“All-Ireland final here we come!” - Croke Park is calling as Kilkenny intermediates book final berth

The Kilkenny intermediate camogie team have reached the All-Ireland final.

The Cats kept their composure when it mattered most, beating Kerry after extra-time in a tense tie in Thurles.

Having lost their group game to Kilkenny, the Kingdom had revenge on their mind and made a great start in Semple Stadium, Amy O’Sullivan’s goal giving them an early lead (1-1 to 0-1). A pair of pointed frees from Jackie Horgan kept them in front but Kilkenny never panicked. With Player of the Match Danielle Morrissey in fine form they kicked on and stormed in front when Rose Kelly hit the net with 28 minutes on the clock (1-5 to 1-3). A further Morrissey free ensured Seamus Kelly’s side were three to the good at the break (1-6 to 1-3).

While the Cats were first off the mark after the restart, Rachel Dowling splitting the posts, Kerry hit the next four scores to level the game. A Patrice Diggin point was followed by three Horgan frees, leaving the sides all square with a quarter of the game to go (1-7 to 1-7).

With the game in the melting pot it was no surprise to see both sides go at it, but neither could pull clear of their rival. It was point for point in the last 15 minutes - Kerry edged ahead with an Amy O’Sullivan point and held that advantage until injury-time, but Danielle Morrissey’s stoppage time free sent the game into extra-time (1-13 to 1-13).

While Morrissey gave Kilkenny a slender lead in the first half, Kerry leapfrogged their way in front with a Horgan goal. However, cool heads meant the Cats had cancelled that out by half-time, Morrissey (free) and Rachel Dowling leaving the game deadlocked once again (Kilkenny 1-13, Kerry 2-10).

There was little in it at the start of the second half, as the sides traded points, but Kilkenny took a big step towards the final when Caroline Kennedy raised the green flag with a 74th minute goal. It was a score that broke Kerry hearts. The Munster side pulled a point back courtesy of a Patrice Diggin point, but couldn’t reel their rivals in.

Kilkenny will play old foes Cork, who beat Offaly in the second semi-final, in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park on August 11. See this week’s Kilkenny People for more from the semi-final.