butler, Anne Byrne, Emma Walsh, Emer Hunt, Cathy O’Connor, Shauna Kelly, Donna Delahunty, Grace Donovan, Nora Higgins, Ciara O’Connor.