Lismore must overcome the challenge of Oranmore Maree to set up another Croke Final appearance

Eleven months ago, Lismore Camogie Club at the fourth time of asking created a little but of history when they won a first All-Ireland Intermediate Semi Final.

The side went on to beat Ballyhale Shamrocks in Clonmel over Saint Patrick’s Weekend but not before the sides could not be separated at Croke Park.

For a club the first time you do something is memorable. To repeat it would be even more memorable. But if Lismore are to retain the All-Ireland Title won at Clonmel, they will first have to overcome the challenge of Galway side Oranmore Maree in the semi finals this Sunday.

Many will be making Lismore favourite’s to retain the title won for the first time last March, but for that to happen they know that they face a stern test this weekend.

The Galway side was formed in 1977, fielding a minor and junior team in their first year. The club got off to a great start, winning the Minor Championship in their first year and retaining it in 1978 and 1979.

These successes spurred on the club and in 1980 and 1981 they won Junior County Finals.

Like many other clubs in recent year’s great time and effort has been put into what happens at underage level and this work is not beginning to pay off just as it did in the early years of the clubs history.

In recent years titles have been won under 10, 12, 14 and 16 titles. At Adult level, County, League and Connacht Junior B titles were won in the last decade. In 2013 the club won Junior ‘A’ County and Connacht Champions and last year having won promotion to the Intermediate grade, they won the Galway Championship and lost the Connacht final.

In the Galway Championship this year, they came through a group that included Ahascragh/Caltra, Eyrecourt, Turloghmore and Cappataggle.

In the County Quarter Final they proved too strong for Carnmore, winning 3-8 to 0-14. A brace of Niamh Hanniffy goals in the first half of that game helped her side to a 2-6 to 0-6 lead at the break. In the second half they were again main to work hard and needed a goal from Ailish O’Reilly, the sides regular free taker to win the game, her crucial score coming with ten minutes to go from a long range free which fell into the Carnmore net.

The semi final was a little clearer cut for Oranmore Maree as they had three clear goals to spare when beating Mountbellew Moylough 3-10 to 0-10 at Loughrea.

The winners lost the toss in this game and were told that they would have first use of the strong wind and they made full use of it, turning around with an eleven point advantage, thanks in no small part to scoring three first half goals, Niamh Hanniffy hitting a brace on 12 and 26 minutes while Ailish O’Reilly struck in between.

Mountbellew Moylough in the second half worked hard, but Eimear O’Donovan and Ailish O’Reilly worked extremely hard for Oranmore Maree to help them to what was a comfortable win.

Two attempts were needed to find a winner in the County Final.

On October 18, the game ended in a Oranmore 2-11 Eyrecourt 4-5 draw at Loughrea.

Oranmore Maree led for the whole game until the last minute as Eyrecourt grabbed the equalising score in the seventh minute of added time.

First half scores from Ailish O'Reilly (2-5) and points from Eimear O'Donovan and Aisling Finn gave Oranmore Maree a 10 point lead at the break (2-7 to 1-0).

Playing with a strong wind in the second half, Eyrecourt but were still 2-11 to 3-1 behind with 10 minutes remaining.

Almost seven minutes of added time at the end of the game and it was in this time that Eyrecourt 1-1 to force a replay

The replay a week later at the same venue proved to be an equally as close game, with Oranmore Maree running out 0-11 to 0-8 winners.

Right from the throw-in Oranmore Maree proved to be the slightly stronger of the two teams and took an early 3-point lead playing into a stiff breeze.

By half-time, Eyrecourt had clawed Oranmore Maree's lead back to just a single point 0-5 to 0-4 and in the second half continued to be the better side.

Oranmore Maree’s only game in the Connacht Championship was the final against Four Roads from Roscommon.

Heading into this game, the Galway side win or lose they were in the All-Ireland semi finals this weekend against Lismore as the Roscommon club were also involved in the Junior Championship and could not play at two levels in the All-Ireland series.

Played at their own grounds in Oranmore, the Galway side needed extra time to be played before the provincial title made its way to Roscommon.

Four Roads took the lead from a placed ball before Oranmore hit 1-3 before half-time. Ailish O'Reilly hit 1-1 and Emer O'Donovan hitting the other two scores to give them a 5-point lead at the break.

Four Roads hit an early goal in the second half to reduce the deficit to one point within 10 minutes of the restart. Another goal for the visiting side gave them a 2-2 to 1-3 with 5 minutes remaining.

A point from Ailish O'Reilly left the minimum between the sides and with the last action of the game, same player had to stand over a free and she made no mistake driving the ball between the posts to force the game into extra time.

No score was struck by either side in the first half of injury time but a third Four Roads goal put them 3 ahead in the second added period. Ailish O’ Reilly pointed from a free to cut the visiting sides lead and they had a chance to win the game late on when they won a 20 metre free but it was saved by the Four Roads wall on their goal line to help them to a 3-2 to 1-6 win.

Throughout the campaign for Oranmore Maree Ailish O’Reilly and Niamh Hanniffy have stood out for the Galway side and the Lismore backs will have to pay a lot of attention to them or they could punish the reigning champions. However they are not just depending on these two as Emer O’Donovan, Aisling Finn as well as joint captains Christina Brennan and Sorcha Hanniffy could also inflict damage on Lismore.

The past two year’s have been hectic for Lismore. In 2013, the side won the Denny Buckley Cup (Senior Camogie League), County Championship and Munster Championship. They began 2014 winning the All-Ireland Final after a replay. They reached the final of the League Cup but lost out to Saint Anne’s in the final at Lemybrien on a 2-8 to 1-10 score line.

The sides met in the County Final at Fraher Field and in what proved to be a very tight game won out 1-7 to 0-9.

In the Munster semi final they travelled to Borrisoleigh to play the home side and had to fight hard on the day to ensure that they won 2-12 to 2-9.

The Munster Final against a fancied Sarsfields side from Cork was played at Fermoy. On the day Lismore had first use of a strong wind and build up a good lead at the break.

In the second half the Cork side put it up to Lismore but they were not able to get through for the goal that they needed to get back into the game. A goal midway through the half from Ruth Geoghegan proved to be crucial in a game won by Lismore 2-7 to 0-5.

Lismore on any given day can be a match for anyone. Within their ranks they have a number of players that could be the difference between the sides.

Over the past number of months, Caithriona McGlone has hit many important scores. But if for what ever reason she is not hitting the big scores others including the likes of Aoife Hannon, Ruth Geoghegan, Shona Curran, Nicola Morrissey and Johanna Houlihan has hit bit scores while at the back, the likes of Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell, Shauna Kiernan etc. have proved to be very effective.

There can be no disputing that over the past two years these two sides have really impressed and what ever side does advance they will be fancying their chances in next months Croke Park decider.

Both sides have a number of players that know where the posts are and if given the chance at Charleville on Sunday, they will again put up some big scores.

Usually the side that proves to be most effective in attack often wins. In this game it could well be the side that are strongest at the back that wins out.

Many in Waterford will know that in the past Lismore have been tested and stood up to the mark. The strength of the Oranmore Maree defence will not be known as much to those of us living in Waterford. Can they stand up to the threat the Lismore forwards can offer. If they can, they have a chance of progressing.

Experience has to count for something heading into this game you have to feel. Lismore players certainly experience and therefore get the nod to advance to next months All-Ireland Final from this game.  

Lismore Panel: Tanya Morrissey, Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell, Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Sarah Fenton, Sharon Williams, Shona Curran ( Captain ), Nicola Morrissey, Grainne Kenneally, Aoife Hannon, Ruth Geoghegan, Caithriona McGlone, Aisling O’Brien, Johanna Houlihan, Niamh Molumphy, Sarah Geoghegan, Ellen Curran, Alice Russell, Laura Buckley, Kate Heneghan.

Oranmore Maree Panel: Aisling Harte, Christina Brennan (Captain), Eilis Hogan, Aoife Bannon, Aoife Harte, Ciara Hanniffy, Roisin Black, Ailish O'Reilly, Eimear O'Donovan, Tara Costello and Danielle Clear, Aoife Geraghty, Roisin McInerney, Fiona Whelan, Kelley Malone, Shannon Costello, Niamh Hanniffy, Lorraine Reynolds, Elaine Hanniffy, Aishling Finn, Sorcha Hanniffy (Captain), Sacra Mannion, Aisling Nolan, Jenny Joyce, Emily Gill, Avril Shaugnessy, Aoife Carr.