Kilkenny 3-15  -  Clare 1-07 at Athy, County Kildare

How to stop Kilkenny? That is the interminable dilemma that has confounded many counties over the years and on Sunday they again demonstrated why they are still the benchmark at every level in both hurling and camogie to win their third successive minor A title.
In contrast, Clare were competing in only their first ever final which is a feat in itself as the county continues it’s emergence as a force in the code. But Kilkenny’s experience and all-round slicker teamwork combined with a number of internal failings ensured that the Banner’s dream ended here.
The players will be the first to admit that they failed to reach the heights of previous performances and really they were so dominant in their earlier rounds that they perhaps were unsure how to react when sternly tested by the Cats. Nerves were inevitable considering the occasion and the large, colourful Clare support, who braved the three hour journey to Athy and mainly manned the grassy hill on the town side.

Tactically, Clare also played somewhat into the hands of Kilkenny who had undoubtedly done their homework. Clare utilised the same tactic of bringing out Aoife Griffin from corner-forward in order to leave space for Clare’s biggest threat Carina Roseingrave to run into, just as they had done in the semi-final against Tipperary. However, as Kilkenny got on top early on, Griffin and later Roisin O’Brien were brought back to sweep around the half-back line, leaving an extra defender to double up on Roseingrave and it suited Kilkenny perfectly as they built up a substantial early lead.
In addition, Clare were left bewildered at times by the refereeing of Rosemary Hughes-Merry who repeatedly punished the Banner for very marginal offences and Kilkenny took full advantage of those placed balls to heap further misery on Clare. Furthermore, full-forward Carina Roseingrave was repeatedly fouled, predominantly on her way to goal but no cards were produced over the hour.
In saying that, even if Clare had played to their potential and had received a bit of luck, they would still have earned it to trouble Kilkennywho were simply in unplayable form on Sunday. Their touch was perfect, their fielding right out of the top drawer and the movement and fluidity of the forward line was a joy to watch. A prime example of this came after only six minutes with the score 0-2 to 0-1 to Kilkenny after Stephanie Moloney had opened the scoring for Clare.
Aisling Dunphy fielded a Clare puck-out and in a handpassing move involving all six forwards, Kilkenny moved the ball from the left wing to the right, catching Clare ball watching and Michelle Quilty picked out the unmarked Michelle Farrell in space outside the square who made no mistake.
In truth, Kilkenny got the type of start Clare needed if they were to disrupt the champions but the Cats continued in the same vein until the break with Katie Power and Michelle Quilty doing most of the damage as they led by 1-8 to 0-3 at the break. Still, considering the wind and the amount of possession Kilkenny had in that first half, the game could have been over by the interval only for Clare goalkeeper Susan Vaughan who was quick off her line to smother two first half efforts from the Cats that appeared certain goals.
Despite having an extra defender, Clare were not winning many puck-outs and indeed they only crossed the halfway line occasionally in that first half which starved the forwards of any supply. When they did manage to breach the Kilkenny half-back line, Carina Roseingrave - despite constant attention - excelled on scraps and earned Clare three first half frees, two of which were converted by Shónagh Enright.
Clare emerged for the second period with renewed vigor and after Enright and Quilty swapped frees and Goalkeeper Vaughan had made another crucial block and clearance, they finally secured a much needed goal in the 36th minute. It was a swift move started by Aine O’Brien who played a high ball into the full-forward line and when Roisin O’Brien broke it, Roseingrave did the rest by soloing through and handpassing to the net.
Now there were only five points between the sides but Clare were rocked on their heels only four minutes later when Kilkenny again employed an overlap move that eventually fell to Claire Phelan at the edge of the square who kicked to the net. Clare fought on and Carina Roseingrave, Stephane Moloney and Shónagh Enright all added points in the following ten minutes but each time Kilkenny cancelled it out at the other end.
As the minutes ticked away, Clare’s heads inevitably dropped and Kilkenny finished the job, scoring 1-4 without reply which glossed up the scoreline but flattered them considerably overall.
Clare were inevitably disappointed but the fact that 22 of the squad are still underage next year will give them major confidence.
As Kilkenny proved, there is no substitute for experience and Clare will certainly have learned from competing in their first ever final. Not much consolation now but surely beneficial for the future.

Match Details

Kilkenny Emma Staunton (7), Leanne Fennelly (7), Ann-Marie Walsh (6), Roisin Byrne (7), Mariga Nolan (7), Edwina Keane (8), Nicola Butler (7), Aisling Dunphy (8), Anna Farrell (8) (0-1), Denise Gaule (7) (0-1), Katie Power (8) (0-3), Claire Phelan (8) (1-1 1f), Michelle Farrell (7) (1-2), Marie Dargan (7) (0-1), Michelle Quilty (8) (1-6 4f)
Subs Sinead Long (6) for Gaule, Ruth Bergin for Byrne, Ciara Lyng for Butler, Georgina Culleton for Farrell

Clare Susan Vaughan (8), Sarah Reidy (6), Kate Lynch (8), Carol O’Leary (7), Aiveen O’Shea (7), Roisin McMahon (7), Carol Kaiser (7), Niamh Corry (7), Chloe Morey (7), Aine O’Brien (6), Shónagh Enright (7) (0-4 4f), Stephanie Moloney (7) (0-2), Aoife Griffin (6), Carina Roseingrave (8) (1-1), Roisin O’Brien (7) Subs Niamh Martin (7) for Reidy, Eimear Considine (7) for R. O’Brien (Inj), Mary Clune (6) for A. O’Brien, Louise Woods (6) for Griffin

Player of the Game
Katie Power (Kilkenny)

Match Official
Rosemary Hughes-Merry (Monaghan)

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