Senior Championship
Tubber GAA: St Josephs 1-6 Newmarket on Fergus 2-18
A determined Newmarket side overcame St Josephs Doora Barefield in Round 4 of the Senior Camogie Championship on Friday evening under lights in Tubber.
It was St Josephs who had the better start with three unanswered points from placed balls all coming from the sharp shooting Aisling McMahon in the first 6 minutes.
This sparked something in Newmarket who got to the pitch of the game and through Zoe McInerney, Annemarie Hayes and Niki Kaiser had levelled the score on the 10 minute mark.
A brilliant Hannah Doyle point pushed St Josephs ahead again after 12 minutes but Róisín McMahon levelled it again in the next sequence of play.
A Zoe McInerney free saw Newmarket ahead by the minimum at the 1st water break 0.05 to 0.04
Newmarket kept St Josephs scoreless in the second quarter through great defending by Aoife Crimmins and Áine O Brien while Niki Kaiser and Zoe McInerney kept the scoreboard ticking over at the other end.
The ever reliable and hardworking Anne Marie (tiny) Hayes goaled after 22 minutes and ultimately this score is what set Newmarket up and pushed them on.
The scoreboard read 1.10 to 0.04 at halftime however this didn’t reflect the efforts and work rate of St Josephs who constantly piled pressure on the Newmarket defence.
Newmarket added a further 1-8 to their tally in the second half while the very dominant Aisling McMahon added 1-2 to St Josephs tally.
A very entertaining game played in great spirit saw Newmarket come out on top on a scoreline of 2-18 to 1-6. St Josephs had very impressive displays from Aisling McMahon, Síofra Ní Chonaill, Hannah Doyle and Sinead O Connor.
While the McMahon sisters Róisín and Laura and Anne-Marie Hayes impressed for Newmarket.
Newmarket now rely on other results going their way as their only hope of qualifying for the cup semi final, having been defeated by Kilkishen-Bodyke and Scariff Ogonnelloe in previous rounds.
Fr McNamara Park: Kilmaley 2-10 Kilkishen/Bodyke 2-13
Shauna Doyle and Kate O’Gorman split the posts in the opening couple of minutes of this epic encounter, Kilmaley on the attack secured a few scores and Kate O’Gorman split the posts just before the water break to level the sides 3 points apiece. Siobhan Lenihans lay off to Kate O’Gorman assisted in another point on the board. Caoimhe Kelly also raising her own flag from a throw in that she took control off putting them 2 points ahead… Caoimhe Cahill added 2 points to her sides tally. Siobhan Lenihan converting from a placed ball minimised the tally. Kilmaley with a brace of shots on goal and saved on 3 occasions by an ever-defiant Edel McNamara before the first green flag was eventually raised. With Kilmaley 2 points ahead, sisters working their magic and a mighty pass from Niamh to Kate saw Kilkishen/Bodyke raise their first green of the afternoon putting them ahead by a margin at half time, 1-06 to 1-05.
A placed ball for Kilmaley in the opening minute of the 2nd half to level the game. points from Leah Minogue, Kate Lynch and siobhan Lenihan all helped keep Kilkishen/Bodyke well in the game, while another pass from Niamh to Kate saw Kate raise her second green for her side with a rasper to the top right corner of the net putting them 5 points ahead 2-10 to 1-08 at the second sos uisce.
With a much-needed win for Kilkishen/Bodyke and determined to succeed a work rate throughout the field is one to be proud of. Kilmaleys 2nd goal came in the 40min when a free dropped short and a scuffle ensued. with 2 minutes of normal time left Aoife Ryan pointing and putting 3 between the sides. Kilmaley needing a goal to level matters and a free in again saw McNamara deny Kilmaley the chance batting out a dropping ball for a 45. Nerves on the line and Kilkishen/Bodykes backs working strong denied Kilmaley a draw and winning out on a scoreline 2-13 to 2-10
Intermediate Championship
Clarecastle GAA: Clarecastle/Ballyea 0-10 Clooney Quin 1-12
In the fourth round of the Intermediate Championship, Clooney-Quin were the visitors to Clarecastle on Saturday evening.
This was a very competitive and hard fought game with little between the sides throughout the game, with most scores coming from frees in the first half.
The home side were first to score with a pointed free one minute into the game from Doireann Murphy. Clooney/Quin scored three unanswered points with Emma Considine on target with her free taking. Clarecastle/Ballyea replied with the next two points from play from Murphy and Amie Wiley. A second pointed free from Doireann Murphy, gave her side a one-point advantage at the first water.
In the 17th minute Clooney-Quins Orla Duggan levelled sides with a pointed free, which was followed by a point from play from Marie Halpin. It was a tightly contested first half with both sides exchanging points leaving the narrowest of margins at the break 0-7 to 0-6 in favour of Clooney-Quin.
Clooney-Quin started the second half with two points from play from Emily Costelloe and Orla Duggan. The homeside replied with a pointed free from Doireann Murphy and a point from play from Lily McMahon. As both sides fought hard for every ball, the visitors added a point from play from Deirdre Murphy, while at the other end Murphy scored a point from play leaving a point between the sides at the second water break.
In the final quarter Clarecastle/Ballyea added a point from play from Doireann Murphy which was to be the final score for her side as Clooney-Quin got the upper hand adding a point from Marie Halpin.
In the 28th minute the winners scored a goal, which was followed by a point from Orla Duggan to give her side a five-point winning margin.
Others to impress for the winners were Ciara Grogan, Emer Hynes and Emma Deegan, while Clarecastle/Ballyea had strong performances from Lauren Tuohy, Ria Flanagan, Chloe Devitt and Hannah Dinan.
Eire Og GAA: Eire Og 0-9 Tulla 1-15
Tulla got the better of hosts, Éire Óg on Saturday afternoon when they travelled to Clonroadmore for round 4 of the Intermediate camogie championship. Both sides went into this tie knowing that a win was essential to keep their championship hopes alive. The match was played in heavy underfoot conditions and in unseasonal heat with the mercury hitting 19 degrees.
Éire Óg were first on the scoreboard as Elizabeth Russell sent a placed ball straight over the bar, but Tullas’ Bridin Dinan replied in kind and the visitors took a slender lead with a further point from play by Sinead Conlon. Russell and Dinan exchanged frees once again with Dinan adding another before Ciara Goland raised a white flag from play. A super point from Maria Redmond brought the Townies to within two points at the first waterbreak.
Éire Óg levelled matters at the start of the second quarter with a pointed ’45 from Grainne Nolan and a point from play by Roisin Martin. Excellent defending from Tulla ensured that an Elizabeth Russell shot on goal hit the side netting. Tulla drove the ball back up the pitch and Sinead Conlon turned the tide in favour of Tulla as she raised the only green flag of the evening. This momentum gave Tulla the upperhand and with Bridin Dinan keeping the scoreboard ticking over from placed balls, they outscored their hosts by 3 points to 2 in the last minutes of the first half giving them a 1-08 to 7 point lead at the break.
The third quarter was an even enough affair with Nolan and Elizabeth Russell notching up points for Éire Óg while Tulla put three over the bar. Excellent defending from Aine Dinan and Gillian Ryan meant that Tulla held Éire Óg scoreless in the final quarter, scoring 4 points themselves to run out winners on a scoreline of 1-15 to 9 points
Corofin GAA: Corofin 0-9 Whitegate 3-12
Whitegate travelled to Corofin for round 4 Round of the Intermediate Championship where they emerged victorious on a score line of 3-12 to 0-9. Whitegate were first on the attack and won the ball from the throw in. The sliothar was quickly driven up the field and snatched by Greta Hickey who put it over the bar to get the opening score of the match. Corofin with a quick response got a point of their own also coming from play. Before the first water break Corofin added a further 2 points to their tally both coming from frees. Meanwhile Aideen Hickey split the Corofin post to build on Whitegate’s score. Aideen Hickey was fouled a short time later and this gave Susan Fahy the chance to add another point to Whitegate’s tally which she did when she converted the free. Soon after Fahy herself was fouled when there was a scramble in the corner for the siothar. Susan tapped the placed ball over the bar. Whitegate led by the minimum of a point at the first water break. After the waterbreak Corofin converted 2 frees to bring their score up to 0-5 points at half time. Whitegate piled on the pressure and added a further 1-03 to their tally. The first point coming from Aideen Hickey from play. The puckout was won by Susan Fahy who hit a shot that seemed destined for the Corofin net but the Corofin goal keeper stopped the ball, only to the waiting Greta Hickey who quickly batted it into the back of the Corofin net and raised the first green flag of the match. Greta Hickey added another point to the Whitegate scoresheet when she quickly caught the ball from the puck out and hit it right back towards the Corofin goals and over the bar. The next point for Whitegate came from the hurley of Susan Fahy with another converted free following a foul on Lisa Donoghue. Whitegate were well served by Leana Spazzi in mid field who mopped up ball after ball. Caitriona Apsel had a great game at centre back and cleared the sliothar on numerous occasions and prevented it from entering the danger zone. The score at half time was Whitegate 1-07 to Corofin 0-8. In the second half Corofin only added 4 further point to their final score line, 2 from frees and 2 from play. Corofin were unlucky not to finish with a goal, but it was blocked by the very sharp Whitegate goalie Lauren Solan. Meanwhile minutes later at the other end there was a number of girls in around the square fighting for the ball and from the cluster it was hit towards the net and finished nicely by Ali Hynes for Whitegates 2nd goal. The puckout was again gathered by Susan Fahy who laid it off to Amber Nolan and she scored a point and added her name to the scoresheet. The next trio of points for Whitegate came from Fahy, 2 from play and 1 converted free. In the last quarter Whitegate added another point to their already impressive scoresheet following a foul on Amber Nolan and a converted free. The last score of the game came in the dying seconds of the game from Aideen Hickey following a lovely lay off from Greta Hickey. Aideen having already picked up an earlier injury went on to score Whitegates 3rd goal and in doing so was brought to the ground but still somehow managed to find the back of the Corofin net. Seconds later the final whistle blew and it was Whitegate that emerged the well deserving winners on the day.
Junior A Championship
Ruan GAA: Ruan/Crusheen 8-8 Kilkishen/Bodyke 1-5
Home advantage and a partisan crowd helped Ruan/Crusheen reach the final whistle ahead on the scoreboard and secure another home win. The visitors responded well to early points from local centre forward Lauren O’Donoghue, with a goal and also raised the white flag on 4 occasions before the water break. The home team countered and lifted their performance as Kilkishen/Bodyke looked hungry for more. Matching the 5 scoring opportunities, Ruan/Chrusheen netted twice from Eve O’Connor and Claire McDonnell with the full forward also pointing.
In goal for the visitors, Joanne O’Gorman denied Louise McDonnell with great skill and speed, however, the pressure kept coming and with 2-1 to 0-1 added by the half time break the advantage was turning to the home team.
It takes a panel of players to perform in the modern game and with 25 on the team sheet, Ruan/Crusheen had the benefit in this area. Sarah O’Donoghue with a point and her sister Amy with 2-1 stretched out the lead in the championship quarter. A brace of goals from Eve O’Connor, and more scores from Aoife Anderson, Lauren O’Donoghue and Kate Forde, put the Yellow and Blue firmly ahead.
Great credit goes to the back seven starting with Alice Casey between the posts. Restricting an attacking team the likes of Kilkishen/Bodkye to 8 scores over the 60 mins, shows the work rate and unity of jerseys 1 to 7. Captain O’Loughlin at #3 was immense with a magnetic catching hand and great positioning. How many times Rebecca Crowe stopped an attack this author could not say, but no doubt the strength, skill and teamwork of her wings and backs, Aimee McDonagh, Hannah King, Siofra Ni Lachtnain and Saoirse McNamara lifted her and the entire team to keep the opposition tally low.
A goal and a point by Kilkishen/Bodyke in Q4 was reward nonetheless for their own work and perhaps with a full strength squad the scoreboard would have been closer. A flurry of final points from the home team including one from centre Aoife Stankard, closed out the Round 4 game with the smiling supporters telling us all we needed to know.
Inagh GAA: Inagh Kilnamona 3-10 Scariff Ogonnelloe 2-3
Junior B Championship Semi Finals:
Clooney GAA: Clooney Quin 0-10 Parteen 1-8
