Kilkenny's camogie championship future cemented after Galway result
Galway 1-17 Kilkenny 0-12
Kilkenny failed to fire as they fell to their second defeat of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship on Saturday, as table toppers Galway were full value for their eight point win.
Despite the setback, Tommy Shefflin's team look forward to a quarter-final clash in Croke Park in a fortnight's time.
The breeze was a factor and it was Kilkenny who needed to use it in the opening half. Instead they held just one lead in the hour, 0-4 to 0-3 on the back of consecutive points from Caoimhe Keher Murtagh and Aoife Prendergast midway through the half, and just one more white flag before the break was a paltry return.
Galway had to work hard for their scores, Ann Marie Starr creating one for Carrie Dolan while Ciara Hickey hoisted over a majestic effort that put two between the sides (0-7 to 0-5) at the turnaround.
Kilkenny were at their best in the third quarter when the Laura-Murphy-anchored defence held firm, conceding just three points up to the 45th minute.
Three was still the margin (0-13 to 0-10) going into the closing stages but again it was the Tribeswomen who came up with the big plays, one of which saw Aoife Donohoe set up Dolan for a point with a wonderful lift on the run and under pressure on the left sideline. Then Niamh Niland picked the pocket of a Kilkenny defender and swept in the game’s only goal from a tight angle to kill the contest with a few minutes to play.
Now Waterford and Galway have two chances to reach the last four, Kilkenny are idle next week and Dublin need to avoid a slip-up at home to Derry if they are to stay out of the relegation final.