Kilkenny made full use of home advantage to notch their third win over a struggling Offaly side in the Camogie Championship.
A somewhat stop-start phase of play early in the game enabled the underdogs to eke their noses in front in the early stages however it was soon clear Kilkenny were only going through the gears as they ran out 2-17 to 2-7 winners.
Two Anne Dalton goals and five Denise Gaule frees allowed the Cats to halt Offaly’s good early momentum. The Faithful County, with Kilkenny hurling legend Richie Power on their sideline as coach, kicked off with a Gráinne Egan goal, aided by the two Brennan sisters, Aisling and Ciara, dominating the middle sector for Offaly.
Upon the resumption Mairéad Teehan did her best to keep the scoreboard ticking for the Faithful but with Gaule in imperious form, both from placed balls but from open play, but there was no stage when Kilkenny seemed to be under any real pressure.
A wonderful Teehan goal caught everyone in the ground napping as she found the net from a 14 yard free. The Offaly attacker went low when Kilkenny players on the line went high to trim the gap on the scoreboard. The game petered out in the heat however with Miriam Walsh adding to her tally, while Offaly suffered further disappointment at the end of a spirited performance as Ciara Brennan and Gráinne Egan were dismissed after picking up two yellow cards each.