Gaule leads the charge as Cats claim vital success over Dubs

A dominant first half display laid the platform as Kilkenny claimed an emphatic victory over Dublin in Round two of the Glen Dimplex Dimplex Senior Championship at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Led by a 1-8 tally from Denise Gaule, the Cats were never really troubled as they picked up their first win of the campaign.

Gaule was an inspired figure throughout the 60 plus minutes in Donnycarney and the Windgap star showed her ruthless side when blasting a 21 yard free to the top corner pas Dublin goalkeeper Ciara Tierney.

That goal added to first half efforts from Aoife Prendergast and Katie Nolan meant it was always one way traffic for the defending champions.

Dublin’s effort was well blunted by a spirited Kilkenny performance that saw Aisling Maher lead their scoring with six points.

After both teams failed to win their opening game, points were of the very precious variety and there was little to seperate the sides early on.

Ashling O’Neill got Dublin off the mark in the 1st minute but her point from play was quickly cancelled out by a Denise Gaule free.

Grace O’Shea then edged the Dubs back in front before the experienced pair of Gaule and Katie Power put the Cats in front.

Dublin were proving to be very plucky opponents though and after Grace O’Shea and Aisling Maher scored either side of a Kellyann Doyle point, there was nothing to seperate the sides as they were deadlocked at 0-4 apiece.

The scene looked set for a repeat of their closely fought Leinster Final meeting a few weeks ago but Kilkenny had other ideas as they quickly notched 2-4 without reply.

A pair of points from Gaule either side of a Katie Nolan score stretched Kilkenny’s lead to three and they soon went for the kill when Aoife Prendergast got in behind the Dublin defence to score her side’s first goal with a deft finish to the net.

Five minutes later and Tierney was picking the sliotar from the goal once more when a beautifully placed knock down from Gaule found Nolan and the 2022 all-star made no mistake in finding the top corner.

Dublin did steady the ship with points from Aisling Maher and Ashling Gannon but with Gaule and Nolan continuing their scoring spree and Julianne Malone also opening her account, it was Kilkenny who led 2-10 to 0-7 at the break.

The second half was barely 60 seconds old when Gaule netted a 21 yard free by three or four Dublin bodies and the game was as good as done at that stage.

Aisling Maher and Ashling O’Neill kept plugging away for the hosts but with Gaule scoring three more points before the end and sub Asha McHardy also starring, the Cats can look forward to a crunch meeting with Tipperary this weekend in UPMC Nowlan Park.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- Denise Gaule (1-8, three frees and two 45’s), Katie Nolan (1-2), Aoife Prendergast (1-0), Katie Power , Kellyann Doyle, Asha McHardy, Julianne Malone (0-1 each)

Dublin- Aisling Maher (0-6, four frees), Ashling O’Neill, Grace O’Shea (0-2 each), Ashling Gannon (0-1)

Kilkenny- Aoife Norris; Michelle Teehan, Grace Walsh, Tiffanie Fitzgerald; Niamh Deely, Claire Phelan, Laura Murphy; Steffi Fitzgerald, Kellyann Doyle; Aoife Prendergast, Denise Gaule, Katie Power; Katie Nolan, Julianne Malone, Michaela Kenneally.

Subs- Asha McHardy for Michaela Kenneally 40 mins, Jenny Clifford for Kellyann Doyle 47 mins, Miriam Bambrick for Steffi Fitzgerald 53 mins, Sophie O’ Dwyer for Katie Nolan 57 mins.

Dublin- Ciara Tierney, Abby Ryan, Aoife Heffernan, Christine Shanahan, Claire Gannon, Eve O’Brien, Hannah O’Dea, Muireann Kelliher, Gaby Couch, Leah Butler, Elyse Jamieson Murphy, Ashling Gannon, Grace O’Shea, Ashling O’Neill, Aisling Maher.

Subs- Zoe Couch for Christine Shanahan 21 mins, Orla Gray for Hannah O Dea 30 mins, Jody Couch for Aoife Heffernan h-t, Niamh Comerford for Leah Butler 46 mins.

Referee- Eamonn Cassidy (Derry)