With so many survivors from last year’s All-Ireland-winning side, it was long signposted that Kilkenny were the team to beat in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship and the young Cats coped with that expectation admirably by cruising to a 3-17 to 1-8 victory in the final against a brave but outgunned Galway in the final at UPMC Nowlan Park yesterday.
It was a record ninth victory for the Black and Amber, who look to have a bright future ahead, with the Loreto nursery having secured the senior and junior schools’ double as well this year.
Only one point separated these teams when they met in the group stages in Dunmore but with the ground dried and the general conditions more conducive to fast, pacy play, there was no stopping David Maher’s talented outfit.
Galway actually led early on, Mary Brigid Cosgrove slotting an early 45 and then converting a free after Ona Kennedy registered her first score from a placed ball. The brilliant Emily Phelan stroked over a brace to give Kilkenny the advantage for the first time but Cosgrove equalised and then Emma Barrett struck with a 19th minute goal.
The crucial score of the game was probably Holly Ryan’s major at the other end, within a minute, and after 23 minutes, Kennedy was blasting a penalty to the Galway net. Kilkenny actually scored 1-6 up to the interval, in an undisturbed reply to Barrett’s green flag, which seemed to serve only to awaken the beast from its slumber.
It got worse for Fintan McNamara’s charges as Amy O’Shea netted immediately after the resumption. Galway only managed six points in almost three-quarters of an hour, Leah Forde, Lauren Morgan and Cosgrove among those to split the posts but the nascent Stripeywomen had threats from everywhere.
Holly Ryan, Kennedy, Phelan, O’Shea and Shauna Mahony all had the umpire bending down for the white flag as they cantered to glory in eye-catching fashion.
