Dublin looked well in contention at half-time of todays All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship game but Kilkenny dominated the second half to run out comfortable winners
Dublin 1-04
Kilkenny 4-13
It was certainly a tale of two halves for Dublin this afternoon in their All Ireland Intermediate Camogie championship encounter with Kilkenny.
After a keenly contested and tight opening half Dublin found themselves well in the hunt trailing by just a single point at the break.
But in the second half Kilkenny raised their intensity, aggression and pace levels and completely dominated the rest of the game with Dublin unable to stem the almost one way traffic.
Dublin started the game brightly and raced into a four point lead early in the game thanks to an excellent finish to the net by Meabh Hicks in the fifth minute and a Robyn Buckley converted free.
The sides though were level by the fourteenth minute, Caroline Kennedy got Kilkenny up and running on tue scoring front with a point in the eight minute and six minutes later player of the match Sarah Barcoe found the back of the net after some poor defensive play from Dublin.
Afton Grace gave Kilkenny the lead for the first time in game with a fine point. Ten minutes from the break it was all square again with Dublin’s Grainne Skelton knocking over a free.
Grace and Skelton traded fees as the game headed towards half-time but Sarah Barcoe grabbed a point from play just before the short whistle to leave the score at the break 1-04 to 1-03 in Kilkenny’s favour.
Dublin drew level four minutes after the break from a Grainne Skelton free but that was to prove to be the only score Dublin could muster for the rest of the game.
Kilkenny went on to dominate possession for the rest of the half and made it count scoring an unanswered 3-09 to run out very comfortable winners.
A point from play from Sarah Barcoe was sandwiched between two successful Afton Grace frees to put Kilkenny three in front but the Dubs were still not out of the game.
But from the midway point the of the second half Kilkenny hit the afterburners, two quick goals from Afton Grace and Sarah Barcoe put The Cats in full control and they drove on from there adding a fourth goal from Ellen Gunner and points from Laura Greene (2), Tara Ronan, Sarah Barcoe, Therese Donnelly and a converted free from Afton Grace to claim an eighteen point win.
Scorers – Dublin – Meabh Hicks 1-00, Grainne Skelton 0-03 (3f), Robyn Buckley 0-01 (1f) – Kilkenny – Sarah Barcoe 2-03, Afton Grace 1-05 (4f), Ellen Gunner 1-00, Laura Greene 0-02, Caroline Kennedy 0-01, Tara Ronan 0-01.
Dublin: Lauryn Campbell, Caoimhe Walshe, Shauna McCarthy, Caoimhe Tierney, Sarah Power, Nicola Cotter, Robyn Buckley, Emily Adderley, Aoife Deegan, Grainne Skelton, Joye Atkinson, Ciara Murphy, Meabh Hicks, Grace Shanahan, Eile O’Ceallaigh.
Dublin Substitions: Hazel Austin for Caoimhe Walshe (HT), Aoibhean Stokes for Eile O’Ceallaigh (43), Nina Brennan for Joye Atkinson (58), Cara Feeney for Shauna McCarthy (60), Lynn McMahon Keegan for Grace Shanahan (65).
Kilkenny: Cliona Murphy, Niamh Leahy, Jenni O’Dea, Jane Cass, Niamh Phelan, Roisin Phelan, Hannah Scott, Laura Greene, Aoife Cantwell, Danielle Quigley, Sarah Barcoe, Emma Mulhall, Therese Donnelly, Caroline Kennedy, Afton Grace.
Kilkenny Substitions: Katie Byrne for Jane Cass (Blood Sub 33-37), Ellen Gunner for Caroline Kennedy (43), Mairead Kennedy for Aoife Cantwell (47), Keara Ryan for Emma Mulhall (53), Tara Ronan for Danielle Quigley (55).
