Gailltir Versus Saint Rynagh’s Mark Two

When Gailltir and Saint Rynagh’s from Offaly come out of the dressing rooms under the Cusack Stand just after 1pm  on Sunday next carefully descending one lot of steps before ascending another and onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park to contest the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie Final, they do so as sides that will know much about each other.

399 days earlier the same two sides last met in the penultimate round of games in last year’s championship, a game that the Sky Blues won on a 3-8 to 0-12 score line. The ladies from the barony would end the competition disappointed losing out by the smallest possible margin in the All-Ireland Final to Down champions Clonduff 0-10 to 0-9 at the same venue.

This time around Gailltir will be hoping that they can go that one step further and become the first Camogie Club side from the Déise County to win at G.A.A. Headquarters and only the second overall following on from Ardmore’s win in the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship in the spring of 2018.

When the sides met in last year’s All-Ireland Semi Final at Leahy Park in Cashel the commitment and effort shown by both sides could not be questioned and more of the same is expected this time around.

While it was the Offaly side that hit the first score off the stick of Gráinne Dolan it was the Waterford Champions that settled the better of the two sides.

The Sky Blue’s first score was a telling one, one that resulted in the raising and waving of a green flag. Róisín Flood was the player to get on the score sheet for the Sky Blues after she reacted quickest to an initial shot from Clodagh Carroll was blocked.

And when Shauna Fitzgerald scored on ten minutes to put her side 1-2 to 0-2 in front it was beginning to look as maybe it would be the sky blues day, making up for the disappointment of losing out to  Eglish from Tyrone at the same stage of the competition at Ashbourne two years ago.

It was known before the game that Siobhan Flannery was the player that Gailltir would have to keep a very close eye on in this game and she kept the side from the midlands in touch right throughout this game finishing with seven points behind her name on the score sheet, all from frees.

Two scores from the full forward kept the midlander’s within touching distance of Gailltir but they were followed up with a crucial score off the stick of Emer Walsh from a tight angle.

Kate Kenny and Áine Lyng swapped scores for their respective sides to keep Gailltir 1-4 to 0-5 in front with 20 minutes on the clock. 

The midlander’s piled on the pressure in the closing minutes of the opening half, but were not able to break down the Gailltir defence was proved to be water tight on the day, as they turned around with a 1-6 to 0-7 lead showing on the score board.

Gailltir brought in Aoife Fitzgerald for Róisín Flood at the start of the second half, and they began brightly as Clodagh Carroll saw an effort go just wide.

After an Áine Lyng free went just wide of the uprights just as in the first half the Offaly side hit the first score of the second half, not surprisingly from a Siobhan Flannery free.

After winning the resulting restart Kate Lynch played in Annie Fitzgerald who saw her effort for a second Gailltir goal deflected out for a ’45 from which Áine Lyng made no mistake.

Gailltir did not have to wait long for a second goal. With 40 minutes of the game played Annie Fitzgerald won her side a penalty. Áine Lyng saw her effort saved but Ann Corcoran was on hand to fire to the net to put her side 2-7 to 0-8 in front.

Siobhan Flaherty fired over once more for Saint Rynagh’s to keep them in sight of Gailltir but the game was effectively over when Clodagh Carroll finished to the net for a third goal for the Sky Blues.

Gailltir pointed on 45 minutes through Annie Fitzgerald which proved to be her side’s last score of the game.

At the other end of the field Saint Rynagh’s created chances and were able to pick off some late scores but the goal that they needed to bring them back into this game never came their way.

Gailltir sent on Trish Jackman for the last few minutes of this game, a nice touch from the clubs management team considering all that she has achieved within in the game over a long number of years.

In stoppage time Saint Rynagh’s won a penalty which if converted would have proved to be a consolation score, but Ciara Jackman, a younger sister of Trish and a brilliant young goalkeeper was equal to the effort fired at her and was able to keep the shot of getting past her.

Gailltír: Ciara Jackman; Emily Mahony, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne; Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche, Hannah Flynn; Shauna Fitzgerald, Áine Lyng; Clodagh Carroll, Ann Corcoran, Kate Lynch; Roisin Flood, Annie Fitzgerald, Emer Walsh.

Subs: Aoife Fitzgerald for Roisin Flood (half time), Trish Jackman for Ann Corcoran (56).

Scorers: Roisin Flood 1-1, Annie Fitzgerald 0-3 (0-2f), Clodagh Carroll, Ann Corcoran 1-0 each, Áine Lyng 0-2 (1 ‘45), Shauna Fitzgerald, Emer Walshe 0-1 each.

St. Rynagh’s: Ellen Gilligan; Roisin Daly, Linda Sullivan, Trish Nugent; Ann Daly, Roisin Egan, Elaine Sullivan; Helen Dolan, Louise Mannion; Kate Kenny, Mairead Daly, Grainne Dolan; Sarah Pearl, Siobhán Flannery, Louise Flannery.

Scorers: Siobhán Flannery 0-7 (7f), Grainne Dolan 0-3, Kate Kenny 0-2

Referee: John McDonagh (Galway).