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Antrim goalkeeper Catrina Graham on the ball at Croke Park. James Crombie/INPHO

Last year's beaten finalists Antrim clinch first All-Ireland intermediate crown with eight-point win

The Ulster side were the superior outfit against Kilkenny.

Antrim 2-21

Kilkenny 2-13

ANTRIM AVENGED FOR their defeat in last yearโ€™s decider by producing an emphatic display against Kilkenny to clinch their first All-Ireland intermediate camogie title.

By the full-time whistle, the Saffrons were eight points clear after an almost imperious effort, their goals coming from Maeve Kelly โ€” who ended the day with 1-5 from play โ€” and Catrine Dobbin.

Rรณisรญn McCormick left a major imprint on the game too, as she finished with a tally of nine points, including five frees.

For Kilkenny, their wait for a first intermediate title since 2016 stretches on for another year.

It was they who sprang from the traps in the early doors, coming out with a burst of quick scores to launch them into 0-4 to 0-1 lead after just five minutes. Everyone on the Kilkenny half-forward line registered a score in that stretch, including two points from Sarah Walsh.

Antrim did get the opening point of the day from the stick of Kelly, but the Ulster outfit struggled to match Kilkenny score-for-score in that opening period.

The Cats also created a goal opportunity in that sequence, but Danielle Quigleyโ€™s shot along the ground came back off the post and was followed by a mishit.

Antrim profited from that reprieve almost immediately as McCormick pointed from the puckout, with two more scores bringing the sides back level on 10 minutes.

Lucia McNaughton then edged Antrim ahead briefly before Quigley compensated for her missed goal opportunity with a pointed effort.

Antrim held a slender one-point lead at the first water break, and both sides traded scores to stay on level terms on the resumption.

But last yearโ€™s wounded finalists pounced to claim the advantage 21 minutes through a well-engineered goal. Kelly swept the ball low through the legs of Kilkenny goalkeeper Sinรฉad Farrell after racing inside through the Kilkenny defence and unleashing her shot from outside the post.

Eva Hynes and Sophie Oโ€™Dwyer responded with crucial points for Kilkenny to reduce the gap to one point but Antrim took over again and dominated the final strides of the first half, chalking up four points without reply to put them 1-11 to 0-9 ahead at the break.

On the restart, รine Magill and Kelly stretched Antrimโ€™s lead to seven points with two quick-fire points, while full-back Niamh Donnelly made a crucial intervention to prevent a goal chance.

Oโ€™Dwyer landed Kilkennyโ€™s first score since the 24th minute when she slotted her second free shortly after and popped up again moments later with a monstrous free from 65 metres out to leave them trailing 0-11 to 1-13.

sophie-odwyer-with-maria-lynn-and-chloe-drain Players battling for possession in the intermediate final. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Antrim were still a length ahead and Kilkenny saw another goal opportunity pass them by when Antrim keeper Catrina Graham produced an important save to keep her sheet clean.

But Oโ€™Dwyer went knocking again when she stood over a free in front of the posts, and blasted her shot past the Kilkenny players on the line to cut the gap to just four.

Antrim, however, had another heroic response in their locker. They replied with an impressive 1-4, including a brilliant team goal which included a string of sweet passes from substitute Anna Connolly and McCormick before Dobbin buried her attempt into the bottom corner.

From there, Antrim eased over the line with a slew of insurance points to clinch a historic first intermediate crown. A late consolation goal from Sarah Crowley was the final act of the day from Kilkenny.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Sarah Walsh [0-2], Eva Hynes [0-3], Ciara Oโ€™Keefe [0-1], Danielle Quigley [0-1], Sophie Oโ€™Dwyer [1-6, 4f]

Scorers for Antrim: Maeve Kelly [1-5], Rรณisรญn McCormick [0-9, 4f], Lucia McNaughton [0-1], Nicole Oโ€™Neill [0-3], Catrine Dobbin [1-2], รine Magill [0-1], Sarah Crowley [1-0]

Kilkenny

1. Sinรฉad Farrell [St Lachtain's]

2. Niamh Leahy [Emeralds], 3. R Phelan [Conahy], 4. Ciara Murphy [Tullaroan]

5. Sarah Crowley [Mooncoin], 6. Leann Fennelly [Mullinavat], 7. Tiffanie Fitzgerald [Young Irelands]

8. Laura Hegarty [Lisdowney], 9. Ciara Phelan [Dicksboro]

10. Eva Hynes [Thomastown], 11. Sarah Walsh [Thomastown], 12. Ciara Oโ€™Keeffe [Young Irelands]

13. Sophie Oโ€™Dwyer [James Stephens], 14. Hannah Scott [James Stephens], 15. Danielle Quigley [O'Loughlin Gaels]

Subs:
19. Jennifer Leahy [James Stephens] for Hegarty [35 mins]
18. Therese Donnelly [Thomastown] for Quigley [42 mins]
22. Sinรฉad Oโ€™Keefe [Thomastown] for Fitzgerald [45 mins]
20. Caoimhe Dowling [Dicksboro] for Scott [52 mins]
25. Rรณisรญn Oโ€™Keefe [Thomastown] for C Oโ€™Keefe [56 mins]

Antrim

1. Catrina Graham [Ahoghill]

2. Chloe Drain [Cรบchulainn Dhรบn Lรกthaรญ], 3. Niamh Donnelly [Mac Uillan Bhaile an Chaistil], 4. Maria Lynn [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol]

5. Colleen Patterson [Ruairi ร“g Chois Abhann Dalla], 6. Caoimhe Conlon [Cรบchulainn Dhรบn Lรกthaรญ], 7. Maeve Connolly [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol]

8. Lucia McNaughton [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol], 9. Nicole Oโ€™Neill [Cรบchulainn Dhรบn Lรกthaรญ]

10. Maeve Kelly [Mac Uillan Bhaile an Chaistil], 11. Amy Boyle [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol], 12. รine Magill [Cรบchulainn Dhรบn Lรกthaรญ]

13. Rรณisรญn McCormick [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol], 14. Christine Laverty [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol], 15. Catrine Dobbin [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol

Subs:
25. Anna Connolly [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol] for Laverty [37 mins]
17. Katie McAlesse [Portglenone] for Magill [50 mins]
18. Shauna Deviln [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol] for Patterson [59 mins]
24. Laoise McKenna [Bridini Oga] for Boyle [60 mins]
23. Katie McKillop [Seamrรณga Loch gCaol] for Connolly [60 mins].

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