Two first half goals gave Kilkenny the initiative which they never lost in the final. In the 17th minute
Angela Downey's high cross from the left was touched on by Carmel Savage to Jo Dunne who availed of a defensive mistake to score. Angela came racing back to point and then sent a close free through the crowded goalmouth to the net to put Kilkenny two goals clear.
Pádraig Puirséil, husband of
Camogie Association president
Úna Uí Phuirséil/Agnes Hourigan, wrote in the
Irish Press:
Angela Downey was the outstanding player on the field, but she got plenty of help from the other forwards Carmel Savage, Jo Dunne and Mary Purcell. Though she started at left forward, Angela switched to the right for the entire second half. Kilkenny excelled yesterday not only in their strength in the really vital positions but in the all-round efficiency of the entire side. Wexford, with the north-easterly breeze behind them, looked by far the livelier side at the start but, though they more or less dominated the outfield exchanges through the opening 15 minutes, they made surprisingly little impression on a Kilkenny defence in which
Liz Neary at full back and Mary Canavany soaked up so much pressure that goal-keeper Teresa O'Neill was rarely in trouble. The sisters Brigit Doyle and Kit Codd tried all they knew to turn the tide, as did the Walshs and Mairéad Darcy but, on the day, Wexford just had not what it took to recapture an All-Ireland title from a well-balanced Kilkenny side, which has now won the title three times in the past four seasons and thus joins Wexford on camogie's Roll of Honour.
Final stages ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
MATCH RULES • 50 minutes • Replay if scores level • Maximum of 3 substitutions ==See also==