Early goal a blow as Cork lose to Kilkenny in All-Ireland Minor Camogie final

Kilkenny 3-8 Cork 0-8

Heartbreak for Cork as they lost out to Kilkenny in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor A final at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday.

An early goal put Cork on the backfoot from the start and it was a blow they never really recovered from, despite the best efforts of the likes of Rachel Murphy, Jess Murphy, Tara Goulding and Laoise Ahern.

Kilkenny took the lead after just 30 seconds when Lucy Boyd pointed, with Ciara O’Shea adding a second.

Three minutes in and they went further in front as Molly Conroy set up Niamh Davis for the game’s opening goal, after four minutes.

Clara Murphy pointed from a free for Cork as they trailed by 1-2 to 0-1 with six minutes gone.

Emily Phelan added a second for Cork, before Murphy was on target again, to make it 1-2 to 0-3.

Cork then had goalkeeper Anna Kearney to thank as she saved superbly from Conroy to deny Kilkenny a second goal.

With 19 minutes gone Cork were dealt a blow when influential midfielder Catherine Murphy had to go off with a shoulder injury, which led to a long stoppage before play resumed.

Ona Kennedy pointed a free for the Cats, with Meabh O’Brien replying for Cork. Emily Phelan was on target for Kilkenny with another Murphy free making it 1-4 to 0-5.

Just before half time Aisling O’Sullivan pointed to see her side lead by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.

Another blow for Cork at the start of the second half when a free from Kennedy deceived all and found the back of the net for the Cats second goal.

She added a point before Cork were awarded a penalty for a foul on Tara Goulding. Rachel Murphy took the penalty but unfortunately for Cork her effort came back off the crossbar and the danger was cleared.

Murphy pulled a point back for Cork from a free as both sides missed chances to add to their tally.

Any chance of a Cork fightback were gone after 55 minutes when a mistake by their defence let Phelan in for Kilkenny’s third goal, to make it 3-7 to 0-6.

Shona Cronin pointed from a free for Cork and she added another from a 45 but there were no more than consolation scores as the Cats ran out deserving winners.

Scorers for Kilkenny: O Kennedy (1-1 f), E Phelan 1-2 each, N Davis 1-0, L Boyd, C O’Shea, A O’Sullivan, S Shefflin 0-1 each.

Cork: Clara Murphy 0-4 f, S Cronin 0-2 (0-1 f, 0-1 45), A Mulkerrins, M O’Brien 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E Walton; C Power, G Brennan, J Smith; C Hickey, O Kennedy, T Aylward; R Phelan, E Doheny; L Boyd, A O’Sullivan, N Davis; E Phelan, C O’Shea, M Conroy.

Subs: S Ruane for M Conroy (43), S Doheny for T Aylward (51), S Shefflin for A O’Sullivan (57), R Hayden for C Hickey (58), J O’Brien for J Smith (59), R Hayden for C O’Shea (61).

CORK: A Kearney (Blackrock); A McGrath (Éire Óg), L Ahern (Éire Óg), S Cunningham (Erin’s Own); M Lombard (Ballinhassig), C Ryan (Newtownshandrum), A Cussen (Ballinhassig); J Murphy (Blackrock), Catherine Murphy (Kinsale); R Murphy (Ballinora), Ciara Murphy (Éire Óg), A McAuliffe (Castlemartyr); A Mulkerrins (St Catherine’s), T Goulding (Ballincollig), M O’Brien (Enniskeane).

Subs: Ciara Kelleher (Cloughduv) for Catherine Murphy (19 inj), A Cottrell (Ballinhassig) for M O’Brien (ht), S Cronin (Valley Rovers) for T Goulding (40), S O'Driscoll (Kilworth) for A Mulkerrins (58), K O’Sullivan (Midleton) for C Kelleher (59).

Referee: Ray Kelly, Kildare.