Phelan and Kennedy shine as Maher’s magical minors make it two-in-a-row

CUPS UP FOR CATS: Kilkenny players celebrate after winning their Electric Ireland Minor Camogie A Final, UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane

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 today.

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.

In the first game played in the Marble City, Wexford also had too much firepower for their neighbours Waterford, despite the heroics of Aishling Bonnar, whose father, Colm, once managed Wexford’s hurlers. Bonnar scored 1-5 for the Déise girls but Áine Mackey was Waterford’s only other multiple scorer, with two points.

Meanwhile, Wexford had more players capable of coming up with big plays. A fantastic point by Gillian Foley from a tight angle gave that the Yellowbellies the lead in the eighth minute was a sample, though the game had actually begun in quite a cagey fashion, with the teams sharing just four points with more than 11 minutes elapsed.

That was when Katie Ryan took matters into her hands, however, winning possession about 40m out and a little to the right. Ryan took the shortest route towards the target before letting fly with an unstoppable shot from just to the right of the square for a magnificent goal.

The goal-hungry Gusserane sharpshooter pounced for a second three-pointer in the 25th minute and Wexford were always able to keep Waterford at arm’s length from there.

Emma McCarthy and Caoimhe McGonigle got on the scoresheet for the young Models, with Bonnar keeping Waterford in touch but when the Déise totem goaled in the 59th minute, the Wexford response was telling, with two points from Ciara Whelan and another by Molly Martin to leave it 2-13 to 1-9 at the final whistle.