Classic Encounter Sees Gailltír Crowned U16 ‘A’ Champions with Victory over Portlaw

 

Gailltír 2-13 Portlaw 4-03

Walsh Park was the venue last Saturday for the meeting of Gailltír and Portlaw in the U16 ‘A’ camogie final.  The crowd in attendance and the viewers at home were treated to entertaining ‘A’ final where both teams left everything on the pitch in search of glory.  In a game that had us all captivated with the level of skill on show, Gailltír proved to be more clinical than Portlaw to continue their dominance at this age grade.

From the throw in Gailltír flew out of the blocks with midfielder Orlaith Walsh gaining possession and driving at the heart of the Portlaw defence but could not find the target.  Ciara Sherlock quickly followed up with a shot of her own but it tailed wide.  Portlaw had their first sight at target through Ava Fitzpatrick but dropped straight into the goalkeeper’s hand. In a tightly contest opening to the game it took eight minutes to get the opening score and that came from the stick of Gailltír’s Emma Fitzgerald who struck from a tight angle off her left side.  That was quickly followed by a point from Mollie Comerford who ran at the Portlaw defence to drive over the bar.  Portlaw’s first score came in the 12^th minute from midfielder Ruth O Regan who slotted over off her right straight in front of goal. On the next Gailltír attack Sarah Hartery was bundled to the ground with referee Liz Dempsey declaring a penalty and up stepped Alannah O Sullivan who slotted over the bar to make it 0-03 to 0-01.  Just before the water break a free from Alannah O Sullivan dropped into the area only for Portlaw to clear straight back to the unmarked O Sullivan who drove over the bar for her first point from play leaving it 0-04 to 0-01 going into the second quarter.

On the restart from the water break Orlaith Walsh received the ball in the middle of the field with one thing on her mind and put the after burners on and ran at the Portlaw defence hitting a fine shot but Portlaw keeper Zoe Mackey was equal to it.  Portlaw reduced the gap to two points when Aoibhe Shankey slotted over the bar.  Soon after that the ever threatening Emma Fitzgerald popped up to strike her second point of the game.  Moments later at the other end of the field the dangerous Ava Fitzpatrick gained possession and taking a shot from distance it found its way to the back of the net.  That goal left the side’s level with eight minutes left in the first half.  A frenetic end to the half was in store with both sides attacking each defensive line with savage intensity.  Gailltír were to get the last two scores before half time with Alannah O Sullivan pointing a free from 45 yards out while Emma Fitzgerald rounded off the scoring for this half with her third of the day leaving the score 0-07 to 1-02.

The second half started brightly for the Barony club with Holly O Sullivan running at the Portlaw defence laying off to the open Alannah O Sullivan who struck off her right to increase the Gailltír lead.  With very little between the two sides, a pivotal moment in the game came when Ciara Sherlock struck for a shot from distance which caught the Portlaw goalkeeper off guard.  Alannah O Sullivan minutes later got on the ball once more cut in field to strike off her left and over the bar.  Portlaw would not relent however with Ava Fitzpatrick gaining possession and getting her shot off at goal to raise her second green flag of the day.  With just over five minutes gone in the second half this left the Gailltír leading 1-09 to 2-02.  The second half really had viewers at home and the crowd in attendance on the edge of their seats.  Gailltír’s Ciara Sherlock gained possession and made no mistake in rifling a shot to increase the lead to seven points, 2-09 to 2-02.  The remaining minutes before the water break was end to end with both teams creating chance but neither could add to their tally.  Both Orlaith Walsh and Ciara Sherlock had chances but couldn’t convert while Portlaw captain Ellen Boylan had the chance to reduce the gap from a 45 but it tailed to the right and wide.  The midfield battle was fierce with the ever industrious Maeve Sheridan winning ruck after ruck while for the Portlaw side Niamh Laffan at centre back was becoming more prominent in the game.

The last quarter of the game was do or die for both sides and not one player from either side shirked the challenge, but Portlaw started to gain momentum while Gailltír to their credit after playing a Minor football the previous night continued to work hard with tiredness now beginning to show however.  Ellen Boylan and Ava Fitzpatrick were beginning to have a greater impact on the game for Portlaw with the latter adding her first point of the day.  Portlaw attacked once more with a melee ensuing around the Gailltír goalmouth.  Aoibhe Shankey drove at the goal from close range to hand pass to the net leaving the score 2-09 to 3-03 going into the last six minutes of the game with a goal separating the sides.  End to end stuff ensued with both sides defending with every ounce of energy they had left.  Aoife Hartley’s earlier introduction settled the ship in the Gailltír defence with her calm under pressure play as Portlaw piled on the pressure.  The game was coming to its conclusion with injury time fast approaching when Emma Fitzgerald struck off her right hand side to put the Gailltír lead back to four points with the corner forward notching four points for herself.  Moments later the hard working Holly O Sullivan was rewarded with her performance by raising a white flag of her own.  With the clock ticking down Alannah O Sullivan pointed a free deep into injury time to leave the score 2-12 to 3-03 and a personal tally for the sharp shooter of six points.  This was not to be the last score however with Portlaw pushing forward they won a free just outside the 20 yard line.  Up stepped Ava Fitzpatrick who struck bullet of a shot to the roof of the net leaving the score now 2-12 to 4-03, three points separating the sides once more.  A nail biting finish for both sides, would Portlaw get another attack or could Gailltír see this game out? Up stepped Mollie Comerford who got on the end of a ball from Laoise Forrest, and ran at the Portlaw back line to see her shot deflected off the Portlaw goalkeeper and over the bar.  That score was to be the final act of the game after an enthralling, entertaining game that had us all on the edge of our seats.  The final score was Gailltír 2-13 Portlaw 4-03.  A game both teams can be immensely proud to be involved in,  it was to be Gailltír’s day who retain the U16 ‘A’ title for 2020 with joint captains Maeve Sheridan and Aoife Hartley hoisting the trophy aloft from the stand in Walsh Park.

Gailltír: Anna Cullinane Sarah Power, Faye Murphy, Aoife Ryan, Laoise Forrest, Aoife Hartley, Aoife Murphy, Maeve Sheridan, Holly O Sullivan (0-01), Mollie Comerford (0-02), Alannah O Sullivan (0-06) (0-03F), Orlaith Walsh, Ciara Sherlock (2-00), Vicky O Sullivan, Emma Fitzgerald (0-04), Ciara Berry, Sarah Hartery, Abbey Byrne, Avril McSweeney, Cara Cantwell.

Portlaw: Zoe Mackey, Alyssa Flannery, Ciara McCabe, Molly Davey, Ciara Harris, Niamh Laffan, Kayleigh McGrath, Ellen Boylan, Ruth O Regan (0-01), Alessia Conte, Aoibhe Shankey (1-01), Sarah O Regan, Isabelle Gaffney, Ava Fitzpatrick (3-01), Abbie Burrows, Kate Fraher, Anna Foley, Becky Russell, Emma White, Emma Walsh, Alanna Dee, Rachel Harney, Louise Sheridan, Abigail O Regan.

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)

Report from Waterford Camogie County Board. 

 

 

 

 

 

Erin’s Own Crowned Champions

Ladies Football for a long number of years is strong in Waterford and nobody will deny that Ballymacarbry have set the bar for all other sides not just locally by nationally over a long number of years. Teams come and teams go, but Ballymacarbry are always there.

But while Ballymacarbry are the most successful club within the county there are a number of clubs who play in all grades of the game who on any given day is hardly a kick of the ball between them. 

This can be proven with the fact that the Junior Champions of the past two years, Erin’s Own and Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers contested the County Intermediate Football Final at Kilmacthomas last Sunday.

Normally in any competition when a team moves up a grade for a number of years all is expected of them is that they retain their place in that grade for the following year. Sadly many don’t and they move back down a grade and sometimes two grades as soon as they come back up, finding the step up too much for them, or maybe believing after they moved up they have the hard work done and don’t try and bring their game to the next level.

The fact that both of these two sides contested a county final so soon after moving up a grade speaks volumes for both clubs and the work that they are doing to promote the game.

It is also easy to see why these two clubs contested this year’s final when you look at the talent that they have in their respective set ups.

Players like Niamh Rockett and Claire Whyte with the Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers Club and Brianna O’Regan and Beth Carton are household names when it comes to Camogie not just in Waterford but all around the country. They are fantastic Camogie players as are a number of other on the two sides. But it might surprise some to learn that they are also fantastic footballers. Waterford clubs have a great knack of producing duel fine duel players. Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh is as we all know a brilliant hurler but he is possibly an even better footballer. Players like Jamie Barron and Conor Gleeson are the same.

This was a game where the old adage that goals wins games once more proved through.

The Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers combination got off to a good start in this game kicking the first two scores of this game, the first an excellent score by Áine O’Neill on five minutes, then Kate McGrath added a second a minute later.

When the city side ran at their opponents they always looked as if they were going to cause problems. On seven minutes Beth Carton as she moved closer to Emma Power’s goal was fouled resulting in a penalty. Becky Conroy was given responsibility of kicking one on one from 12 metres and she made no mistake kicking into the N25 end of the ground.

While Niamh Rockett levelled matters on nine minutes following some good work again by Beth Carton two minutes later this city side kicked a second goal this time by Jessica Devereux who was found by Beth.

Ellen Kirwan pointed for the western outfit on 13 minutes and Sheena McGuckian followed up with another score to leave just a single score between the sides at the first half water break.

After the restart the sides needed a little time to find the flow of the game once more. Kate McGrath levelled matters for the second time on 21 minutes when Niamh Rockett found her with a quickly taken free. While Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers were kicking points at one end, the concession of goals at the other end was a problem for them.

And on 23 minutes another goal went in. This time Abbey Flynn a very versatile young sports star who has excelled to date in football, Camogie and basketball saw her effort blocked but when the ball came back to her she made no mistake in putting her side back in front by three.

Supporters at the other end of the ground had to wait to stoppage time at the end of the thirty for the next score and as often happen two came in very quick succession. Jessica Devereux split the posts first firstly for Erin’s Own to put the city side in front by four, but within seconds and just before the half time whistle Kate McGrath made it a three (3-1 to 0-7) point game.

Abbey Flynn made it a four point game once more at the start of the second half and almost straight away it looked as if Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers would cut that lead down to one as Claire Whyte, Kate McGrath and Niamh Rockett launched an attack on the Erin’s Own goal but the final effort was put out for a ’45 which resulted in nothing for the West Waterford club.

At the other end Jessica Devereux from a free edged Erin’s Own five points in front on 35 minutes and a minute later again following some good work by Beth Carton who saw her effort blocked but from the rebound Abbey Flynn flicked to the net for a fourth Erin’s Own goal giving the side in yellow and blue a 4-3 to 0-7 lead.

Points from Kate McGrath, and Niamh Rockett followed for Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers with Becky Conroy scoring in between for the city side with over a quarter of the hour still to play.

On 44 minutes former inter county player Liz Devine was fouled inside the large box and referee Brian Cuddihy awarded a second penalty kick in this game, both at the same end of the ground. Niamh Rockett was tasked with kicking from 12 metres and she made no mistake, blasting past Lucy Hogan sending the ball through the bottom of the net.

Eleven minutes from time Becky Conroy hit the crossbar with her effort for a score, but the rebound came straight back to Aoibhe Waring and this time she made no mistake putting her side 5-4 to 1-10 in front.

Niamh Rockett pulled a point back for Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers and from the resulting restart the western club intercepted and played the ball to Kate McGrath who shot to the net making it a three point (5-5 to 2-11) game and setting up a grandstand finish.

Scores were hard won in the closing minutes of the game. Both sides landed a single score each as both sides defended with all their might as the attacking players launched attack after attack.

Erin’s Own so move up a grade for next year’s championships and judging what we saw in this game, they won’t be out of place.

ERIN’S OWN: Lucy Hogan; Orlaith Kidney, Brianna O’Regan, Megan Waring; Eva Daniels, Colette Hogan, Abby Flynn; Rachael Daniels, Sadie Mai Rowe; Charlotte O’Loughlin, Beth Carton, Aoibhe Waring; Kate Hickey, Becky Conroy, Jessica Devereux.

Subs: Robyn Morrissey for Orlaith Kidney.

Scorers: Becky Conroy 2-1 (1-0 pen), Jessica Devereux 1-3, Abby Flynn 1-2, Aoibhe Waring 1-0,

KILROSSANTY BRICKEYS: Emma Power; Emily Murphy, Sarah Keohan, Claire Whyte; Aoife O’ Neill, Róisie Ní Mhuiri, Ava Healy; Emily Murphy; Alice Hahessy, Áine O’Neill; Dairine Ní Sheanlaoich, Kate McGrath, Niamh Rockett; Ellen Kirwan, Sheena McGuckian, Liz Devine.

Subs: Aoibhin Connaughton for Sarah Keohan,

Scorers: Niamh Rockett 1-5, Kate McGrath 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f), Áine O’Neill, Ellen Kirwan, Sheena McGuckian 0-1 each.

Referee: Brian Cuddihy (Naomh Pól)

Apologies for any mistakes in this report. As with all reports from last weekend it was done from the live streaming of the game. 

Many Thanks

 

Eight years ago I began writing on here. Little did i know that eight years on I would be still at it and that over three hundred thousand people would have logged on to read part or all of what I had to say.

Writing is something I enjoy. Whether I am any good at it, I am not prepared to say and will leave it up to others to decide.

Apart from watching games it was writing that gave me an extra interest in the G.A.A. Early in 1996 I attended the Annual General Meeting of the Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s G.A.A. Club. I had not attended too many such meeting’s before this. I attended that year as the then chairman of the Club Micheal Quinlan was standing down and there was to be a contest for the chair between two to replace Micheal. Votes were expected to be very tight and each one cast was going to be very precious.

As happens in such situations some of the other existing officers were standing down as well and both contesting the top position would want to build a new team around them. The election of the main officers and their assistants took place after the position of Chairman had been filled and all had gone well. Then came the lesser positions on the club executive. When it came to the position of Public Relations Officer or the PRO as most know the position I was nominated to fill the position and politely turned it down. I had zero interest to taking up any position. I was not the first person asked to fill it and not the last. In total about a dozen or so people were asked to take the position, all turning it down.

Whether those present had short memories or took me as a soft touch, I don’t know which, but I was nominated for the position again and was seconded before I got a chance to say anything. Something in my mind was saying if someone doesn’t take it soon, we will still be here this time next year. I said to myself give it a go and accepted the position. After the meeting I got talking to Declan Fitzpatrick, a man I had known all my life and admired as a hurler at club and inter county level. He congratulated me on taking the position and said that I would find it harder to get away from holding positions within the G.A.A. than it is to get into one. Little did I know that a quarter of a century later that he would be right.

Twelve months later I was once again asked to fill the position for another year. I had grown to like what I was doing over the past twelve months and gladly accepted. A few weeks later the AGM of the Naomh Brid Juvenile G.A.A. Club came up. I had accepted a place as a committee member the previous year and went to this meeting planning on only been a committee member. The Chairman and Secretary were standing down ahead of the 1997 playing year. Finding a new Chairman proved to be an easy enough task, finding a secretary was tougher.

Fr. Connie Kelleher was appointed as Parish Priest of Touraneena and The Nire the previous summer. He was a man with a deep interest in the G.A.A. and had a great interest in seeing young players develop and go on to play as adults. Fr. Connie became a good friend of mine after he arrived in Touraneena and when he was nominated as Secretary, he accepted on the grounds that I would become the Assistant Secretary.  

Ahead of the 1998 playing year Fr. Connie would stand down as secretary of the Naomh Brid club. I was nominated to replace him and I was also asked to double job and take the position of PRO as well. I wondered at the time if I was taking on too much. I had already taken on the position of PRO of the Sliabh gCua G.A.A. Club for a third year. For my sins I attended the A.G.M. of the Na Déise Ladies Football Club and got landed with the position of Chairman. Something now had to give and I resigned my position of PRO of the Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s Club.

The G.A.A. at times is labelled the Grab All Association by those who find fault with how things are done with the money that the association generates and how it generates such money, but in 1998 within Waterford the G.A.A. was given a new meaning, the Gammy Archery Association as a number of the Officers in Bord na nÓg were diagnosed as having heart problems.

I had got to know Eddie O’Shea who was secretary of the Western and County Boards for a number of years. He had decided to give up the position of County Board Secretary in 1999 and would be replaced by Catherine Touhy from Clonea. He also wanted to give up the position of Secretary in the Western Division. He told delegates at the Annual Convention but a replacement could not be found. Over the course of a few weeks Eddie as well as the late Jimmy (Watty) McCarthy who was Treasurer in the Western Board asked me several times if I would be interested. I wasn’t interested but the eventually broke me down when they told me the first delegate meeting of the year was coming up and the position needed to be filled.

Again a call had to be made by me after accepting the position. I had learned quickly that I was not chairman material and so stood down as Chairman of the Na Déise Ladies Football Club before they had a chance to hold its A.G.M.

I also stood down as P.R.O. of the Naomh Brid Club, safe in the knowledge that a new PRO would be found.

Over the following number of years combing the positions of Secretary of Naomh Brid Juvenile G.A.A. Club with that of Secretary and P.R.O of West Waterford Board na nÓg and I also worked closely with the then County Bord na nÓg PRO John O’Leary a man I had known with many years and I have to say that i thoroughly enjoyed myself. After five years secretary of West Waterford Secretary I stood down as I preferred the P.R.O. side of the jobs I held and went on to replace John O’Leary as County Bord na nÓg P.R.O.

In Bord na nÓg I made some good friends. When County Bord na nÓg Treasurer Joe Cleary became the Youth Officer of the Adult Bord he invited me to be part of the committee he was forming and was involved in the organising of a number of youth conventions.

Joe would go on to become the P.R.O. of the County Adult Board for a number of years and he invited me onto the Committee that he was now putting together with responsibilities for putting together and selling match day programmes, putting together County yearbooks, submitting results of all games played over the course of a week to the local and national papers.

By this time I had started to tire of my involvement in Bord na nÓg. People that I had formed friendships with, the likes of Sean Whelan, Johnny Bucky O’Brien, Joe Cleary, Paddy O’Grady and Jimmy McCarthy all left their positions on the board. Paddy had died at all too young an age after a battle against cancer, one that only Paddy could have fought the way he did. I decided to call it a day myself. While new people were coming in the same banter was not happening before, during and after meetings as what was happening.

Going back a few years a neighbour of mine Siobhan O’Connell was involved in the administration of the local Community Employment Scheme. In the autumn of 1993 after doing nothing on medical advice for twelve months or so after finishing school and missing a few months of the last two years with an illness, I was approached and asked would I like a position on a new scheme. I was told that a position of School Secretary at Saint Mary’s Touraneena National School was mine if I wanted it. No promises were made but I was told I could have it for up to three years if I was interested.

I was only too delighted to get involved. It was a chance to get out of the house for a few hours every day and also the chance to get to know the youth of the area and many of their parents, some of whom I did not know, but knew them to see.

I was to finish in November 1996 after three years. As pointed out already Fr. Connie Kelleher was appointed as Parish Priest of Touraneena and The Nire that summer and the two of us quickly got on well, spending many hours each week talking about a mutual interest, namely Hurling.

Fr. Connie told me not to worry about the scheme finishing up. He told me there was a job there for as long as I wanted it. He told me he knew someone that could get me involved in a different scheme and when that scheme dried up he knew someone else.

I spent 15 years in the position, finishing up in Christmas 2008. Health problems that year had helped me make up my mind to give up. I had wanted to a few years previous but was talked out of it.

In my 15 years as school secretary I got to know some of the children very well and it always gave me great pleasure to see them play hurling and football, Camogie and ladies football, and even for a short few years handball.

Coming up to the West Waterford School Leagues every year I would encourage the children to play hurling and football during the lunch breaks. Some would have little or no interest in playing but after a few weeks they were enjoying playing the games, even if they would never become a Paul Flynn or a Maurice Fitzgerald, an Áine Wall or an Anna Geary.

It gave me great joy to see some of the different teams contest different finals over the 15 years. What couching they got over the years came from within the Local Naomh Brid or Na Déise Clubs as well as from the likes of Peter Power and the different FAS Football Coaches that visited the school at different times.

One team however gave me huge pleasure. That was a Camogie team in the mid 00’s. There was no tradition of Camogie in the school. One spring day two of the girls Niamh Walsh and Maighread Barron came to me in the school yard and told me they were bored. They asked would it be funny if they got two hurleys and a tennis ball and hit it to each other. I told them not at all, but they knew the rules that if they wanted to use hurleys even though it was only the two of them they had to wear a helmet. There biggest fear they told me that people would laugh at them if they could not hit the ball properly. I vividly remember told them not at all. I told them that the right way to hit the ball was the way they felt most comfortable. I told them that there was a player with the Cork Hurlers (Joe Deane) who when he was taking frees looked like he would kill himself but seldom missed and few could hit the ball the same way as he could.

That first year of the girls playing Camogie they reached the final of the West Waterford Mini Sevens and the Final of the West Waterford School’s seven a side League final and while the girls lost both games they really enjoyed themselves in getting to play that year. Starting from two girls taking two hurleys and hitting the ball to each other to seeing ten or eleven do so in a few weeks game me great joy. They received no coaching, but were encouraged to play and to do things as they liked the whole time.

When I left the school in Christmas of 2008 I had no plans to do anything. I had suffered a number of health blows and planned to just relax. However in January 2009 I opened my emails one day and noticed one from Jamie O’Keeffe, the then Sports Editor of the Munster Express.

Jamie was someone I was aware of with a number of years. I could remember him working for the Dungarvan Observer a few year’s previous. In August 2008 Jamie had got onto me asking me to write an article for the Munster Express ahead of the All-Ireland semi final between Waterford and Tipperary.

Jamie in his email was inviting me to become a regular contributor to the news paper. Their G.A.A. reporter the former County G.A.A. Board Secretary Seamus Grant was in hospital and the news was not good on him. Jamie told me that he had a plan. He was also asking Eddie Kirwan who had ended his playing career following a health scare and myself to take over from Seamus. Eddie would look after the eastern half of the county and I the west.

Seamus Grant sadly died a few weeks later. I felt that was it for me. I felt that the Jamie and Kieran Walsh the owner of the paper would be advertising for someone to take over permanently. I asked Jamie what the story was. He told me to continue for as long as I like. 11 and a half years later I am still filling reports to the paper on a regular basis, but this year because of Covid-19 and health issues I have over the years I am not attending games. Instead I am relying on live streaming of games.

After I started to write for the Munster Express, editors with all newspapers because of the recession that we found ourselves in, they were forced to cut the amount of pages in their papers each week.

I found that there was so much I would love to see in print but it was not always possible. I began to surfing the net to see what I could do about maximising the amount of space that could be devoted to the G.A.A. locally and to issues that I have an interest in. I came across a .blogspot website that was free to use and huge amount of space could be given to whatever was on my mind. I opened an account and began to tweet and mention on a Facebook page links to that I had on my mind. Within a short while it began to take off.

Some of the numbers that logged into what I was writing amazed me. I honestly could not envisage some of the numbers that were popping up in front of me, especially when it came to Ladies Football and Camogie.

Both games at the time were finding it hard to get coverage in any newspaper. I hate admitting this but I found myself giving the two games an outlet. Those that were involved in the games were clearly interested in what I was at. They liked and shared and re-tweeted what I was saying. Suddenly the number that were seeing and reading what I had to say was not seen just by those that followed me, but friends and followers of those playing inter county ladies football and Camogie. I cannot thank enough those that shared and re-tweeted what I had to say.

This is my one thousand posting on my thomaskeane1973 blog. When I started I did not know if I would reach ten without giving up. When I did I aimed to write fifty and then one hundred pieces.

A Million thanks to each and every one of you that have read any of the one thousand articles I have on here. Hopefully I will be at it a while longer. I know that I can never get everyone to agree with everything I have to say. But that is half the fun in writing. Each and every one of us has our own opinion on a subject. There will come times when people will view things totally differently. We all know that debate is healthy and through it we might see a point someone makes that we might not have seen ourselves beforehand.

All my life I have been interested in the G.A.A. Unfortunately I was born with Spina Bifida which meant that I could never play the games I love at a competitive level but have made my present felt with a hurley in my hand or when a football came my way while games were played at home at home or at school, firstly at St. Mary’s Touraneena National School and later at the former Saint Annes Port Primary School in Cappoquin.

But not been able to play has not stopped my interest in the games I love. From a very young age many Sunday’s during the glory years of the Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s G.A.A. Club in the late 70’s and early 80’s were spent going to games in Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Portlaw or Walsh Park or venues in between with my late Father and his sister Joan and my oldest brother Pat.

Down the years I have many memories of games played. I remember listening to a Waterford match on RTE Radio One in the hospital in Crumlin in the early 80’s. I remember John Dalton and Declan Fitzpatrick get a mention and telling the nurses that I knew them.

Sadly I can say I have memories of Waterford suffering heavy defeats to Cork in two Munster Finals. I have memories of the Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s G.A.A. Club winning an Intermediate Football and Junior Hurling County Final double in 1989.

I have memories of the great Waterford Ladies Football teams of the 1990’s, travelling to venues like Croke Park to roar them on. I have memories travelling with a limited number of supporters to games on the team bus in their glory years.

In more recent times reporting on games I have some great memories. I reported on Waterford Intermediate Ladies Footballers and Camogie teams All-Ireland wins in 2015 from Croke Park. I reported on the Camogie and Ladies Football teams winning National League titles. Hopefully I will be reporting on more titles for these sides in the years to come. Personally I think the Camogie team are not too far from winning an All-Ireland. It might be a little harder for the Ladies Footballers because of the resources and numbers that Dublin and Cork have, but hay, we can hope.

I have reported on Sliabh gCua winning two Junior Football County Finals. I have reported on Saint Mary’s in three County Junior Hurling Finals, one of which was a win. I have reported on them in possibly one of their most exciting wins when they beat Carrick Swans at Clonmel last year and on another great day when they played in a Munster Final, even if defeat was their lot.

Hopefully I will get to report on games for some time to come. It is something that I enjoy. I have been asked in recent times to put together a book. It is something that I agreed to, but doing so is proving to be somewhat difficult. Maybe the one that I was asked to put together might not happen, but maybe a different one will happen.

Can I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that have taken the time to read some of what I have to say over the past eight years or in any of the local and national papers that I have been asked to write for. As I say I don’t expect people to agree with all that I have to say, but maybe I might get some people to challenge their thinking.

With the help of God I will be writing for some time to come and if you continue to read what I have to say.

Thanks again. You taking the chance to read what I have to say is much appreciated.

Powerful Second Half Performance Drives Modeligo to U16 B Success

 

Modeligo 6-10 An Rinn 3-03

Our second U16 final of the weekend, this time the B final was played in the WIT grounds with Modeligo facing An Rinn in an all-Western affair.  It was the Modeligo outfit who powered to a victory with a dominant second half performance to put them in control to see out the game and become U16 B Champions.

A bright start from Modeligo got the U16 B final up and running with an Emma Fleming goal in the first minute. Captain of the An Rinn team Lilly Anne Nic Giolla got the first point for An Rinn through a placed ball.  In a game that Modeligo came into as favourites, it was in fact a very balanced opening half for both teams.  Midfielder Emma Hickey scored her first point of the day when coming in on her right hand side to slot over the bar.  Onelia Whelan responded in turn with a point of her own to leave Modeligo leading 1-01 to 0-02 at the water break.  After the break Emma Fleming raised a white flag for Modeligo.  An Rinn had a sustained period of pressure on the Modeligo defence and eventually they broke through with Lilly Anne powered through the middle to fire to the back of the net.  An Rinn pushed forward once more and deep into injury time Lilly Anne fired over to put the An Rinn outfit ahead 1-03 to 1-02 going in at half time.  In a half where it was a battle of the defences with Anna Hickey of Modeligo very strong at centre back having a great battle with Lilly Anne Nic Giolla of An Rinn.  Emma Hickey for Modeligo along with Oneila Whelan of An Rinn also impressing at midfield for the two teams.

The half time team talk from the Modeligo management had its desired effect with the team in green and white bursting to life with 1-03 scored within the first ten minutes of the second half.  The strong running of Emma Hickey was hard to live with as she fired over her first of the second half.  Emma Fleming raised her and Modeligo’s second green flag on the fifth minute.  Emma Hickey followed up with two more points to bring her personally tally so far to 0-04.  The classy Rachel O Brien got on a ball over the top of the An Rinn defence with the Modeligo wing forward finishing to the net in style.  This was a big turnaround with the An Rinn outfit unable to get a shot off in anger in the first fifteen minutes.  The scores at the water break now read 3-05 to 1-03 to Modeligo.  An Rinn had it all to do to claw back the deficit.

An Rinn came out in the last quarter showing great determination and bravery to get back into the game.  However the Modeligo forwards found scores easier to come by with full forward Emma Fitzpatrick and the very strong Claire Walsh slotting points over to increase their lead. An Rinn did not give up however and continued to push forward but it was Karine Drohan of Modeligo who’s shot found the back of the net from distance to increase their lead. Emma Hickey finished off her scoring with her fifth point of the game in what was a very strong display from the midfielder while Rachel slotted over from a 45 to keep the Modeligo lead increasing. Claire Walsh was impressive in her strong running with the ball today and she found space again to slot over her second point of the day. To round off the Modeligo scoring Karine Drohan and Rachel O Brien raised green flags again to both finish with two goals apiece going into injury time.  An Rinn did not give up and continued to push to get scores on the board and they did so with speedster Aoibh Ní Mhurchadha plucking the ball from the clowds and running at the Modeligo defence and firing to the net from distance.  That wasn’t to be the final score however with Éle Nic Craith finding the back of the net to leave the final score 6-10 to 3-03.  A powerful second half from Modeligo sees them crowned U16 B Champions for 2020.  An Rinn showed a lot of spirit and will bounce back from this in 2021. Congratulations to Modeligo.

Modeligo: Muireann Hickey; Lucy Fraher, Chloe Power, Katie O’ Brien; Rebecca Burke, Anna Hickey, Emily Foran; Mairead Hickey, Emma Hickey; Karine Drohan, Claire Walsh, Rachel O Brien; Bronagh Ryan, Emma Fitzpatrick, Emma Fleming.

Subs: Meabh Barron, Bébhínn Walsh; Eimear Griffin, Ceire Ryan, Orla Whelan, Aoife Power, Abbie Fitzpatrick, Sarah Barron, Aoife Reddy, Jessica Collender.

Scorers: Rachel O Brien (0-1’45), Emma Fleming 2-1 each, Karine Drohan 2-0, Emma Hickey 0-5, Claire Walsh 0-2, Emma Fitzpatrick 0-1

An Rinn: Neasa Nic Íomhair; Róisín Ní Arta, Katie Ní Chionnfhaolaidh, Brooke Ní Reagáin; Luisne Níc Craith, Grace Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, Ríoghnach Ní Thiomáin; Onelia Ní Fhaoláin (0-01), Lia Ní Arta; Eilidh Ní Churraoin, Lilly Anne Nic Giolla, Aoibh Ní Mhurchadha; Mamie Ní Chionnfhaolaidh, Éle Nic Craith, Alannah Ní Laocha.

Subs: Sarah Ní Mhuileoir, Molly Nic an Iomaire.

Scorers: Lilly Anne Nic Giolla 1-2, Aoibh Ní Mhurchadha, Eilidh Ní Churraoin 1-0 each, Onelia Ní Fhaoláin 0-1

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)

*Report with thanks from Waterford Camogie County Board.

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.

Saint Anne’s Beat Stradbally In Exciting Local Derby County Final

 

Saint Anne’s are County Junior ‘B’ Ladies Football Champions for 2020 after they got the better of Stradbally at the Dungarvan Club Grounds on Sunday morning last.

Saint Anne’s did much of the spade work for this win in the opening half of what was a good game of football throughout the hour.

Stradbally will know that had they their shooting boots with them in the opening half of this game the final outcome could well be much different. They turned around trailing 4-5 to 0-3 but they came out a much different side in the second half.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not saying anything bad against Stradbally, far from it indeed. They created numerous chances in those opening thirty plus minutes but much of these chances failed to go between the uprights, where-as at the other end of the field, everything that Saint Anne’s did turned to gold. This coupled with Stradbally’s shooting seemed to sap the energy out of the side in white and red. But whatever was said at the break worked and should be clearly bottled and sold and they well outscored their opponents in the second half.

For Saint Anne’s they had faultless performances from Becky Kavanagh and Sinead Cummins two players which lined out for the side in green and red in the recent senior county Camogie final and who again impressed in that game, where they lost out to two very late Gailltir scores. They also had big performances from the likes of Ciara Sheahan, Bevan Bowdren, Melanie Buck and Abby Murphy.

Stradbally also had some very big performances. Eileen O’Brien was their scorer in-chief while the likes of Meadhbh and Róisín Curran, Mide Delaney and Amy Whelan also impressed.

Stradbally were first to score when Eileen O’Brien put over in the first minute, but on five minutes a free to Stradbally was won in the centre of the field by Saint Anne’s. When Sinead Cummins had the ball in her hands she ran at the Stradbally defence, but between the 45 and 21 metre line she lost control of the ball. However she showed how talented she is as she soccer style played the ball along the ground rather than lose time picking it up and maybe have a tattle put in by the Stradbally defence, and beat Grainne Costello as well as Tracey Fennell and Grace Heffernan who were trying hard to close her down.

Róisín Curran responded for Stradbally with a point almost straight away, but on ten minutes the very impressive Becky Kavanagh cancelled that score out with her side’s first point of the game when she put over a free.

Seconds later Saint Anne’s increased their lead. From the resulting restart after Becky Kavanagh pointed Jane Kirwan won the ball and ran at the Stradbally defence. She spotted Becky Kavanagh in a good position running inside her, laid the ball off to her team-mate who blasted across Grainne Costello and into the far corner of the net.

Becky Kavanagh put over another free three minutes later and Eileen O’Brien pointed for Stradbally to give Saint Anne’s a 2-2 to 0-3 lead at the first half water break.

The break broke the flow of the game and the sizeable support inside the Dungarvan Club Grounds despite the very early start had to wait till the 25 minute for the games next score, another telling one for Saint Anne’s. Sinead Cummins intercepted a Stradbally free in their own full back line and played the ball off to Becky Kavanagh who saw her initial effort blocked bravely by Grainne Costello but when the rebound came back to Becky Kavanagh she shot into an empty net.

Becky Kavanagh pointed from a free on the half hour mark and in stoppage time Abby Murphy passed to Sinead Cummins who hit her second and Saint Anne’s fourth goal of the game.

Ciara Sheahan hit a point four minutes into stoppage time and when Becky Kavanagh got in on goal seconds afterwards it looked as if she would complete her hat-trick, but her effort came crashing off the underside of the crossbar.

Stradbally as stated already came out a much different side in the second half. Within seconds of the restart, Jade Queally, Róisín Curran and Eileen O’Brien all combined for the latter to fire over a point. From the restart Mide Delaney won the kick out. After a quick inter change of passes the ball came back to the duel player who shot over the crossbar.

On 34 minutes Mide Delaney, Clare Murphy, Róisín Curran and Jade Queally combined and went the latter sent in a testing shot it dipped in under the crossbar. Stradbally were back in contention here even if they trailed 4-5 to 1-5.

Points from Meadhbh Curran and Eileen O’Brien followed for Stradbally as Saint Anne’s struggled to get into the Stradbally half of the field. They had to wait till the 46 minute and after the water break for their first score of the second half despite scoring so freely in the opening half. That score came from Jane Kirwan and followed it up with another point from a Becky Kavanagh free five minutes later keeping them nine points in front.

Another Becky Kavanagh point, this time from play opened up a ten point margin, but it would prove to be her sides last of the game.

On the hour mark Amy Whelan hit a free from the middle of the field which went its way to Meadhbh Curran. She picked out Angela Fynn who in turn picked out Róisín Curran who fired to the Saint Anne’s net. Points from Eileen O’Brien from a free and Meadhbh Curran quickly followed for Stradbally, but time ran out. Saint Anne’s had done enough to move up a grade next year.

ST. ANNES: Louise Murphy; Caoimhe Kiely, Labhaoise Dunbar, Ashling Allen; Martha Cleary, Melanie Buck, Leah McGrath; Rachael Walsh, Jane Kirwan; Abby Murphy, Sinead Cummins, Bevan Bowdren; Ciara Sheahan, Becky Kavanagh, Chloe McGrath.

Subs: Eimear Power for Jane Kirwan, Kate McMahon for Martha Cleary, Zoe Spinks for Melanie Buck.

Scorers: Becky Kavanagh 2-5 (0-4f), Sinead Cummins 2-1, Ciara Sheahan, Jane Kirwan 0-1 each.

STRADBALLY: Grainne Costelloe; Claire Crowley, Tracey Fennell, Lily Gough; Grace Heffernan, Amy Whelan, Mide Delaney; Jade Queally, Clare Murphy; Valerie Heffernan, Meadhbh Curran, Eileen O’Brien; Aoife Flynn, Roisin Curran, Elaine D’Arcy.

Subs:  16 Miriam Queally for Aoife Flynn, Angela Fynn for Valerie Heffernan Sophie Troy for Elaine D’Arcy,  

Scorers: Eileen O’Brien 0-5, Róisín Curran 1-1, Jade Queally 1-0, Meadhbh Curran 0-2 Mide Delaney 0-1.

Referee: Larry Power (Ballygunner)

Catherine Power Inspires Tramore to County Final Win

 

Tramore down the years have produced some top quality ladies footballers the likes of Bridget Hannigan and Elaine Power to name but two that have served the game at club and county level well, playing at the highest level.

The town of Tramore and its outline to many is seen as a soccer area, and many of the G.A.A. Support in the Déise County feel that the area have often underperformed and will argue that a Club with its population should be playing and competing against players at the highest level within the county.

When it comes to the women’s games however, it is fantastic to see the white and blue shirt flying high at the moment.

Recently the town’s Camogie team made things very difficult for current County and All-Ireland Champions at the semi final of this year’s senior championship and on Sunday afternoon they were crowned County Junior ‘A’ Ladies Football Champions against Saint Patrick’s at the Dungarvan Club Grounds.

Saint Patrick’s would have fancied themselves to take this year’s title. They have some quality players, the likes of Kelly Moroney, Eimear Scanlon and Aoife Landers all who have inter county level and Denise Nugent is a vastly experienced player at this level.

On a day when it rained goals in other County Final’s played, surprisingly there was none in this game, which could be put down to the fact that both sides had some star performers in their back lines while if the ball did pass them there was two excellent goalkeepers to be beaten.

Player of the Match Catherine Power opened the scoring in this game within seconds of the throw in after her side won the throw in. This might have suggested that there was going to be scores a plenty to follow, but only two further scores followed up to the water break midway through the opening half.

Saint Patrick’s opened their account on ten minutes when Denise Nugent fisted over the crossbar after some good work by Sinead Flynn and Kate Hickey in the build-up. Just before the break mid way through the opening half after Kristen Lyons rand at the Saint Patrick’s defence and popped her side back in front with a good score.

The West Waterford club were having no luck with some of their shooting and they needed a point from a Gillian Whelan free five minutes from the break to draw level and seconds later they looked as if they would hit the Tramore net when Áine Flynn set up Eve Power but just as she was about to pull the trigger she was blown for over carrying the ball.

Saint Patrick’s however after playing with the breeze in the opening half turned around with a 0-3 to 0-2 lead showing on the score board when Gillian Whelan popped over from play after some good work by Aoife Landers in the build up.

Tramore with the wind at their backs in the second half were the better of the two sides. While Saint Patrick’s wasted much of the chances they created at the other end Tramore were very economical with their shooting.

Elaine Enright just seconds after the restart crashed the size four off the upright but Keavy Gillane was on hand to fire the rebound over with the help of the up-right. At the other end Saint Patrick’s created a goal scoring opportunity on 34 minutes, Emma Hickey picked out Denise Nugent who used her experience to drop the ball in front of the Tramore goal. Kate Hickey raced onto the ball and went to fist the dropping ball to the net but Katie Geoghegan was on hand to clear the danger.

Saint Patrick’s were dealt a blow on 37 were dealt a blow when full back Muireann Walsh rather than allow Tramore in on goal took a yellow card and a ten minutes sin-binning by deliberately committing a foul. From the resulting free, Catherine Power split the uprights.

Abbey Dunphy followed up with an excellent score for Tramore on 40 minutes but three minutes later her side were also cut to 14 players for the next ten minutes when Edwina Curran was sin binned. While the numbers on the field were level before Muireann Walsh was allowed back on just after the water break Catherine Power hit a brace of scores inside seconds of each other to give her side a 0-7 to 0-3 lead at the second half water break.

Elaine Enright pointed for Tramore on 53 minutes followed shortly afterwards with a response from Saint Patrick’s Gillian Whelan from a free.

With both defences on top no further scores came till deep in stoppage time when Catherine Power shot over a brace of scores in quick succession to give her side a deserved title.

In this game for Saint Patrick’s Eimear Scanlon, Mollie Murphy-Nix, Aoife Landers, Hannah Power, the Hickey sisters and Denise Nugent all had fine games, while for Tramore, Catherine Power was outstanding while there was excellent performance from Fiona Whelan, Elaine Enright, Abbie Dunphy, Neema Nyangasi and Katie Geoghegan.  

TRAMORE: Katie Geoghegan; Muireann Cuddihy, Eimear Gallagher, Anna Fanning; Edwina Curran, Fiona Whelan, Niamh Purcell; Kristen Lyons, Keavy Gillane; Elaine Enright, Neema Nyangasi, Claire Lombard; Sarah Power, Abbie Dunphy, Catherine Power.

Subs: Rebecca Savage for Anna Fanning, Holly Ahern for Claire Lombard.

Scorers: Catherine Power 0-7 (1f), Elaine Enright 0-2, Kristen Lyons, Abbie Dunphy 0-1 each.

ST. PATRICK’S; Kelley Moroney; Mollie Murphy Nix, Muireann Walsh, Tara Fraher; Eimear Scanlon, Aoife Landers, Aoife Dee; Emma Hickey, Eve Power; Sinéad Flynn, Hannah Power, Áine Flynn; Gillian Whelan, Kate Hickey, Denise Nugent

Subs: Megan Phelan for Áine Flynn

Scorers: Gillian Whelan 0-3 (2f), Denise Nugent 0-1

Referee: Padraig Nolan (Affane/Cappoquin)

 

 

Ballymacarbry 39 Not Out

 

Ballymacarbry Ladies Football Club must go down as one of the greatest sporting sides in any sport anywhere in the world.

On Sunday afternoon last at Fraher Field under the guidance of Michael Ryan, the West Waterford outfit won a thirty-ninth County Senior Ladies Football Club in a row when they proved too strong for Stradbally, who were appearing in their first final in 40 years.

Ballymacarbry’s first title came under the guidance of the afore mentioned Michael Ryan, who without doubt is one of the greatest coaches that this county has ever produced. He will have enjoyed many of Ballymacarbry’s successes down the years in his involvement on the sideline, but this one must certainly be sweet to him as he had his three daughters on the field of play, all playing a vital part in this win.

From the off Ballymacarbry were the better side but great credit must go to their opponents in this one. They caused a major shock in the semi finals when they beat Comeragh Rangers, Ballymacarbry’s greatest rivals in recent years, and in truth the final score does little justice to the effort they put in.

They played against the strong breeze in the opening half and they created a number of chances but time and time again they saw their chances fail to go between the uprights.

The Champions had their first goal on the scoreboard inside two minutes when Stradbally lost possession on their own 45 metre line, Aileen Wall played in Kelly-Anne Hogan who found Eilish Cooney in front of goal on the 14 metre line and she blasted high into the net.

Ballymacarbry looked as if there were going to add a second ten minutes later. A brilliant move out of their own full back line saw Maeve Ryan play an inch perfect pass to Aileen Wall down the stand side of the field as they attacked the country end she spotted Michelle Ryan whose powerful shot was saved by Megan Foran in the Stradbally goal but she could not stop the ball heading towards the goal line, but Roisin Dunphy was alert and she took the ball off the goal line and clear to safety.

On 14 minutes Ballymacarbry had another chance to rattle the net when Brid McMugh who was a thorn in the side of Stradbally all day had her shirt pulled for which referee Paddy Smith awarded a penalty but Michelle Ryan saw her effort saved by Megan Foran.

Leading 1-3 to no score at the water break, Ballymacarbry continued to prove to be the better of the two sides in the second quarter. Points from Sinead Kenefick and her sister gave their side a nine point cushion, and even with the sin binning of their sister Louise who is by no means a rough or dirty player on 22 minutes could not stop the side in blue and white.

On 29 minutes an excellent team move which saw Brid McMugh, Kelly-Anne Hogan, Michelle Ryan and Aileen Wall saw Michelle Ryan finish to the net to give her side a 12 point lead.

But Ballymacarbry were not finished yet in the opening half and in stoppage time another impressive team move saw their half forward line of Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan and Kelly-Anne Hogan combine for the latter to score from close range to give their side a 3-6 to no score lead at the interval.

Stradbally hit their first score of the game six minutes after the restart when the impressive Hayley Phelan pointed. Aileen Wall, Kelly-Anne Hogan and Sinead Kendrick despite a tug on her shirt as she shoot at goal all landed points putting Ballymacarbry 3-9 to 0-1 in front on 42 minutes.

Haley Phelan pointed for Stradbally on 43 minutes and just before the water break midway through the second half Stradbally had a goal ruled out when an Aisling Mullaney fisted effort for a point dropped into the net instead.

Ballymacarbry’s fourth goal came eight minutes from the hour mark and again was a good team move in from centre field. When the ball came to Lauren Guiry she made no mistake in planting it low and hard into the corner of the net to give her side a 4-9 to 0-3 lead.

Maggie Boylan who won a county Junior Shield title with Portlaw 24 hours before this game and Kelly-Anne Hogan swapped scores before Linda Wall after taking a year out of the game last year to have a baby seconds after she came on added points for their respective sides.

Ballymacarbry won a second penalty on stoppage time. Michelle Ryan was the taker again this time but she saw her effort go wide of the posts. She won’t mind too much however as she was well on her way to collecting a TWENTY-SECOND County Senior Medal.

In the time that remained Eilish Cooney, Niamh Power and newcomer Eimear Quirke scored for their respective sides.

BALLYMACARBRY: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Treasa McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Maeve Ryan; Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Brid McMaugh; Michelle Ryan, Kelly-Anne Hogan; Aileen Wall, Louise Ryan, Lauren Mulcahy; Sinead Kenrick, Lauren Guiry, Eilish Cooney.

Subs: Becky Hogan for Louise Ryan (40), Muireann Boyce for Treasa McGrath (54), Aoife Barron for Sinead Kenrick (54), Eimear Quirke for Lauren Guiry (57), Linda Wall for Kelly Anne Hogan (59).

Scorers: Kelly-Anne Hogan 1-2, Sinead Kenrick 0-5 (2fs), Michelle Ryan, Eilish Cooney 1-1 each, Lauren Guiry 1-0, Mairead Wall, Brid McMaugh, Aileen Wall, Linda Wall, Eimear Quirke 0-1 each.

STRADBALLY: Megan Foran; Catriona O’Brien, Roisin Dunphy, Cara Mullaney; Tao Behan, Chloe Fennell, Laura Cusack; Mary Kate Curran, Rebecca Casey; Hayley Phelan, Nicola Fennell, Shiona Dunphy; Ellen Boylan, Niamh Power, Aisling Mullaney.

Subs: Maggie Boylan for Nicola Fennell (40), Aoife Brazil for Shiona Dunphy (40).

Scorers: Hayley Phelan (2fs), Maggie Boylan 0-2 each, Chloe Fennell, Niamh Power 0-1 each.

Referee: Paddy Smith (Shamrocks)

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).