Cats cut loose in second half to claim minor title

Kilkenny 1-12 Cork 0-06

Cork had snatched a second bite of the cherry thanks to a late Orla Cronin goal but never looked like making the most of the second chance.

The Leesiders had a strong wind in their favour in the first half and established an early two-point lead, but from the time Mary Corcoran breached their defence with a goal, it was all Kilkenny.

They led 1-4 to 0-5 at half- time and with the elements becoming even more of a factor after the resumption, pulled clear with points from player of the match, Lydia Fitzpatrick and the excellent Maria Walsh amongst others.

Cork only managed one point after the resumption and were hugely reliant on Orla Cronin, who slotted four points, one of which came from a penalty.

This was due largely to the dominance of the Kilkenny half-back line, with Mary O’Connell giving a thunderous performance at centre-back.

Fitzpatrick also provided four points for Kilkenny, two of those from 45’s, but Corcoran, Walsh and Ciara Holden were other multiple scorers, while Aisling Nolan and Lorraine Long were on the mark as well.

Meanwhile, Kildare won their first All-Ireland minor title when edging out Armagh 2-11 to 2-9 to win the ‘C’ championship in Drogheda.

All-Ireland Minor A final, scorers for Kilkenny(M Corcoran 1-2; L Fitzpatrick 0-4, 2 45s; M Walsh 0-3; C Holden, A Nolan, L Long 0-1 each).

Cork scorers: (O Cronin 0-4 2fs; K Hickey, A O’Connor 0-1 each) .

KILKENNY: N Murphy; C Farrell, C Foley, M Kenneally; M Farrell, M O’ Connell, A Butler; L Fitzpatrick, A Nolan; M Walsh, S Whelan, A Gannon; A Talbot, C Holden, M Corcoran.

CORK: A Lee; S Ring, L Treacy, A Curtin; E Kavanagh, L Callanan, S O’Leary; J Hennigan, H Looney; C Murphy, O Cronin, K Hickey; A O’Connor, L Collins, R O’Shea.