Goals win games and that was certainly the case in this encounter as although the Cats failed to score in a 22-minute spell in the opening half, they did enough on the restart to take a historic success.

Kilkenny made a blistering start to this game and led by 2-2 to 0-2 after just eight minutes after both full-back Sara McCarthy and half-forward Lynda Phelan had both found the back of the London net.

McCarthy's goal came following the opening point from Miriam O'Keefe after just 10 seconds. The defender sent a penalty kick to the net after a foul on Kelly Anne Cottrell by London centre-back Anne Murphy.

The Cats were all over London in those opening minutes and a fist pass from Miriam O'Keefe placed the unmarked Lydia Phelan in for the second goal in the eighth minute.

Kilkenny were reduced to 14 players following a sin-binning for full-forward Marie Dargan late in the first half and the Exiles capitalised on the restart with an opportunist goal from corner forward Shauna Keogh which she quickly followed up with a pointed free.

These scores ensured that London were now in front for the first time as they held a 2-4 to 2-2 advantage with six minutes gone in the second half.

Kilkenny badly needed a score at this stage as they had not scored since the eighth minute of the opening half with two Kelly Anne Cottrell pointed frees ensuring the sides were level for the first time at 2-4 apiece.

The Cats pressed hard in attack over the next 10 minutes and were eventually awarded with a goal as first half substitute Orla McCormack somehow got her effort past a crowded defence and into the goal.

This gave Kilkenny a lead they would not relinquish and they would have firmly sealed victory late on but for a Kelly Anne Cottrell open goal miss.

KILKENNY: N Curran; A Murphy, S McCarthy (1-0 pen), N Whelan; L Fennelly, A Purcell, C Grace; B Roche, A Kenneally; N O'Keefe, M O'Keefe (0-1), L Phelan (1-0); KA Cottrell (0-2, 2f), M Dargan (0-2, 1f), H Murphy.

Subs used: O McCormack (1-0) for Fennelly (25 mins), L Gahan for Kenneally (59). Sinbin: Marie Dargan (29-39)

LONDON: S Murphy; D Cassidy, S Daly, R McEvoy; L Tighe, A Murphy, B White; N O Connor (0-1), H Noonan (0-1); A McGillicuddy, S Byrne, N Lee; S Keogh (1-3, 2f), S Lynch (1-0), L McDonagh.

Subs used: AM Mohan for White (39 mins), C McNicholas for McDonagh (44), C Towey for Murphy (49).

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).