Galway minor camogie team were heavily defeated by a 12 point margin in Nowlan Park on Saturday , July 16 th, by a stronger Kilkenny side. Fielding four of last years winning Minor side, Galway were first to hit the target after 30 seconds as full forward Noreen Coen pointed from a Niamh Kilkenny delivery. Kilkenny were quick to reply with 3 unanswered points, the 1 st from Captain Lucinda Gahan and two from star forward Maire Dargan. Galways defence were under severe pressure as Kilkenny dominated in the middle of the park, and they did well to contain this early Kilkenny dominance. In seven minutes Noreen Coen tapped over her second, before Galways first goal was struck for the youngster Tara Rutledge. It was Coen again who did much of the spadework, winning possession from the puck out leaving Tara to finish a rasping groung shot to the net. Galways lead was shortlived however with Kilkennys half forward line in top form as Michelle Quilty pointed. Seconds laters a ling delivery deceived the galway keeper as the high bouncing ball went straight to the net. Galway did reply almost immediately with a pointed 45 by CArnmores Lorainne Crowe, however it was only a metter of time before Kilkenny increased their margin. Four unanswered scores from Kilkenny 1-03 in total gave them a seven point advantage, before Galway made their 1 st substitution, introducing Michelle Glynn at midfield for Heather Cooney.

Coen, Kilkenny and Rutledge were the most threatening upfront for Galway and Jessica Gil pointed a Rutledge won free, before Noreen Coen finished a fine individual point on the end of a Lorraine Ryan delivery. Centre back Gil added a further point to leave galway four points adrift, as half time approached. However it was Kilkenny who upped the ante before the half time whistle with 1-2 in the final minutes for the half. Their first goal came just before the half time whistle, similarly to their 1 st, a bouncing ball deceiving the galway defence. Nine points adrift, Galway had a huge task for the second half. Galway Management made numerous positional changes in the second period of play, Centre forward Niamh Kilkenny reverting to wing back and introducing Maeve Carr, Louise Larkin Laura Gaynor and Maria Maher over the hour. However their efforts were unyielding as Kilkennys dominance continued. Maire Dargan added a brace of points at the start of the 2 nd half, before Gil and Crowe pointed one each for Galway, and on 10 minutes Centre Back Jessica Gil struck and excellent free to rattle Kilkennys net for the second time. Kilkenny instantly replied with fantastic team play and Maire Dargan yet again, finishing 1-01 for the Cats. Galway did manage a consolation goal in 20 minutes by Lorraine Crowe, however Kilkenny never faultered with a further 1-02 to leave Galway 3-08 Kilkenny 5-14.

The star of the hour was most certainly wing forward Maire Dargan from Kilkenny with a tally of 1-6. For Galways part, the girls battled hard, none moreso that Mullaghs Aisling Hobbins, Pearses Niamh Kilkenny and Athenrys Noreen Coen, while Lorraine Ryan and Stacey Coen worked tirelessly for the hour. Many of this young Minor team will have another year if not two to compete at this level, and no doubt the experience of the encounter will stand to all.