Kilkenny Edge Out Waterford In Championship Opener

 

Fielding eight of the starting team that lost out to Galway in last year’s All-Ireland Senior Final, Kilkenny got this year’s All-Ireland Camogie Championship off to a winning start at Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon last running out seven point winners over a spirited Waterford side.

The final result of this game does not give a true account of the difference there is between the two sides, as Waterford did create many chances, but Kilkenny who played with a two in the full forward line were able to close down the Waterford attacks which were created with the extra player that they had brought back the field.

Waterford will not be happy with the fact that they went nearly half an hour without scoring in this game between the time that Kate Lynch put over a huge score on 23 minutes into the first half and when Beth Carton put over a free seven minutes from the hour mark.

I saw nearly thirty minutes as referee Andy Larkin must have forgotten to stop his watch during the water break which lasted almost two minutes and did not appear to play the full thirty minutes, but may have corrected this in the second half when he found time to add almost seven minutes at the end of the hour for stoppages in the second half.

It was the visitors that opened the scoring in this game with a point just outside the D at the city end of the Walsh Park ground from the experienced Ann Dalton.

Lorraine Bray a winner of an All-Star last year pulled a point back for Waterford on six minutes but it was quickly cancelled out with a effort from player of the match Denise Gaule almost straight away.

The same player edged the visitors even further in front on seven minutes but Beth Carton would pull one back firing over a free on eight minutes.

When Kilkenny won a 20 metre free on 11 minutes Denise Gaule went for goal but her effort was smothered on the line and cleared to safety but Kilkenny had not long to wait before they opened a double score advantage as Mary O’Connell slotted over on 13 minutes.

Waterford however would end the quarter and head for the water break all square as Beth Carton put over two frees inside a minute of each other.

Waterford hit the first two scores of the second quarter. Annie Fitzgerald pointed on 21 minutes after she was picked out by Beth Carton and two minutes later Kate Lynch sent in a monster effort from out the field which needed Kilkenny goalkeeper Aoife Norris to touch over as the sliotar came in dangerously around the height of the crossbar.

Waterford however would not score for almost thirty minutes again. But at the other end Kilkenny began to mount huge amount of pressure on the Waterford backs. Ann Dalton and Denise Gaule from a free landed scores for Kilkenny before the break to send the sides to their respective half time huddles tied at six points each.

Kilkenny began the second half brightly. Denise Gaule put over two early frees to edge her side in front. Another of Kilkenny’s most experience players Ann Dalton pointed on 34 minutes before Denise Gaule got her third of the half on 39 minutes from a free, opening up a 0-10 to 0-6 lead playing with the wind at their backs. Katie Nolan would also get her name on the score sheet at the end of the third quarter to give her side a five point advantage at the second half water break.

Miriam Walsh pointed for Kilkenny on 50 minutes before her cousin Grace, a sister of All-Ireland hurling winners Tommy and Padraig got her name on the score sheet a minute later putting her side seven points in front.

Beth Carton hit Waterford’s first score of the second half on 53 minutes from a free and followed up with a similar score three minutes later, but at this stage with the clock ticking down it was goals that Waterford needed if they were to get something from this game. To the credit of the Waterford side they were trying for goals, leaving Beth Carton to linger around the goal if the ball made its way to her.

Denise Gaule at the other end got her seventh score of the afternoon when she pointed on 59 minutes and six minutes later substitute Danielle Morrissey closed the afternoon’s scoring.

Next up for Waterford is another home game against Limerick, one Waterford will have to win if they are to stand a chance of reaching the knockout stages of the competition, while Kilkenny have a game at home to Kilkenny, a game you would expect them to win with considerable ease.

Waterford: Brianna O'Regan; Sibheal Harney, Iona Heffernan, Claire Whyte; Katie Lynch, Clodagh Carroll, Lorraine Bray; Orla Hickey, Shona Curran; Beth Carton, Niamh Rockett, Jenny McCarthy; Sarah Lacey, Abby Flynn, Annie Fitzgerald.

Subs: Shauna Fitzgerald for Sarah Lacey (41), Aoife Landers for Jenny McCarthy (52), Keeley Corbett Barry for Orla Hickey (55), Anne Corcoran for Annie Fitzgerald (59).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-5 (5f), Lorraine Bray, Kate Lynch Annie Fitzgerald 0-1 each,

Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Davina Tobin, Collette Dormer, Grace Walsh; Meghan Farrell, Claire Phelan, Niamh Deely; Anna Farrell, Mary O'Connell; Laura Murphy, Lydia Fitzpatrick, Anne Dalton; Miriam Walsh, Denise Gaule, Katie Nolan.

Subs: Danielle Morrissey 0-1 for Mary O'Connell (h-t), Stephanie Fitzgerald for Katie Nolan (47), Edel Coonan for Laura Murphy (52), Aoife Doyle for Stephanie Fitzpatrick (60).

Scorers: Denise Gaule 0-7 (5f), Ann Dalton 0-3 Grace Walsh, Mary O’Connell, Miriam Walsh, Katie Nolan, Danielle Morrissey 0-1 each.

Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork)