Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Championship
Group 1
Feis na nGleann 2019
Antrim 0-9 Kilkenny 0-11
Entering injury-time Lydia Fitzpatrick broke through to put Kilkenny into the lead for the first time since the second minute of the game. The Saffrons had a free soon after to level, but Niamh Donnelly’s drive into the breeze pulled slightly right of the post and they conceded a late free to allow Kilkenny stay in the race for an All-Ireland semi-final spot.
It was a really strong performance from Antrim, building on their win in Kildare the previous Saturday and their defence in particular stood out – after taking a little time to settle.
Katie Nolan burst through for the first score and Kilkenny seemed to be well able to build moves into the stiff breeze over the first seven or eight minutes.
However once Roisin McCormick popped over the opening score, the Antrim team seemed to settle as a unit and they were fully deserving of their half time lead of 0-8 to 0-4.
The defence worked hard supporting each other and moving ball short through to the scoring range where McCormick in particular was causing problems with fair support from Lucia McNaughton and Sinéad Cosgrove.
McCormick added her second point within 30 seconds of opening the Antrim account and another brilliant run resulted in a low shot that seemed to be heading for the bottom corner until Elizabeth Phelan turned it around for a 45 that Niamh Donnelly pointed.
Further points from Cosgrove, a huge Donnelly free and McCormick’s third point stretched Antrim’s lead to 0-6 to 0-2 after 20 minutes.
Although Aisling Curits and Lydia Fitzpatrick responded with points for the visitors, Sinéad Cosgrove added a seventh Antrim point and was pulled down on her way to goal right on the half-time whistle. Roisin McCormick tried her luck at a goal from the free but it was deflected over for a four points’ lead at the turnover.
That never looked good enough given the strength of the breeze but, despite two quick points from Fitzpatrick and Nolan, Antrim dug in and Lucia McNaughton responded with a point.
Although the Kilkenny momentum was well slowed down they were still edging closer while Antrim couldn’t get any more scores.
After 50 minutes Nolan drew the sides level at 0-9 each, but with their backs against the walls Antrim held tight over the next 10 minutes before conceding a fourth point to Fitzpatrick. Had Niamh Donnelly found that range from the late 60m free, the game in all probability would have ended in a draw.
But the poc-out was allowed and went far enough to result in a tap over free for Nolan who brought her tally to five points.
It means that Kilkenny are still in with a chance of a semi-final spot, with Antrim depending on results elsewhere during the rest of July to have any chance of making it through.
Antrim : C Graham, E Hynds, C Conlon, L McKenna, M Lynn, N Donnelly capt 0-2 frees, C Drain, F McVeigh, A Boyle, R McCormick 0-4, 0-1 free, C McShane, S Cosgrove 0-2, L McNaughton 0-1, V Edgar, A Connolly.
Sub : C McNaughton for C McShane (54)
Kilkenny : E Phelan, N Carter, C O’Shea, N Sweeney, N Leahy, A Prendergast 0-1 free, A O’Gorman, H Scott, A Curtis 0-1, L Murphy, C Phelan, L Fitzpatrick 0-4, SA Quinlan, K Nolan 0-5, 0-2 free, A Grace.
Subs : L Greene for SA Quinlan (21), C Lyng for L Greene (47), C Foley for A Grace (47), C Dowling for C Foley (52).
Referee : P McDonald (Cavan).
