COOLKENNO BOW OUT Wicklow side lose to a strong Kilkenny City outfit

at Shillelagh and Jane Cass in the Kilkenny City midfield and a really threatening full-forward line that included the very talented Ciara Delaney at full-forward.

Shauna Bermingham put in a massive shift for Coolkenno and kept the Wicklow champions in the game at the end of the first half with a collection of good saves and catches and clearances.

Elaine Keogh tried really hard as did all the Coolkenno women but it was just an assignment beyond them on the day and once the first goal went in from Ciara Delaney the writing was on the wall unfortunately.

Credit to the Coolkenno management they tried various moves and switches but Delaney popped up for her second goal 10 minutes into the second half and it was curtains.

Coolkenno did win a penalty shortly after that strike and had it been converted it may have given the Wicklow side a boost but they were never going to claw back the 2-07 to 0-00 deficit.

Bethany Sharpe fired over their opening score after 13 minutes of the opening period and Rebecca Bowes added their second and final point while Kilkenny City moved up through the gears and finished out strong winners in the end.

Hard luck to the Coolkenno side. A Wicklow championship is a great achievement for 2016 and with the talent and youth in their side they will reach many more summits over the years.

COOLKENNO: Shauna Bermingham; Niamh Harris, Racheal Hickey, Ciara Nolan; Anna Doyle, Daisy Sharpe, Nadine Nolan; Hanna Byrne, Elaine Keogh; Amey Bermingham, Jo Doyle (capt), Bethany Sharpe; Rebecca Bowes, Margaret Byrne, Anna Nolan. Subs: Siobhra Flynn, Katie Doyle, Sarah O’Neill, Mayghan Doyle, Saoirse Byrne.

KILKENNY CITY: Laura Tynan; Mary Beamish, Lauren Valentine, Saoirse Comerford Liston; Kate Dempsey, Hannah Scott, Emily McCarthy; Aobha O’Gorman, Jane Cass; Sarah Smith, Jenny O’Keeffe, Roisin Treacy; Caoilfhionn Ní Hargáin, Ciara Delaney, Alison O’Keeffe.