Kittens make it back-to-back victories in the Provincial competition with a 3-15 to 1-12 win over the Dubs in the GAA National Games Development Centre
The minor kittens traveled to GAA NGDC in Abbottstown yesterday as they attempted to make it back-to-back wins in the Minor A Provincial championship final. Kilkenny had a comfortable win over Offaly in the semi-final, setting up a repeat of last year’s final against Dublin. The provincial championships are played before the All-Ireland series which will commence next weekend so it was an excellent opportunity to have as the team prepare for those games.
Dublin were quick out of the blocks and raced into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the eleventh minute. The Kilkenny girls looked nervous as they took a while to get into the game but on the stroke of the first quarter, the kittens struck for their first goal scored by daughter of KCLR commentator Adrian Ronan, the score put the team two points in the lead and they kept that lead up to half time when the kittens led 1-6 to 0-7
Kilkenny was looking to finish off the game with a flourish and on 28 minutes got their third goal of the afternoon. With a swooping attack on the Dublin goal the ball fell to Katie Brennan who volleyed the sliotar to the net to leave the keeper with no hope, that was virtually game set and match. The kittens finished the game with three points to leave the full time score Dublin 1-12, Kilkenny 3-15
After the game former Árd Stiúrthoir Sheila Wallace presented the player of the match which Rachel Dowling won, she was on fire with six points one of which was a monster free from her own 65m line to cap off a great few weeks as she won the Allianz Senior A Colleges final with Loreto a couple of weeks earlier.
“It was a great game 1-12 to 3-15 to be honest it was a real summer match, conditions here in Abbottstown are fantastic, it is a great venue and a lovely setting for a game, the girls really dug it out they played some beautiful hurling in stages but we still have work to do before the Tipperary game next week”, Mick Wall said speaking to Martin Quilty after the game.
“Dublin are a good team and they will always put it up to Kilkenny, as any team that plays Kilkenny when they see the jersey they up their performance. It’s brilliant preparation for the Tipp game next weekend, luckily enough that we know everyone has come out unscathed, we have four weeks on the trot with game after game, we have a big panel and this win is for them all”.
Kilkenny will take on Tipperary 12/3 (Home), Galway 19/3 (Away), Waterford 26/3 (Away), Cork 2/4 (Home), Dublin 15/4 (Home) in this years Electric Ireland Síle Nic an Ultaigh Championship. Kilkenny last won the title in 2021 and will be hoping they can replicate that again in 2023.
