Strong response to Limerick start key to winning championship bow for Kilkenny Camogs
Kilkenny selector Michael Walsh after victory in Round 1
A strong response to Limerick’s early scoring salvo proved key as the Cats made a winning start to their All-Ireland campaign.
Sarah O’Brien’s goal in the first minute gave Limerick a dream start and that was followed up by Orlaith Kelleher’s point, but the Cats had 2-7 on the board before Limerick raised a third flag, and it was that response that delighted team mentor, Michael Walsh.
“We got off to a terrible start, conceding 1-1 in the first couple of minutes, but it was a great response from the girls, they went to town in that 20 minute spell,” said Walsh.
“I was at a match the other night where a team was 12 points up and got reeled in so you have to be careful, but in reality the goal at the start of the second half was a killer blow to Limerick and the rest of the game petered out from there.”
With one of the youngest panels in the championship, Kilkenny are disproportionately affected by exam season, but the flip side of the coin is that strong performances from their minor, under-16 and under-23 teams have helped boost the mood in their camp even further.
“There’s lots going on,” said Walsh. “Rachel Phelan played in every league match but her Leaving Cert is coming up now. It goes to show that the attitude that girl has, herself and Grace Brennan the same.
“Things like (the underage success) have to have a positive effect, they all know each other so well and they all go to each other’s matches, so something like that has a huge impact across the board,” Walsh added.
With one game on the board for each of the teams in Group 2 of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, it’s Clare, Kilkenny and Offaly who have wins on the board – though all three have to go on the road next Saturday, so there is still plenty of time for Dublin, Limerick and Wexford to make up lost ground in the bid for the two quarter-final berths on offer.
Clare overcame Dublin by 2-16 to 3-10 in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg on Saturday afternoon in a peculiar game where Dublin led by 0-3 to 0-1 after a quiet first quarter and where they added two late goals, but in between Clare were comfortably superior.
Offaly will go into a road trip to Limerick with an extra week of rest after their one-point win over Wexford.