Waterford prove too strong for Kilkenny in All-Ireland camogie clash

Kilkenny fell to a home defeat when going down to Waterford in Round 2 of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship at UPMC Nowlan Park earlier this afternoon.

Tommy Shefllin's side began the game quite well as they opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead but they were outrun by their Munster opposition for the rest of the game with Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton doing serious damage in attack for the visitors.

Laura Greene and Laura Murphy proved to be Kilkenny's star players but the paltry tally of just three points from play via Murphy, Mary O'Connell and Steffi Fitzgerald told it's own story for the Noresiders.

After that bright opening for the Cats, Waterford came back into things through successive scores from Carton, Rockett and Eimear O'Neill and in double quick-time, Waterford led 0-8 to 0-4.

Lorraine Bray, Annie Fitzgerald and Maggie Gostl also had attempts at goal saved by Aoife Norris during that opening half as Waterford held a four point advanatge at the change of ends.

Through big impact from the bench and an extra surge, Kilkenny reduced the gap to just two points at the halfway mark of the half but they couldn't kick on with the Michael Boland managed Waterford finishing the stronger in what was their opening fixture of the campaign.

The experienced Niamh Rockett knocked over three points inside the final few minutes as Kilkenny eventually succumbed to a 0-17 to 0-10 defeat in the end.

The home loss increases the pressure on Kilkenny with a big game away to Dublin to come next weekend.

Teams and Scorers

Waterford; Niamh Rockett (0-9, 8fs); Beth Carton (0-4); Abbie Flynn, Annie Fitzgerald, Maggie Gostl, Eimear O'Neill (0-1 each)

Kilkenny: Laura Murphy (0-6, 5fs); Laura Greene (0-2, 1f and 1 '45); Steffi Fitzgerald, Mary O'Connell (0-1 each)

Waterford: Brianna O'Regan; Rachael Walsh, Kate Lynch, Alannah McNulty; Bevin Bowdren, Keeley Corbett-Barry, Orla Hickey; Lorraine Bray, Eimear O'Neill; Abbie Flynn, Beth Carton, Niamh Rockett; Mairead O'Brien, Annie Fitzgerald, Maggie Postl.

Subs: Tara Power for O'Brien, 46 mins; Molly Comerford for O'Neill, 49 mins; Alannah O'Sullivan for Gostl, 59 mins; Niamh Ahearne for Fitzgerald, 65 mins.

Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Ava Brett, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Ciara Phelan; Niamh Deely, Katie Power, Caoimhe Dowling; Aobha O'Gorman, Laura Greene; Mary O'Connell, Laura Murphy, Caoimhe Keher-Murtagh; Katie Nolan, Kellyann Doyle, Steffi Fitzgerald.

Subs: Sarah Barcoe for O'Gorman, h-t; Aoife Prendergast for Keher-Murtagh, h-t; Sophie Holden for Nolan, 41 mins; Asha McHardy for Doyle, 50 mins; Michelle Teehan for Brett, 55 mins.

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)