Defeat for Cleere’s ladies, but plenty of positives for our senior camogs
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
REVIEW
Very Camogie League
Division 1 A
UPMC Nowlan Park,
Kilkenny 1-16 Cork 1-17
Referee: Gavin Donegan, Dublin
Pictures: INPHO/Leah Scholes
All-Ireland champions Cork emerged from UPMC Nowlan Park with maximum points after overcoming their hosts Kilkenny, by the bare minimum in this opening round of the Very Camogie League Division 1 A. A brace of scores in the closing from impressive substitute, Emma Murphy saw the Leesiders clinch victory against one of their main rivals for silverware this season.
It was all change from the last few seasons for both sides, as Brian Dowling and Matthew Twomey had moved on from the hot seats and had been replaced by Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere and Ger Manley. Both managers had starting XV’s that will not exactly mirror their chosen championship line-ups, but it proved to be a very useful run-out for both counties.
The home side opened the scoring in the second minute after Cork keeper Amy Lee’s puck out was intercepted by Piltown’s Aoife Doyle who popped the ball between the posts for an early score to settle the Kilkenny supporter’s nerves. The Rebels were level just a minute later, thanks to Katrina Mackey who turned her marker Kelly Ann Doyle before firing over. The ladies in black and amber went on the attack immediately and edged ahead following a lovely run and finish from Dicksboro’s Asha McHardy.
As you would expect from February camogie, play was a little scrappy at times and there was plenty of ‘hockey’ style ground play going on between both sides, as they each sought to find their rhythm. With Denise Gaule absent and, on her travels, The Village’s Sophie O’Dwyer was on placed ball duty and opened her account in the 8th minute and was accurate throughout the contest as she showed management and supporters, that she is certainly up for the task.
Veteran of the Kilkenny side, Katie Power, then picked up possession, burst forward and struck over a fine score to push her side’s lead to three points after eleven minutes of action. Cork wing-back Izzy O’Regan then set up Saoirse McCarthy who took a lovely score from out on the left for her sides first score since the 3rd minute. Sophie O’Dwyer then struck over two quick-fire placed balls after Asha McHardy and Niamh Deely had been fouled to leave the Noresiders four points clear, midway through the opening period.
Another period of scrappy play ensued as the sides sought to land a blow that may prove crucial. Katrina Mackey then notched her second point of the afternoon from the edge of the ’D’, but again Cleere’s ladies’ response was instant and St Martin’s Katie Nolan rifled over a lovely point after nice work by Katie Power.
Cork’s centre-forward Fiona Keating then went on a trademark run through the middle of the Kilkenny defence and got her shot away, despite being fouled, but Aoife Norris stood firm and made the save, however Dublin whistler, Gavin Donegan brought play back and Katrina Mackey popped over the resulting free to reduce the deficit to just one score, and that score was just around the corner.
The Leesiders found a lot of space in the hosts’ defence courtesy of a powerful run by Hannah Looney, who struck a lovely pass across the Kilkenny goal to Clare Mullins who finished in style, giving Aoife Norris no chance in the home side’s goal. The sides were now level, and everything was in the balance. Piltown’s Katie Power hit back immediately for a cracking point having been expertly assisted by Sophie O’Dwyer.
Another of the Piltown contingent, Kellyann Doyle was having a difficult time keeping Katrina Mackey in check, then fouled the Cork No.14, who punished the foul by splitting the posts from the free. The Rebels appeared further ahead in their preparation for this season, and this was evident with their next score, when a lovely passing move at pace was finished superbly by Hannah Looney to give the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.
Then came the second major of the game. The vastly experienced former All-Ireland winning captain Aisling Thompson was turned over following great pressure by Katie Power. The Kilkenny No.11 found Aoife Doyle who sent an absolute bullet of a shot past Amy Lee to the Cork net to put the home side 2 points ahead.
The influential and impressive Saoirse McCarthy then rifled over a beautiful point having taken possession and cut in from the right sideline. James Stephens Sophie O’Dwyer was then fouled and after dusting herself down, fired over the free in additional time. Another of the experienced Cork side, Fiona Keating found herself in space and made no mistake in registering another score to leave Kilkenny’s lead at just one point at the short whistle.
Ger Manley’s charges came out recharged for the second half and were on the front foot straight away, notching the first 3 points of the second half. Fiona Keating, who had registered the last score of the opening period struck again, this time after taking a nice pass from Saoirse McCarthy.
Miriam Bambrick was then blown up for over carrying and Katrina Mackey slotted the placed ball to put the Rebels back in the lead. This was the signal for the All-Ireland champions to spring top forward Amy O’Connor from the bench in place of goal scorer, Clare Mullins. The next battle between Katrina and Kelly Ann went the way of the former, after she sized her opponent up before accelerating away and splitting the posts with a lovely effort.
The Kilkenny management made their second change of the day and sent on Mullinavat’s Julieanne Malone for Laura Norris as they looked to add a bit more experience to their forward line. The home side needed a score, and it came from the hurl of Sophie O’Dwyer who confidently converted a ‘45 for her side’s first score of the second half.
The Leesiders kept pumping quality ball into the forward line and another Mackey vs Doyle duel saw the lady in red get the better again before finishing in style for another point from open play. One of the black and amber’s busiest players on the day, Katie Power then gave a lovely pass to namesake Nolan who showed her accuracy in raising another white flag for her side.
Two of Cork’s substitutes then combined to register a fine score. Amy O’Connor showed great battling qualities to set up Orlaith Mullins who made no mistake with her finish for the visitor’s 5th point of the second period. O’Connor was then pulled to the ground and referee Donegan awarded the free which Katrina Mackey stroked over to put the Rebels three clear with about 15 minutes remaining at UPMC Nowlan Park.
Thomastown’s Sarah Barcoe then entered the fray in place of the injured Tiffanie Fitzgerald as the Noresiders looked for a little additional sprinkling of class in attack. The elder Fitzgerald, Steffi was then halted illegally and Sophie O’Dwyer nailed yet another placed ball, her 6th of the day to reduce the deficit to just two points.
St Martin’s Katie Nolan then notched her second of the game from inside the ‘D’ after a little bit of pinball between the sides. Behind the forward line, Niamh Deely and Laura Murphy were putting in serious shifts as they looked to stifle a more experienced Cork side. Village star O’Dwyer split the posts with 8 minutes left after another foul on the tireless Steffi Fitzgerald.
Former Cork skipper, Amy O’Connor then pointed from close range to edge her side ahead again, but parity was soon restored when Katie Power was fouled, and the impressive Sophie O’Dwyer did the rest. With matters deadlocked on Noreside, it was going down to the wire and those in attendance were certainly being given value for money.
Then came two rapid cameos from Cork sub Emma Murphy. The number 22 showed searing pace as she raced clear of the trailing defenders before rifling over a fantastic score from out on the right side. The same player repeated this in her side’s next attack with the same outcome, another delightful point to restore a 2-point lead for the Rebels.
Kilkenny dug deep and reduced the gap to just one point, courtesy of a third of the afternoon for Katie Nolan, but referee Donegan sounded the long whistle to leave the score at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny 1-16, Cork 1-17.
Scorers for Kilkenny: S O’Dwyer 0-8 f, A Doyle 1-1, K Nolan 0-3, K Power 0-2, A McHardy, S Barcoe 0-1 each.
Cork: K Mackey 0-8 (0-4 f), C Mullins 1-0, E Murphy, F Keating, S McCarthy 0-2 each, H Looney, O Mullins, A O’Connor 0-1 each
KILKENNY: A Norris; M Teehan, K A Doyle, R Phelan; T Fitzgerald, M Bambrick, N Deely; L Murphy, L Norris; S Fitzgerald, K Power, A McHardy; A Doyle, K Nolan, S O’Dwyer.
Subs: K Byrne for R Phelan (ht), J Malone for L Norris (39), S Barcoe for T Fitzgerald (47), C Keher for A McHardy (54),
CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, L Coppinger, M Cahalane; N O’Callaghan, A Healy, I O’Regan; H Looney, A Thompson; L Hayes, F Keating, S McCarthy; C Mullins, K Mackey, O Cahalane.
Subs: A O’Connor for C Mullins (35), O Mullins for A Thompson (39), H Ryan for H Looney (45), E Murphy for L Hayes (53), S McCartan for O Cahalane (55).
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)
