Kilkenny secure the West County Cup

By Daragh Ó Conchúir Kilkenny 3-5 London 2-5

Kilkenny secured the West County Cup for the first time in their
history when withstanding a valiant London challenge in the TG4
ladies JFC final. Two goals inside the opening seven minutes courtesy
of full-back Sarah McCarthy’s penalty and a well-struck Lydia
Phelan shot sent the Kittens on their way. London fought back
to actually gain the lead thanks to goals from Sharon Lynch and
Shauna Keogh either side of the interval, but Kilkenny, with captain
Caitriona Grace leading by example, responded in style. 17-year-old
camogie starlet Marie Dargan returned from the sin bin to send
Orla McCormack in the clear mid-way through the second half and
the super sub, who had looked extremely dangerous since her introduction,
unleashed a shot that was too powerful for Sharon Murphy to keep
out.

Dargan followed up with a pointed free from distance and though
the industrious Kelly Ann Cottrell missed an open goal and Natalie
O’Connor reduced the deficit to three points late on, time ran
out on the gallant Exiles.

Scorers – Kilkenny: S McCarthy (pen), L Phelan 1-0 each; M O’Keeffe,
M Dargan (1f) 0-2 each; KA Cotterall 0-1(f)

London: S Keogh 1-3 (0-2fs); S Lynch 1-0; L McDonagh, N O’Connor
0-1 each

Kilkenny: N Curran; A Murphy, S McCarthy, N Whelan; L Fennelly,
A Purcell, C Grace; B Roche, A Kenneally; N O’Keeffe, M O’Keeffe,
L Phelan; KA Cottrell, M Dargan, H Murphy. Subs: O McCormack for
A Murphy (24); L Gahan for Kenneally (56).

London: S Murphy; D Cassidy, S Daly, R McEvoy; L Tighe, A Murphy,
B White; N O’Connor, H Noonan; A McGillicuddy, S Byrne, N Lee;
S Keogh, S Lynch, L McDonagh. Subs: AM Mohan for White (39), C
McNicholas for McDonagh (45); C Towey for A Murphy (48).

Referee: M Farrelly (Cavan).