Kilkenny 2-12 Dublin 0-10
While
the score tallies will tell you that Dublin only held the lead for two minutes
in this game, the list of positives from this game is long.
Dublin
got their free-taking bang on with a “Dead-eye Dick” performance from Alison
Maguire who nailed 8 placed balls, the work ethic from start to finish was top
class, Dublin’s defence was superb and the error count has been dramatically
cut. 15 minutes from time Kilkenny
goaled and stretched their lead to 8 points.
The fear was that they would close out the game with an avalanche of
scores. That didn’t happen and the sides
finished the last 17 minutes on 0-1 apiece thanks to a resilient Dublin who
showed tremendous fighting spirit.
Kilkenny
were also coming in on the back of a championship win whereas it was Dublin’s
opening game in the series.
The
Cats playing on their home patch in Freshford never looked like like losing but
they were given a very stiff test and had to dig deep to fashion victory.
As so often said “goals win matches” and
Kilkenny grabbed one in either half – scores that kept them in front to the
finish.
Dublin
were first off the mark inside 42 seconds with a superb point from Siobhan
Kehoe.
But two minutes later Shelly
Farrell skipped inside a little too easily for Kilkenny’s opening goal.
The move that led to the goal came after an
incorrect Dublin decision to pass in the Kilkenny half of the field was
intercepted.
The defending of the goal
was also weak – sometimes a little bit of cynicism is needed – all the winning
teams have it!
But
throughout an entertaining first half Dublin held their own.
Twelve minutes into the game Dublin were
awarded their first scoreable free and from 45m Alison Maguire’s strike was
right on the meat.
She nailed 4 more
before the break all from between 50 to 65m with a superb display of sweet
striking.
The
scores were hugely important in their own right demonstrating that if you get
that aspect of your plan right, then you will always be in with a shout.
From watching camogie games, it would appear
that referees are more whistle happy than hurling referees and that a great
proportion of scores come from placed balls.
So getting that aspect of your play right will always keep your team
competitive.
The
return also energised Dublin.
Eventhough
Kilkenny were finding the range from play and frees with great scores from
Denise Gaule, Julieanne Malone and Ann Dalton, Dublin were responding and with
Aine Woods outstanding on her debut at corner back, Catríona Power, Maireád Luttrell
and the Twomey sisters Miriam and Laura putting in a great shift Dublin were
more than a match for the All-Ireland runners up of 2014.
Playing
in All-Ireland and National League finals has been the habit in recent years
for this Kilkenny team and that experience is invaluable.
There is a new look to their side but many of
the top stars of the recent past like Denise Gaule, Jacqui Frisby, Edwina
Keane, Ann Dalton, Miriam Walsh, Shelly Farrell and Colette Dormer are still
doing their stuff.
Dublin
on the other hand haven’t seen those days but young players like Eve O’Brien,
Aisling Carolan, Leah Butler, Ali Twomey and Siobhan Kehoe are improving all
the time.
With
Kilkenny notching 1-4 in the opening quarter Dublin took action by pulling back
an extra defender.
It had the desired
effect of curtailing the scoring but with only 5 forwards now operating for
Dublin in attack, their capacity to add to Alison Maguire’s frees was
significantly reduced.
Had Dublin been
able to up the contribution from play then the margin would have been much
tighter.
Siobhan Kehoe appeared to have
the pace and ability to trouble the Kilkenny defence but in situations where
she was frequently outnumbered two to one, that was never going to happen.
Great
work by Leah Butler set up Orla Beagan for a wonderful point from the middle of
the field as Dublin trailed by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.
Kilkenny
opened the second half with four points – Miriam Walsh and three from Ann
Dalton to just one from Alison Maguire in the 39
th
minute but though
playing into the slight breeze Dublin fought back.
Sarah O’Donovan was battling hard at centre
forward as was Louise O’Hara typified by a great block close to the side line
that led to Dublin earning a free.
The
shot from Alison Maguire dropped short and for a split second Dublin had a goal
chance but Kilkenny cleared the danger.
If there was one area Kilkenny excelled in it was their link play – that
ability when under pressure to make a telling pass to set up a move either to
clear a danger or create a score.
Another
point from Alison Maguire this time from a 45 partially cancelled out a point
by Denise Gaule in the 44
th
minute. However the same player got the
clincher a minute later when she showed great composure when in a one-on-one
situation with the excellent Síle nic Coitir she turned from her right to her
left side to goal – the ‘keeper having already committed to going right.
But
again Dublin returned and a great free from near the sideline by Alison Maguire
showed they hadn’t gone away.
With 7
minutes of normal time left Dublin won a free to the right of the posts about
25m out.
Another point would have cut
the gap to two scores but with goal chances practically non-existent for
Dublin, the decision was made to go for goal.
However Louise O’Hara’s shot drifted outside the post for Dublin’s only
wide of the game.
Áine
Fanning, Emma Flanagan, Orlaith Durkan, Claire Rigney and Elaine O’Meara all
come on in the closing stages and played their part and Denise Gaule hit the
final score of an entertaining game.
Scorers:
Kilkenny: Denise Gaule (1-3), Ann Dalton (0-6), Shelly
Farrell (1-0), Miriam Walsh (0-2), Julieann Malone (0-1)
Dublin:
Alison Maguire (0-8), Siobhan Kehoe and Orla Beagan (0-1 each)
Referee : Eamonn Cassidy