Kilkenny 4-15  Dublin 3-6

Dublin came with high hopes of retaining their Leinster title and for 30 minutes had every reason to be optimistic.  With Maria McGrath and Elaine O'Leary winning the midfield battle Dublin had the Kilkenny defence under servere pressure in the opening half.

At full forward Aisling Maher was a key target and whenever the ball was in her vicinity, Kilkenny were in trouble.

Down but not out

But as in hurling the Cats are masters at damage limitation and despite being outplayed in many sectors, they were always in touch.  Lydia Fitzpatrick pointed a free in the first minute for the home side which was quickly cancelled by a similar effort from Ciara Berkeley.  Five minutes later in the 7th minute Dublin went ahead with a great goal from Aisling Maher from good possession by Eva Marie Elliott.

Two more Ciara Berkeley points one from play extended Dublin's lead but Dublin deserved more as Aisling Maher's goal bound effort was just centimeters away from the net.  On such margins are games won and lost and instead of being  6 points down Kilkenny were level when Lydia Fitzpatrick went on a long run to goal in the 18th minute.

Dublin responded immediately with a fine goal from Cliona McCulla but given their dominance, one would have hoped for better than an interval position of Dublin 2-3 Kilkenny 1-6.

The breeze favoured Kilkenny in the second half and with the switch of the excellent Miriam Walsh from Tullaroan (first cousin of the wonderful Tommy not to mention a relation of James McGarry and D J Carey), to the forward line, she was to exert a major influence on the game.

Within 12 minutes of the restart, Kilkenny had notched 2-4 with goals from Mary Corcoran and Miriam Walsh.  Dublin hit back with a great point by Orla Beagan and a goal by Clare Rigney but with a rejigged lineout, Dublin could not get sufficient ball to their forwards where Aisling Maher, Aisling O'Neill and Ciara McGuigan were working very hard.

Kate Whyte was superb in goals and Ciara Sheehan, Rachael Kenny, Laura Smith and Doireann Mullaney also had some fine moments.

Kate Whyte, Cliona McCulla, Ciara Sheehan, Rachael Kenny, Laura Smith, Eva Marie Elliott, Clare Rigney, Elaine O'Leary, Maria McGrath, Doireann Mullaney, Ciara Berkeley, Orla Beagan, Ciara McGuigan, Aisling O'Neill, Aisling Maher

Subs: Mary Cronin, Ailise Dowling, Jane Tully, Roisin Baker, Laura Morrissey, Louise Walsh, Niamh Whitter, Leah Mullins, Clare Murray, Kelsey Larkin and Niamh Byrne