Michael Lyng Motors Kilkenny County Senior Camogie Final
Dicksboro 1-12; Piltown 0-10
John Power at UPMC Nowlan Park
A crucial first-half goal from Orla Hanrick proved decisive as Dicksboro overcame Piltown by five points at UPMC Nowlan Park to secure their fifth Michael Lyng Motors Kilkenny Senior Camogie Championship title.
Dicksboro continued their impressive record in Kilkenny senior camogie when they claimed a fifth Michael Lyng Motors county title with a five-point victory over Piltown at UPMC Nowlan Park. On a perfect afternoon for camogie, the city side produced a determined and disciplined performance to overcome a Piltown team that battled hard throughout but ultimately found the excellent Dicksboro defence difficult to penetrate. The decisive moment arrived in the 31st minute when Orla Hanrick found the net, scoring the only goal of a low-scoring final and giving her side a crucial advantage heading into the interval.
Dicksboro had previously won the senior crown in 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025, and this latest success represented another significant achievement for the club. Having returned to the top of the county game last year, they have now secured back-to-back titles for the first time in their history.
For Piltown, the defeat represented a second consecutive final loss, despite a spirited effort that threatened to bring them right back into contention during the second half.
The opening exchanges were closely contested, with both teams showing early signs of the defensive determination that would characterise the afternoon. Piltown’s Kelly Anne Doyle and Dicksboro’s Aoife Prendergast opened their respective accounts with frees as neither side was prepared to give much away.
Kelly Anne Doyle then produced an excellent individual score for Piltown, demonstrating her ability to create opportunities under pressure. Dicksboro responded through Rachel Dowling, before Prendergast converted another free to edge the city side in front. Piltown were enjoying a productive spell and began to put their opponents under pressure. Two well-taken frees from the dependable Kelly Anne Doyle added to their tally, while Aoife Doyle also raised a white flag after the Dicksboro defence had successfully dealt with a goal threat.
That sequence of scores put Piltown 0-5 to 0-3 ahead and gave them encouragement that they could make a serious challenge for the title. Their work rate was impressive, and they were making Dicksboro work hard for every possession. However, the closing stages of the first half belonged firmly to the city side. From the 18th minute until the interval, Dicksboro took control of the scoreboard, gradually building momentum and putting their opponents under increasing pressure.
Orla Hanrick began the scoring sequence with a point, before Aoife Prendergast added another to bring the sides closer together. Aobha O’Gorman then contributed a further point as Dicksboro began to make their territorial advantage count. The defining moment of the half arrived in the 31st minute. An Aoife Prendergast effort from a 45 dropped short into the danger area, where Orla Hanrick reacted sharply to finish to the Piltown net from close range.
It was a significant breakthrough in a contest where clear goal opportunities had been limited. Hanrick’s opportunism gave Dicksboro the cushion they needed and left Piltown facing an uphill task after having enjoyed a promising spell earlier in the half. Half-time: Dicksboro 1-7 Piltown 0-5.
Piltown needed a strong start to the second half if they were to get back into the contest, and Kelly Anne Doyle responded with another converted free. Aoife Prendergast answered in similar fashion at the other end, before Tara McGrath added a point from play for Dicksboro.
Doyle continued to carry much of the attacking responsibility for Piltown and registered another score to keep her side within reach. However, Dicksboro remained composed, with their defensive unit continuing to restrict the opportunities available to the south Kilkenny outfit. Rachel Dowling then pointed for the winners, extending their advantage to six points and leaving Piltown with a considerable challenge as the game entered its final quarter.
To their credit, Piltown refused to surrender. Aoife Doyle found the target, Kelly Anne Doyle followed with another point, and Ruby Norris added a third consecutive score to produce a timely burst of pressure. Suddenly, the gap had been reduced to three points, with the scoreboard reading 1-10 to 0-10 in the 45th minute. The possibility of a late turnaround was very much alive, and Piltown had given themselves a chance of putting the reigning champions under serious pressure. However, that proved to be their final scoring contribution of the afternoon. Dicksboro’s defence tightened its grip, with the players in the rearguard showing excellent discipline and determination to prevent Piltown from building on their promising spell.
At the opposite end, Dicksboro were content to manage their advantage rather than take unnecessary risks. Aoife Prendergast converted a free in the 49th minute to restore some breathing space, and the city side continued to frustrate their opponents as the minutes ticked away.
Piltown worked tirelessly in search of a way back, but the openings were increasingly difficult to find. Their key attackers were closely monitored, while Dicksboro’s defensive organisation ensured that the threat of a late goal never materialised. Prendergast added a further free in the 63rd minute, providing the final score of the afternoon and confirming Dicksboro’s five-point victory.
Although the final did not quite reach the heights anticipated on a fine afternoon for camogie, Dicksboro will have few complaints. They demonstrated the composure, defensive strength and clinical finishing required to win championship finals, with Hanrick’s first-half goal proving the crucial difference between the sides.
Piltown will be disappointed after suffering their second successive final defeat, but they showed enough determination to remain competitive until the closing stages. Ultimately, however, they were unable to find a way past a superbly organised Dicksboro defence.
For Dicksboro, the celebrations were well deserved. A fifth senior crown, their first successful defence of the title, and another impressive performance on the county stage provided the perfect reward for a side that once again demonstrated its ability to deliver when silverware was at stake.
SCORERS
DICKSBORO: Aoife Prendergast (0-7 frees), Amy Clifford (1-0), Rachel Dowling (0-2), Tara McGrath, Asha McHardy, Orla Hanrick (0-1 each)
PILTOWN: Kellyann Doyle (0-7, 0-5 frees), Aoife Doyle (0-2), Ruby Norris (0-1)
TEAMS
DICKSBORO: Cara Duggan, Angela Carroll, Tara Clifford (Capt), Katie Byrne, Ciara Phelan, Caoimhe Dowling, Aisling Browne, Aobha O’Gorman, Tara McGrath, Asha McHardy, Jenny Clifford, Rachel Dowling, Aoife Prendergast, Orla Hanrick, Amy Clifford Substitutes: Rose Kelly for Asha McHardy, Emma Hogan for Amy Clifford,
PILTOWN: Aoife Norris, Danielle Carroll, Patsy Kenny, Lorraine Long, Karen Duggan, Aoife Landers, Jenni O’Dea, Laura Norris, Lorna O’Shea, Sophie Holden, Kellyann Doyle, Ruby Norris, Aoife Doyle, Katie Power (Capt), Alanna Gallagher. Substitutes: Ellen O’Keeffe for Alanna Gallagher, Alice Talbot for Lorna O’Shea,
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Thomastown).
