Lismore and Newmarket-on-Fergus to do it all over again to find Munster Champions

Lismore and Newmarket-on-Fergus have to travel to Latten-Cullen in Co Tipperary for the second time in a week on Saturday afternoon as the two sides will have to do it all over again to see which will be Munster Intermediate Camogie Champions for 2013 after the two sides drew 2-10 to 2-10 after extra time in last Saturday’s original fixture.

Weather Conditions last Saturday were far from ideal for a classic to be fought out but credit to both sides, despite the fact the senior Munster Final was played on the field prior to the game, both sides gave it their all and in the end, the draw was possibly the fairer result, but in saying that, the Co Clare side did have a chance in the closing seconds of normal time to snatch victory, but a free fell short and the Lismore defence were able to clear the danger.

Newmarket-on-Fergus last weekend were possibly the slightly more dominant team which will mean that they will go into this weekend’s replay as the slightest of favourites, but this is something that will not deter the side from the banks of the Blackwater from the task they face this weekend.

Last weekend, the Clare side had the better of the starts. Jenny Kelly had the sliotar in the Lismore net with just three minutes on the clock.

Áine O’Brien put over a free for Newmarket-on-Fergus two minutes later, but Lismore cancelled it out when Aoife Hannon pointed shortly afterwards.

Newmarket-on-Fergus went five points up when Ruth Kaiser and Deirdre Cassidy landed points for the Clare Champions with fifteen minutes played, suggesting that the signs were not looking good for Lismore.

Any fears for Lismore however were not to be fulfilled, as they came storming back. Caithriona McGlone hit 1-1, the goal coming from a delightful pass from Johanna Houlihan and Aoife Hannon back in the team after picking up an injury in Lismore’s semi final win over Carrigaline hit 0-1 meaning at the end of the first half the sides were locked together at 1-3 a piece.

Newmarket-on-Fergus has they had in the first half began the brighter of the two sides.

Top scorer for the Clare champions on the day Áine O’Brien landed a brace of frees and Carol Kaiser hit a second goal for the East Clare side to give them a five point lead.

However, Lismore again refused to throw in the towel, as an Aoife Hannon point helped cut the Clare side’s lead.

Deirdre Cassidy pointed again for the Clare Champions with the game on forty minutes, but Lismore were to finish the game the stronger of the two sides. Points from Aoife Hannon and Shona Curran, both from frees, helped real in Newmarket-on-Fergus’ lead to a more manageable margin.

The game’s most crucial score of the game came mid way through the second half when Lismore’s pocket-rocket Ruth Geoghegan smashed to the net to level matters.

Points from Áine O’Brien and Jenny Kelly helped Newmarket-on-Fergus go two points back in front, a dangerous lead in any game, but two points from inter county player Nicola Morrissey followed to send the game to extra time.

In such condition’s extra time was always going to be taxing on the players from both sides, and more over on a pitch that was getting heavier with each passing minute with a game played on it earlier in the day.

Lismore began the first extra ten minutes the better of the two sides. They took the lead for the first time in the game when Nicola Morrissey put over a point in the opening minutes and moments later, that lead was extended when Caitriona McGlone had the umpires reaching for a white flag.

However, prior to the second half time whistle of the game been shaded, Áine O’Brien cut the Lismore lead to one and the sides were drawn level again when Ruth Kaiser put the ball over the Lismore crossbar.

In the second half with conditions getting worse, and with the players on the two sides getting tired, it was no surprise that neither side registered any further scores meaning the sides have to do it all over again this weekend.

After last weekend’s nail-biting battle, the two sides will have to return to the Mid-Tipperary venue on Saturday for a 2-30pm thrown in.

Lismore will know that they did not play to their maximum last weekend and will be hoping that the same does not happen this week.

They had their chances to win last weekend but were somewhat lucky in the end to get a second bite of the apple.

The Lismore girls will not need telling that indiscipline got to them last weekend, as they conceded in the region of twenty frees over the course of the eighty minutes played, but thankfully from a Lismore perspective only a quarter of them resulted in scores.

Last weekend, Aimee McInerney, Aoife Griffin, Niki Kaiser as well as Áine O’Brien proved to be Newmarket-on-Fergus’ best players and they will be looking for more of the same from them this weekend.

For Lismore, Sarah Coughlan, Caitriona McGlone, Aoife Hannon, Shone Curran as well as Shona and Sandra Prendergast proved to be amongst their best players on the day and will be looking for a repeat performance this weekend.

This will be the fourth clash between the two sides in recent years. To date, Lismore have two wins and a draw. No doubt they would like to keep that unbeaten run alive this weekend. Extra time again will happen if the sides are inseparable after an hour of action.

Lismore: Aisling O Brien; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Sandra Prendergast; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Marie Russell; Shona Curran, Laura Buckley; Sinead Walsh, Nicola Morrissey, Aoife Hannon; Ruth Geoghegan, Caithriona McGlone, Johanna Houlihan. Subs: Sarah Fenton for Laura Buckley (15 mins), Sinead Bennett for Sinead Walsh (45 mins), Jennifer Kingston for Ruth Geoghegan (54 mins), Ruth Geoghegan for Jennifer Kingston (62 mins), Sarah Geoghegan for Sandra Prendergast (66 mins), Grainne Kennelly for Johanna Houlihan (74mins)

Scorers: Caitriona McGlone 1-2, Aoife Hannon 0-4 (frees), Ruth Geoghegan 1-0, Nicola Morrissey 0-3, Shona Curran 0-1.

Newmarket on Fergus: Erica Minogue; Jane O Leary, Laura McMahon, Aoife Griffin; Aimee McInerney, Roisin McMahon, Carol O’Leary; Ruth Kaiser, Aine O Brien; Deirdre Cassidy, Niki Kaiser, Joanne Walsh; Ann Marie Hayes, Jenny Kelly, Carol Kaiser. Subs: Sharon McMahon for Jenny Hayes (55 minutes), Aislinn Keogh for Jane O Leary (76 mins), Ann Marie Hayes for Carol Kaiser (78 mins).

Scorers: Áine O’Brien 0-5 (frees), Jenny Kelly 1-1, Carol Kaiser 1-0, Ruth Kaiser, Deirdre Cassidy 0-2 each.  

Referee: Ger O Dowd (Limerick)