Kilkenny Intermediates on top form in Leinster win

The Kilkenny Intermediates won their third Leinster title after a hard-fought win over Carlow in SETU Carlow last Saturday.

Therese Donnelly opened the scoring for Kilkenny with a fine point after two and a half minutes, but Carlow hit back when they were awarded a 50m free in the fourth minute. As Eleanor Treacy delivered the sliotar towards the Kilkenny goal Cliona Murphy went to bat it out, but the flight of the sliotar deceived her and flew into the back of the net, putting Carlow ahead 1-0 to 0-1.

However Kilkenny didn’t panic after conceding the goal, Sarah Barcoe scoring a lovely point after Claire Doheny played a neat pass to her before Afton Grace equalised with a pointed free after Caroline Kennedy was fouled.

Sarah Barcoe and Eleanor Treacy (free) traded points before Afton Grace scored two pointed frees for Kilkenny with Emma Cody and Eleanor Treacy scoring points for Carlow.

Heading towards the interval Kilkenny hit two points, a pointed free from Afton Grace and a great point from Claire Doheny after a Carlow defender came to clear the sliotar and Claire scooped it up over the defenders head and scored a beautiful point to leave the score Kilkenny 0-8 Carlow 1-3 at the break.

On the resumption of play, Kilkenny got off to the perfect start with a great goal by Sarah Barcoe after Afton Grace found her with a through ball.

Eleanor Treacy scored a pointed free for Carlow. Then Kilkenny responded with three unanswered points through Danielle Quigley, Aoife Cantwell and Hannah Scott. Eleanor Treacy pointed a free for Carlow to then leave six points between the sides.

Sarah Barcoe and Laura Greene scored two great points for Kilkenny before Eleanor Treacy tagged on another pointed free.

Substitute Ellen Gunner pointed a free for Kilkenny in the 50th minute before Laura Greene, Hannah Scott and Danielle Quigley added a point apiece to put Kilkenny further ahead (1-17 to 1-6).

Emma Cody and Eleanor Treacy (free) scored two points for Carlow before Ellen Gunner finished the scoring with two pointed frees to seal the title for an impressive Kilkenny.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny – Sarah Barcoe 1-3, Afton Grace 0-4 (0-4f), Ellen Gunner 0-3 (0-3f), Laura Greene, Danielle Quigley, Hannah Scott 0-2 each, Therese Donnelly, Claire Doheny, Aoife Cantwell 0-1 each.

Carlow – Eleanor Treacy 1-6 (1-6f), Emma Cody 0-2.

Kilkenny - Cliona Murphy, Niamh Leahy, Jenni O'Dea, Jane Cass, Niamh Phelan, Roisin Phelan, Hannah Scott (Captain), Laura Greene, Aoife Cantwell, Danielle Quigley, Sarah Barcoe, Claire Doheny, Therese Donnelly, Caroline Kennedy, Afton Grace.

Subs: Ellen Gunner for Caroline Kennedy, Emma Mulhall for Afton Grace, Mairead Kennedy for Aoife Cantwell, Katie Byrne for Niamh Phelan, Tara Ronan for Danielle Quigley.

Carlow - Catherine Kavanagh, Rachel Breen, Michelle Nolan, Gillian Doyle, Anna Breen, Kate Nolan (Captain), Katie Gerry Murphy, Tara Wilson, Eleanor Treacy, Caoimhe Coady, Emma Cody, Ciara Kavanagh, Eva Sinnott, Ciara Quirke, Ali Ruschitzko.

Subs: Rebecca Kelly for Ali Ruschitzko, Eibhe Lawlor for Ciara Kavanagh, Aibha Kiernan for Roisin Breen, Leanne Nolan for Eva Sinnott.

Referee – Barry Nea (Westmeath)