Kildare give it their all but no match for a strong Kilkenny side

All-Ireland Ireland Intermediate Camogie Group 2

Kilkenny 3-15

Kildare 0-6

While the Kilkenny senior camogie side fell short in the Glen Dimplex Senior All-Ireland quarter-final, going under to Dublin in Croke Park on Saturday, incredibly in or around the same time The Cats intermediate team were taking on Kildare in the final round of the intermediate championship and the visitors had little difficulty in maintainig their unbeaten record with a fully deserved 18 point victory over a very young Kildare side at Manguard Park, Hawkfield.

It was always going to be a big ask for the home side, however they were certainly very competitive early on after taking the lead with an excellent long-range point from Lea Sutton in the second minute.

Kilkenny then hit three points on the trot from Claire Doheny, Caroline Kennedy and excellent free taker Danielle Morrissey.
Lea Sutton got Kildare's second point and while Niamh Crowley added one for the visitors it was Lea Sutton again who hit the point of the day from some 70m to leave just one between them on 17 minutes 0-4 to 0-3.

Kilkenny upped their game, added two points before finding the Kildare net, full forward Carlise Comerford gained possession on the edge of the square and found the bottom right hand corner to the net.

Within two minutes the game was all but over when a long ball in was brilliantly caught by Carlise Comerford, who turned and blasted to the net to leave it 2-6 to 0-3 on 23 minutes.

The Cats added three points before the break and went in leading 2-9 to 0-3.

The young players from Coill Dubh and Broadford had the attendance entertained at the break as the rain came down again.
On the resumption it was all Kilkenny, adding two points before Caoimhe Ní Bhuirceal hit an absolute cracking point for Kildare from wide on the left close to sideline.

No stopping the visitors though who added four points before Emma Mulhall hit goal number three and while Lea Sutton added two points for Kildare it was Kilkenny's day as they recorded an impressive victory on a final score line of Kilkenny 3-15 Kildare 0-6.

Scorers: Kilkenny, Danielle Morrissey 0-8 (6 frees, 2 45s), Niamh Crowley 1-2, Emma Mulhall 1-0, Carlise Comerford 1-0, Lauren Ronan 0-1, Caroline Kennedy 0-2, Aoife Cantwell 0-1, Claire Doheny 0-1.
Kildare, Lea Sutton 0-5 (1 free), Caoimhe Ní Bhuirceal 0-1.

KILDARE: Roisin Roche; Kelly Perkins, Sorcha Dolan, Ella Copeland; Laoise Mimnagh, Aoife McCarthy, Ellen Morgan; Shauna Mulligan, Meabh Maguire; Lea Sutton cpt, Sarah Lavin, Caoimhe Ní Bhuirceal; Niamh Mortell, Sarah Carroll, Aoife McDermott. Subs: Sinead O'Brien for Niamh Mortell (40 minutes); Orla Carragher for Sarah Carroll (42 minutes); Aideen Walsh for Meabh Maguire (49 minutes); Caoilfhionn Hallissey for Sarah Lavin (54 minutes).

KILKENNY: Cliona Murphy; Niamh Leahy, Rachel Whelan, Jane Cass; Mairead Kennedy, Shauna Treacy, Hannah Scott; Danielle Morrissey, Ciara Foskin; Lauren Ronan, Caroline Kennedy, Aoife Cantwell; Claire Doheny, Carlise Comerford, Niamh Crowley. Subs: Rose Kelly for Aoife Cantwell (42 minutes); Emma Mulhall for Caroline Kennedy (46 minutes); Rachel Dowling for Danielle Morrissey (50 minutes); Laura Phelan for Niamh Leahy (55 minutes).

REFEREE: Philip McDonald.