More heartbreak for Cats as brave Kilkenny lose third All-Ireland final in a row

By COLIN BARTLEY

KILKENNY fell to a six-point loss in today’s All-Ireland Camogie final, consigning the Cats to their third final loss in a row.

The Cats can have no real complaints, having been behind all game and by as much as seven points at times. Galway seemed to get their match-ups better than Kilkenny and ultimately negated some of the Cats big game players for long periods.

The Cats fell behind early to three first half Galway goals, two from Ailish O’Reilly, and never quite clawed their way back into the game.

With ten minutes to go the Kilkenny girls cut the half-time deficit of seven-points back to just two, but this seemed to light a fire in the Galway girls, especially the excellent Niamh Kilkenny who at times was unplayable.

Galway kept their composure best and stretched out to a six-point led into injury time, and that was the margin of victory. The Cats shot five wides in the closing minutes.

The Kilkenny girls gave it their all and could give no more, but unfortunately fell to their third All-Ireland final defeat in a row.

The game in Croke Park was watched by a record-breaking crowd for a camogie final of 24,730.