Athenry outfit prove no match for defending champions in All-Ireland semi-final

Pres Athenry 1-8

By Eanna O’Reilly in Palmerstown

PRESENTATION COLLEGE, Athenry suffered a heavy defeat to defending champions Loreto Kilkenny in the All-Ireland PPS senior A camogie semi-final played at the Dicksboro GAA grounds in Palmerstown, Co. Kilkenny on Saturday. The Connacht champions produced plenty of endeavour but were simply second best to a highly impressive Loreto side.

The Kilkenny city school flew out of the blocks and had two points on the board from the stick of centre back Ona Kennedy after three minutes of play. Kennedy’s dead ball striking was an impressive feature of the game throughout, and she punished two early indiscretions from the Pres side to get the scoreboard ticking.

At the other end, Katelyn Walsh opened Pres Athenry’s account three minutes later, after a foul on Mollie Noone. The Athenry corner forward soon got on the scoresheet when a long delivery from Clodagh Burke found Noone, who sent over a neat point.

At 0-2 apiece, a close contest looked on the cards. However, Loreto completely took over for the remainder of the first half, scoring seven points without reply. Wing forward Holly Ryan tallied three excellent efforts from play, while Kennedy continued to show her dead ball prowess, landing three frees and a ’45 for the Kilkenny school.

The Connacht champions also had ‘keeper Ciara Doyle to thank after her save from Emma Hogan’s low shot on goal prevented the Kilkenny school taking an even bigger lead into the interval. Pres Athenry still had a mountain to climb as the sides retired for the half time break, trailing by 0-9 to 0-2 against a Loreto team which was in flying form.

The Galway school made a bright start to the second half when Clodagh Burke pointed a free from the left wing to reduce the margin. Kennedy replied at the other end for Loreto by sending over her seventh placed ball. Two minutes later, Walsh took a good score for Pres Athenry after breaking inside from the right corner.

Pres appeared to have a greater level of energy in the third quarter. However, Loreto soon got into their scoring rhythm, with three consecutive points turning the momentum back in their favour. Corner forward Leah O’Donovan had a shot saved by Doyle at the expense of a ’45, which was converted by Kennedy.

The Loreto centre back was unerring from placed balls and pointed another free three minutes later. Midfielder Eleanor Doheny then got on the scoresheet, with a well taking point coming after a good crossfield ball from O’Donovan.

Chasing a 0-13 to 0-5 deficit, Pres Athenry badly needed scores. Burke soon sent over her second free of the game, producing an impressive strike from 50 yards. However, Loreto pushed on again, with points from Hogan and full forward Lucy Boyd extending the Kilkenny school’s advantage to ten midway through the second half.

Pictured: Pres Athenry's Sinéad Feeney who battled hard in their All-Ireland Post Primary Schools semi-final loss to Loreto of Kilkenny.