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Kilkenny win Leinster camogie title after planned protest

Kilkenny were crowned Leinster camogie champions after getting the better of Wexford at Netwatch Dr Cullen Park in Carlow in a game that saw a protest by the players from both teams over the ongoing skorts controversy.

The Cats ran out 0-20 to 1-06 winners with a convincing response to an early second-half fightback from the Yellowbellies

The two sides initially came onto the field wearing shorts.

However, the match referee informed the respective captins, Laura Dempsey of Wexford and Katie Power of Kilkenny, that under the rules, skorts must be worn by the players.

The two teams agreed to abide by the referee's request, and they returned to their dressing rooms to change.

The match got under way with both sides in skorts.

Last weekend's Munster final was deferred with less than 24 hours' notice due to Cork and Waterford's determination to wear shorts - risking the cancellation of the fixture.

In an attempt to resolve the controversy, the Camogie Association has called the special congress, where a motion on the rule forcing players to wear skorts (shorts with a panel of fabric to give them the appearance of a skirt) will be put to a vote.

It was an attempt to wear shorts by the Kilkenny and Dublin teams before the Leinster semi-final on 3 May that sparked the current controversy.

On the pitch a strong start and finish paved the way for Kilkenny's victory.

By the time Joanne Dillon opened Wexford's account with a free in the 22nd minute, the Cats had 11 points on the board with Laura McCarthy, Aoife Prendergast and Asha McHardy to the fore.

The Cats retired at the break with a healthy 0-11 to 0-02 lead.

The Yellowbellies came out a side transformed hitting 1-03 without reply to storm back into the contest.

A Dillon goal was sandwiched between scores from play from Chloe Cashe and Linda Bolger, with Dillon also proving accurate from placed balls.

From there however it was one-way traffic as Wexford could only add one more point over the final 20 minutes as Kilkenny eased through the gears as Murphy finished with 0-08 to her name.

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