Kilkenny Camogie- Danesfort impress in commanding win over Ballyhale

Recently crowned league championship winners Danesfort sent a warning to all sides left in the Intermediate championship that they are intent on attaining further honours this year as their relatively young side had too much for Ballyhale in this intermediate quarterfinal last Sunday morning in Windgap.

The winners showed a good mix of skill, teamwork and pace particularly in their forward unit and this saw them largely dominate the second half in which Ballyhale faded after a very competitive opening period.

Danesfort started on the front foot with three opening points from Rachel Phelan (free), Olivia Mahony (free) and Niamh Davis before Ballyhale opened their account with a score from Sinead Fitzpatrick.

Davis then added a further point and when she escaped the Ballyhale backs to fire to the net in the 11th minute, they had a healthy 1-4 to 0-1 lead.

However, Ballyhale rallied with a fine goal immediately afterwards from Emily Shortall which settled them into the contest and a further run of points from Emily Shortall and Sadhbh Shefflin saw the deficit reduced to 1-6 (D) to 1-4 (B) by the 16th minute.

However, this was to be as close as Ballyhale would get to Danesfort and their superior skill and fitness level saw them open up a 1-13 to 1-7 half-time lead with fine scores coming from Deirdre Phelan, Niamh Davis and Eva Dunne – and this lead could have been larger if Ava Darcy in the Ballyhale goal had not produced some fine saves.

After a high scoring first half, the pace of the match did drop in the second period with Ballyhale employing a sweeper to try and contain the Danesfort forwards – although this very much reduced their own forward potency as they only added two points in this half.

Danesfort did add points from frees through Niamh Davis and Olivia Mahony to stretch the lead in the opening minutes of this half and the match was largely over as a contest when Eva Dunne finished to the net minutes later to open up a 2-15 to 1-7 lead.

Danesfort continued to dictate proceedings for the remainder of this match and even had a number of wides which could have extended the winning margin still further.

Ballyhale did fight to the finish without the injured Taylor Aylward and they did add scores from Sadhbh Shefflin but in truth they struggled to keep pace with a superior Danesfort side throughout this second period.

Danesfort now go forward to play Emeralds in the intermediate semifinals next weekend.

Danesfort: Ali Byrne, Clodagh Doyle, Jill O Brien, Aileen Gleeson, Grace Byrne, Muireann Kelly (Capt), Ciara Gleeson, Shauna Mahony, Olivia Mahony, Eva Dunne, Niamh Davis, Louisa Gilmore, Deirdre Phelan, Aoife Farrell, Rachel Phelan.

Subs: Emma Cahill, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Brionadh Barragry, Ailise Mahony, Doireann O Donnell, Ruth Fitzpatrick, Orla Gleeson, Taylor Rafter, Aine Foley, Isabel Galvin, Ailbhe Ní Casaide, Bronagh Davis (inj), Caroline Booth (inj), Aoife Walsh (inj), Niamh Gillen (inj).

Ballyhale: Ava Darcy, Sienna Drennan, Olivia O’Keeffe, Marita Butler, Shanelle Mullen, Louise Hearne, Alannah Cody, Sadhbh Shefflin, Ava Shefflin, Grace Walsh, Bri O’Donoghue, Sinead Fitzpatrick, Emily Shortall, Lucy Fitzgerald, Shauna Cody.

Subs: Sarah Walsh, Maeve Kenneally, Abbie O’Keeffe, Aoife Cassin, Katie Phelan, Saoirse Walsh, Grace Denny, Alex Murphy, Ciara Walsh, Stella Butler, Moya Wilson, Grace O’Farrell, Beibhinn Shefflin, Leah Aylward, Taylor Aylward.

Referee: Willie Kearney