First Half Goals Powers Butlerstown to U16 C County Title

 

Butlerstown 7-8 Clonea 1-2

The first of three camogie finals on Saturday saw De La Salle Cleaboy play host to the meeting of Butlerstown and Clonea in the U16 C final. In a dominant display Butlerstown came out on top in a game that saw early goals to see put them in the driving seat from start to finish.

Within the first minute Butlerstown had their first green flag raised through the hurl of centre forward Ann O Toole who pulled on the ground to strike to the net.  This was swiftly followed by a sweetly struck point from midfielder Niamh Sauvage. Katelyn Lyons got on the score sheet too with her first point of the day out on the right hand side. Butlerstown gave Clonea no time to settle with their second goal coming through a deflection with full forward Ella Phelan getting the final touch.  The ever dangerous Katelyn Lyons followed up with her second point of the day.  Ella Phelan got her second goal minutes later.  The strong Niamh Sauvage continued to drive ball forward and she followed up with her second point of the day.  Sarah Power got in on the action with a fine point of her own. Clonea battled hard and with great spirit but the Butlerstown start was simply unstoppable. Katelyn Lyons bagged a goal of her own with that being the last score of a whirl wind start to the game with the water break coming, the scores 4-05 to no score.  Clonea had to come out and battle hard to get back into the game. The second quarter of the game was a lot more balanced with Clonea’s Sarah Sullivan Alannah Walsh & Grainne Power clearing ball while in midfield Ella Cotter got on more ball.  The danger player for Clonea in Kaci Brazil began to get on more ball at centre forward with driving runs.  Niamh Sauvage popped a free over to increase the Butlerstown lead before Kaci Brazil converted a free of her own to get Clonea on the scoreboard.  Two more goals from Butlerstown through Molly Kearney & Ella Phelan left the Butlerstown firmly in control. Ella Phelan bagging a hat-trick of goals. The scores at half time 6-06 to 0-01.

The second half began with neither team finding rhythm with Clonea beginning to impose themselves further in the game. It was through the stick of Niamh Sauvage where we saw our first point of the second half with the joint captain dominating the midfield battles along with Amy Kehoe. Ella Phelan bagged her fourth goal of the game when hand passing to the net. The strong running of half back Amy Lowe stood out throughout with the Butlerstown backline almost impenetrable.  That however did not last long with Clonea foraging forward to attack the Butlerstown goal. A lobbed in free by Kaci Brazil saw a ruck form with a Clonea player pushed to the ground in the square to be awarded a penalty.  Up stepped Kaci Brazil who crashed the ball to the net leaving the score 6-07 to 1-01. After that, Clonea introduced the lively Aine Power who added more impetus and threat to the Clonea forward line.  Thereafter Clonea found a purple patch where they continuously threatened the Butlerstown goal.  Kaci Brazil scoring Clonea’s second point from a placed ball.  They continued to threaten with two more shots in succession just tailing wide for the team in green and white.  Butlerstown broke up the field with Katie Power getting the final score of the game.  Clonea finished the game strongly with shots coming from Aine Power, Kaci Brazil and Ava Connolly but they just couldn’t get them on target.  It was to be Butlerstown’s day with the early blitz of goals making the game irretrievable for Clonea who to their credit never gave in and battled strongly to the end with this young Clonea panel returning next year with all of them U16 again.  The final score Butlerstown 7-08 Clonea 1-02.  Butlerstown are U16 C Champions and were captained by full back Kaela Phelan and midfielder Niamh Sauvage.  

Butlerstown: Mya O Connor; Charlotte Balfe, Kaela Phelan, Ruby O Neill; Amy Lowe, Jill Murray, Hannah Godkin; Amy Kehoe, Niamh Sauvage; Sarah Power, Ann O’Toole, Katie Power; Katelyn Lyons, Ella Phelan, Molly Kearney.

Subs: Robyn Murphy, Alexa Cooke, Sophie Payne, Lucy Molloy, Emma Delaney, Rebecca Farrell, Heather Cheasty, Libby O Connor.

Scorers: Ella Phelan 4-0, Katelyn Lyons 1-2, Niamh Sauvage 0-4 (1f), Ann O’Toole, Molly Kearney 1-0 each, Sarah Power, Katie Power 0-1 each.

Clonea: Lillie Holloway; Aisling Galvin, Sarah Sullivan, Ellen Drohan; Grainne Power, Ellen Bolger, Alannah Walsh; Ella Cotter, Elizabeth Kirwan; Eabha Quinn, Kaci Brazil (1-02 Pen & Frees), Abbie Cotter; Ava Connolly, Bridget Kennedy, Aoife Lenihan.

Subs: Sarah Keane, Lisa Dunwoody, Aine Power, Rebecca Murray, Lilly Grace, Elly Hyland, Erin Fitzpatrick, Croiadh De Paor.

Scorers: Kaci Brazil 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2f)

Referee: Kieran O’Toole (Naomh Pól)

*Report with thanks from Waterford Camogie County Board.