Honours even as Kilkenny Firsts take a point on their travels

The Kilkenny Ladies 1s were back on the road on Saturday as they travelled to Muckross Hockey Club to take on the Dublin side in a mid-table clash.

Following their impressive win over Naas last weekend, the Cats were looking to make it two from two on Saturday. Danny Mulligan’s side looked sharp from the offset, but a quick Muckross break up the pitch caught them on the back foot inside the opening minutes. Some last-ditch defending from Lucy Simms, Sam Willis and Ally Williams preventing the home side from taking an early lead.

The second quarter proved to be an evenly matched contest, with both teams threatening. On the stroke of half time, Kilkenny ’keeper Jess Cary was called into action when she saved a one on one shot from a Muckross attacker, keeping the game very much in the balance.

Muckross enjoyed large spells of possession with the ball in the second half, which put the Kilkenny defence under immense pressure. Spurred on by the home crowd, the Dublin side won themselves a penalty corner which they duly converted, despite a scrambling effort from Kilkenny defenders.

The Cats lifted their spirits and went in search of a goal to get back into the game. Attacking in numbers, quick passing between Sara Browne, Poppy Williams and Gemma Carter picked out Sue Shirley high up the field. Shirley fired a pass into the opposition circle which was deflected goalwards by oncoming defender Paula Farrell. Farrell’s shot was stopped on the line, but Sarah Richardson made no mistake from the rebound for her first goal of the season.

Determined to take a point away from the match, the Cats played a defensive game in the fourth and final quarter. Niamh Spratt O’Shea and Clair Phelan kept the defence well-marshalled as Kilkenny made their point.

Kilkenny Firsts - Paula Farrell (C), Jess Cary, Niamh Spratt O’Shea, Sam Willis, Clair Phelan, Lucy Simms, Ally Williams, Ally Carter, Sara Browne, Ciara Mahon, Sue Shirley, Gemma O’Dwyer, Cliodhna O’Connor, Roisin Burns, Poppy Williams, Sarah Richardson.

Coach/Manager - Danny Mulligan, Jenny Wallace.

Kilkenny Thirds 

The Kilkenny Ladies Thirds made their trip to Dublin a winning one when they beat Loreto Sixths 3-0 in their Division Nine game.

The Loreto applied much of the early pressure, but were caught cold when Kathy Walsh rifled a shot to the net.

With a one goal lead Kilkenny dominated the second half and doubled their advantage when Joanna Morrissey calmly guided the ball home. Pushing for more goals, they added a third in the final quarter when Kathy Walsh sent a reverse shot past the Loreto ’keeper at the death.

Kilkenny, who are second in the league table, will take on Bray in Wicklow on Saturday in the Leinster Cup.

Two goals from Javier Romero saw the Kilkenny Men’s First team beat newly-promoted Weston Hockey Club in the fifth round of the Leinster EY2 Qualifiers.

Taking the lead through Andrew Atkinson, Kilkenny went two up when Javier Romero fired home before half-time. While Weston started the second half with all guns blazing, the home side made sure of the win when Romero doubled his tally to make it 3-2.