Good results for Kilkenny at annual Gaynor Cup soccer tournament

Penalties ensured a 19th place finish for Kilkenny in the final match of the Gaynor Cup.

A tough week of action came to a nail-biting finish as the Cats took on Longford in their placing match at the University of Limerick on Friday morning.

From the opening whistle, with the elements in their favour, Kilkenny took early control. Inside 10 minutes they had created a number of chances but were well thwarted by the Longford defence. While using the elements in the opening half they went on to create a number of chances from corners but couldn’t capitalise on them. As the half drew to a close they launched a number of attacks on the opposition goal but excellent defending and last ditch saves kept the scores level at the break.

Once this final placement game resumed chances became tougher to carve out for both sides as both defences were coming out on top. With 10 minutes to go it looked like we would be heading to penalties but Longford had other ideas as they broke away to take the lead. This spurred Kilkenny on and with four minutes to go up stepped Brooke Quirke to send the tie to penalties.

Brooke stepped up first for the spot kicks, slotting her effort away. The next four penalties were all flawless as Emma Walsh, Aoibhe Meegan, Ruby Collins and Mia Van Eeden all converted their efforts to send their side home victorious.

The week began with three tough games in Group Five Kilkenny finished in third position, finishing level on points with second-placed Tipp South, losing out on goal difference.

Opening game

In their opening game competition conditions played a major factor as neither Kilkenny nor Louth could really get a grasp of the wind. Despite this Kilkenny made a great start when they opened the scoring inside three minutes as a Lavena Fogarty effort flew into the top corner.

A number of other chances were created but the Louth defence and the swirling breeze kept the ball out. As the half drew to a close Louth took the momentum and nearly leveled but Alison Walsh stood strong in the net to keep her side ahead.

After the break neither side could create any meaningful chance. It looked like the Cats would take all three points but Louth had other ideas as they levelled with five minutes to go, salvaging a 1-1 draw.

In their second game, a clash with South Tipperary, a goal just before half-time saw Kilkenny’s neighbours take all three points in this derby.

After a strong opening 10 minutes Kilkenny threatened the Tipp goal but couldn’t break through. Just as it looked like the sides would go in level at the break a mix up at the back saw Tipp take the lead.

Kilkenny wrapped up the group stages with a 2-1 win over Mayo. It was the Brooke Quirke show as a goal either side of the break saw her side win.

It was all Kilkenny from the opening play of this game as within five minutes they had made the Mayo goalkeeper produce three outstanding saves. As the half grew on the black and amber piled on the pressure and eventually Brooke Quirke managed to open the scoring after some fine team play. This left her team one up at the break.

In the second half a mistake at the back led to a penalty which Quirke duly converted. It was a massive defensive effort in the final 10 minutes as they kept the opposition out until five minutes to go. This victory was well deserved as they produced some fine football from start to finish.

In the Gaynor Shield quarter-final penalties were the only thing that could separate Kilkenny and South Belfast after a tough battle.

After a strong opening half Kilkenny controlled the game from the opening whistle, creating a number of early chances. This pressure finally paid off 13 minutes when Emma Walsh found the back of the net. Within six minutes the lead was doubled when Lavena Fogarty found herself in space to finish well. The Cats kept control of this tie until the half-time whistle.

Within four minutes of the restart the gap had been narrowed by South Belfast when Abby McGowna found the back of the net.

As the half went on and tensions began to rise it was the northern side head coach Aaron Agnew who was given his marching orders. This seemed to kick his side into action as they had leveled the tie five minutes later through Sophie Nelson.

This meant the tie would be decided by a dreaded penalty shoot out.

Nothing could separate the sides in the regulation kicks, but Belfast held their nerve to win 6-5 in sudden death.

Kilkenny shrugged off that loss and bounced back when beating Carlow 1-0 in the playoffs on Thursday.

From the outset it was Carlow who took control, firing an effort wide inside three minutes. Moments later a second effort narrowly flew wide of the upright. It was somewhat against the run of play that Kilkenny took the lead when Aoibhe Meegan fired into the Carlow net.

The second half saw Carlow create a number of chances, but they couldn’t break down a resolute Kilkenny rearguard, as the Cats moved on to that playoff meeting with Longford.

Kilkenny - Ellen Butler (Evergreen), Mollie Rose Keegan (Evergreen), Alison Walsh (Freebooters), Katie Mullins (Deen Celtic, captain), Mia Van Eeden (Freebooters), Emma Walsh (Freebooters), Ruby Collins (Thomastown United), Brooke Quirke (Evergreen), Lavena Fogarty (Freebooters), Ellen Nugent (Thomastown United), Sarah O’Gorman (Deen Celtic), Katie Condon (Freebooters), Isabelle Murphy (Spa United), Emily Twyford (Stoneyford United), Jenna Trait (Evergreen), Leah Croke (East End United), Andrea Roche (Evergreen), Lauren Daly (Freebooters), Aoibhe Meegan (Evergreen), Emma Larkin (Evergreen).

Manager: Alan Condon. Coaches: Mary Condon, Breda Hearne. Physio: Laoise Nolan. Kit: Dolores Walsh.