County champions Piltown power into Kilkenny Senior Camogie League Final

Reigning league champions Piltown booked their place in this year’s league final after getting the better of Clara - and the elements - on a wet, drizzly Sunday morning.

The winners were also boosted by the presence of Aoife Doyle, who made her first appearance this year for Piltown after recovering from an ACL injury. In her 15 minute cameo, she finished up with 1-2.

Clara opened the scoring with a pointed free from Mary O’Connell. Kellyann Doyle equalised for Piltown from a 45, after Sophie Holden’s initial shot was deflected outside the post

Keara Ryan added a point for Clara, but Piltown then hit three unanswered points from Kellyann Doyle, Ellen O’Keeffe and Sophie Holden to edge ahead. Clara hit back with two points through Mary O’Connell (free) and a great point from Emma Shortall, from a tight angle, to leave the scores level 0-4 apiece after 12 minutes

Kellyann Doyle and Mary O’Connell traded pointed frees, but Piltown hit the next four points, the run coming from Sophie Holden, Kellyann Doyle (2) and Ellen O’Keeffe. Emma Shortall did get a score back for Clara with a fine point, but Piltown had the final say of the half with Kellyann Doyle converting two frees to leave Piltown five to the good at the interval (0-11 to 0-6).

On the resumption of play, Aisling Curtis got a point from play for Clara after great work from Mary O’Connell and Emma Shortall.

Sophie Holden slotted over another point for Piltown after a fine pass from Katie Power. Laoise McKenna then got on the score sheet for Piltown with a point after she intercepted a Clara puckout.

Holden tacked on another point for Piltown before Mary O’Connell converted two frees for Clara, which was their last score for over 23 minutes.

Piltown took complete control of the match, hitting 1-9 without reply. Kellyann Doyle slotted over a free. Then Heather Phelan got in on the act, scoring a point, before she made way for the returning Aoife Doyle. The aforementioned Doyle was barely on the pitch two minutes when Katie Power gave her an inch perfect pass. Doyle ran at speed down the dressing room sideline, turned in field and hit an unstoppable shot to the back of the net to put Piltown 10 points ahead (1-16 to 0-9).

A minute later Doyle added another point for the southerners. Holden added her fifth point of the day before the Doyle sisters slotted the next three points - one for Aoife, two for Kellyann.

Katie Power got her just reward with a point after all her hard work during the match. Heading towards the final whistle, Piltown cleared the sliotar up to the young Grace Farrell. Unable to get a strike with her hurl, she put sliotar to boot and kicked a lovely point.

Just on the stroke of full-time, Margaret O’Connell got in for a consolation goal for Clara, but there was no altering Piltown’s course to the final.

Teams and scorers

Piltown - Kellyann Doyle (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 45); Sophie Holden (0-5); Aoife Doyle (1-2); Ellen O’Keeffe (0-3); Heather Phelan, Katie Power, Laoise McKenna, Grace Farrell (0-1 each).

Clara - Mary O’Connell (0-5, 0-4 frees); Margaret O’Connell (1-0); Emma Shortall (0-2); Keara Ryan, Aisling Curtis (0-1 each).

Piltown - Aoife Norris; Lorraine Long, Alanna Gallagher, Jenni O’Dea; Karen Duggan, Laura Norris, Danielle Carroll; Aoife Landers, Alice Talbot; Ellen O’Keeffe, Kellyann Doyle, Laoise McKenna; Heather Phelan, Katie Power, Sophie Holden.

Subs: Grace Farrell for Danielle Carroll, Aoife Doyle for Heather Phelan, Aoife O’Shea for Karen Duggan, Aine Doyle for Sophie Holden, Leah Cooney for Laoise McKenna.

Clara - Aoife Glynn; Lucy Cody, Rachel Whelan, Katie Ryan; Grace Barcoe, Laoise Nolan, Claire Nolan; Rebecca Nolan, Aisling Curtis; Noelene Shanahan, Mary O’Connell, Lucy Boyd; Emma Shortall, Siobhan Curtis, Keara Ryan.

Subs: Grainne Glynn for Grace Barcoe, Aine McDonald for Rachel Whelan (inj), Niamh Ward for Lucy Boyd, Margaret O’Connell for Siobhan Curtis, Grace Barcoe for Aoife Glynn (inj), Oonagh Fitzgerald for Lucy Cody.

Referee - Eamon Larkin (James Stephens).