Kilkenny go the extra against Waterford to claim camogie semi-final spot
Kilkenny's Niamh Deely and Kilkenny's Laura Murphy celebrates. Pic: INPHO/James Lawlor
Kilkenny returned to the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship semi-final for the first time since being crowned champions in 2022, recording a thrilling three-point victory over Waterford in Croke Park on Saturday.
Greatly benefiting from the new championship structure which resulted in Jimmy Meagher’s charges claiming five wins from five in Group 2, and a remarkable run of recent underage success, they arrived with a spring in their step to dominate extra-time, after the sides finished 0-15 apiece at full time.
In doing so, they knocked last season semi-finalists Waterford out of the competition.
While the underage success stories might dominate the narrative, when push came to shove, it was two stalwarts Laura Murphy and Katie Nolan that stole the show.
The tireless Murphy amassed four points and ran herself into the ground, while sub Nolan grabbed a pair of crucial goals in extra-time. And defensively they batted down the hatches in a contest that was level eight times during regulation.
Also, the placed-ball precision of Aoife Prendergast was noteworthy.
Overall, the winners played a lovely brand of, fast-paced camogie, whilst Waterford were left to rue far too many wides, including a penalty late in the first half.
With sweepers operating at both ends, and playing into the Hill 16 end, it was Waterford who converted the first two points through Mairead O’Brien and Beth Carton.
Back-to-back white flags from Prendergast and Murphy had the sides tied after 13 minutes, after the Leinster outfit failed to make some of their early possession count.
Despite suffering knocks, Waterford goalkeeper Brianna O’Regan and defender Clodagh Carroll were able to play on.
Fouls on Asha McHardy and Murphy pushed Kilkenny into the lead, 0-4 to 0-2 after quarter of an hour.
However, Waterford got three of the next four points, Carton nabbing a brace from placed balls, with neither team able to make any decent headway in a nip-and-tuck game.
The hugely influential Murphy, now in her 10th season, went down injured in the 22nd minute, but after being treated on the field was able to resume her position.
With two minutes of the first half remaining, there was a big let off for Kilkenny when Beth Carton’s penalty went wide of the left post, the foul committed by Kilkenny captain Caoimhe Dowling on Abby Flynn, for which the defender picked up a yellow card.
Defensively solid, Niamh Deely made another fine block for Kilkenny, but Eimear O’Neill did follow up with a point.
Laura Greene and Lorraine Bray exchanged minors in stoppage time - as Hawkeye verified a Níl for Waterford - to leave the score 0-9 to 0-7 in favour of the Munster team at the half-way stage.
Kilkenny restarted with a trio of points inside the first five minutes, corner-forward Sarah Barcoe starting to make her presence felt.
Carton’s fifth point achieved parity, and for the sixth time they were deadlocked, 0-11 apiece.
Kilkenny stole a march in the fourth quarter to lead 0-15 to 0-14 with a minute remaining.
Waterford required a Carton free in the second minute of stoppage to send the game to extra-time.
Kilkenny were creating goal changes, Murphy with a great opportunity but unable to guide the sliotar over the line.
The green flag, however, did come, and it was sub Nolan who doubled on Brianna O’Regan’s save from Steffi Fitzgerald.
It would prove to be a defining moment as they led at the break, 1-17 to 0-18.
And Nolan wasn’t finished yet, the St Martin’s dynamite was on hand again in the second period of extra-time - linking with Steffi Fitzgerald once more - to find the net.
Waterford pulled a goal back through sub Maggie Gostl, but it was too little too late.
Kilkenny advance to meet either Cork or Galway in an FBD Semple Stadium double-header on July 25.
A Prendergast (0-9, 0-7 frees, 0-1 45), K Nolan (2-0), L Murphy (0-4), S Barcoe (0-3), L Greene, A McHardy and C Doheny (0-1 each).
: B Carton (0-9, 0-8 frees), M Gostl (1-0), A Fitzgerald (0-3), O Hickey and E O’Neill (0-2 each), M O’Brien, L Bray and R Walsh (0-1 each).
: A Norris; A Brett, T Fitzgerald, C Dowling (Capt); A Carroll, N Deely, M Teehan; L Greene, L Murphy; A Prendergast, C Keher Murtagh, A McHardy; E Shortall, S Fitzgerald, S Barcoe.
Subs: K Nolan for E Shortall (44), C Doheny for A McHardy (53), R Dowling for S Barcoe (61-63 temp), R Phelan for C Keher Murtagh (60+8), R Dowling for S Barcoe (70+4).
: B O’Regan; V Falconer, L Forrest, A McNulty; C Carroll, K Corbett Barry, R Walsh; O Hickey, E O’Neill; L Bray (Capt), B Carton, B Bowdren; A Fitzgerald, L Bray, M O’Brien.
Subs: A O’Sullivan for M O’Brien (45), R Kirwan for B Bowdren (51), M Gostl for L Forrest (59), S Lacey for E O’Neill (70+4).
: Joe Mullins (Clare).
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