Portlaw Take Title After A Replay

 

After two hours of nail biting Camogie from both sides, Portlaw are County Junior Shield Champions for 2020 after they had three points to spare over Tallow at the WIT Arena at Carriganore on Saturday afternoon last.

Sixteen year old Ellen Boylan produced a Player of the Match performance for the side from the Tannery Town as she finished with 2-2 behind her name on the score sheet and showed that she clearly is a player that has a very bright future ahead of her in the game, and it will be only a matter of time before we see her playing on a much bigger stage, against some of the very best players in the country.

After a low scoring first half at the end of which Tallow held a 1-3 to 0-2 having played with what advantage the breeze was at their backs, but the second half with the breeze having strengthen during the break Portlaw pulled out all the stops and in the end were full value for their win.

The first score of this game came on five minutes and proved to be a key one for the side from the banks of the River Bride. A long ball in from the middle of the field by Elaine Sheehan bounced in space between the 14 and 21 metre lines and Leanne Sheehan was quickest to react pulling on the ball and beating Anita Power in the Portlaw goal with a well placed shot.

Portlaw got on the score board three minutes later. An Ellen Boylan free from 55 metres fell short and was collected by Abbey Norris who shot over the crossbar. Emma Norris followed up with a second score for Portlaw on nine minutes but they would not score for the remainder of the opening half.

At the other end an Amy Mackintosh free was batted down by the Portlaw defence but Leanne Sheehan was quick as lightening to get onto the ball and fire over the crossbar to give her side a 1-1 to 0-2 lead, and just before the water break at the mid way point in the opening half after Abbie Ryan was pulled back Shauna Corcoran caught Amy Mackintosh’s free and fired over to give her side a three point lead.

The problem with the water break introduced for this year’s championship it can kill the flow of the game and so it proved in this game, as in the second quarter of this game, there was just one score a converted free by Amy Mackintosh two minutes from the break, giving her side a 1-3 to 0-2 lead.

Portlaw came out for the second half clearly a very determined side. Ellen Boylan pointed after just 24 seconds and Emma Norris followed up with another point on 33 minutes.

While Tallow were next to score when Amy Mackintosh picked out Kathryn Coakley with a quickly taken free which she sent over the Portlaw crossbar, Portlaw were soon to take control of this game.

Emma Norris and Leanne Sheehan swapped scores before Portlaw netted the first of their goals in this game. Emma Norris had a shot blocked and came back into a mini ruck. When it came out Abbey Norris played the ball to Ellen Boylan who fired past Nicolle Coughlan to level the scores on 39 minutes.

Claire Curley edged Tallow back in front after which Ellen Boylan and Shauna Corcoran swapped scores to give Tallow a 1-7 to 1-6 lead at the second half water break.

On 49 minutes, Portlaw netted their crucial second goal. Clodagh Power made a brilliant run down the Outer-ring Road side of the field towards the dressing room end of the field. She appeared to drop the ball of her stick 45 metres for goal but quick vision and action saw her play the ball along the ground to Ellen Boylan who saw her shot drop over the head of Nicole Coughlan and into her net.

Now trailing 2-6 to 1-7 having lead throughout, Tallow hit back with a point from an Amy Mackintosh free making a one point game.

Portlaw exerted a lot of pressure on the Tallow goal in the closing minutes and two points from Emma Norris in stoppage time ensured that the title went to Tallow.

Portlaw: Anita Power; Georgina Harris, Laura Laffan, Laura Corcoran; Zara O’Donnell, Chloe Nolan, Molly Davey; Ellen Boylan, Kate Foley; Sarah Fitzgerald, Abbey Norris, Maggie Boylan; Shauna Gaffney-Hayes, Emma Norris, Clodagh Power.

Sub: Lauren Dalton for Laura Corcoran

Scorers: Ellen Boylan 2-2, Emma Norris 0-5 (2f), Abbey Norris 0-1

Tallow: Nicole Coughlan; Aisling McGrath, Sharon Henley, Sarah Mulcahy; Rachel Roche, Kathryn Coakley, Elaine Sheehan; Amy Mackintosh; Nicole Curley; Claire Curley, Kate Ryan, Aobhla Motherway; Shauna Corcoran, Abbie Ryan, Leanne Sheehan.

Sub: Linda Casey for Kate Ryan

Scorers: Leanne Sheehan 1-2, Shauna Corcoran, Amy Mackintosh (2f) 0-2 each, Kathryn Coakley, Claire Curley 0-1 each.

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Erins Own).