Bridge retain title in derby
Reigning champions complete a fine two-in-a-row
CASTLEBRIDGE 3-1 BLACKWATER 0-1 WHILE THIS may have been a game low on scores, there was no lack of intensity as both teams hassled and harried each other over the hour in a fight for the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Roinn ‘B’ camogie title in Innovate Wexford Park on Tuesday.
Castlebridge came into the final as reigning champions after defeating Piercestown on the same stage last year. Near neighbours Blackwater on the other hand were seeking to bring the cup back Over The Water as part of an ambitious attempt at a boys’ and girls’ county final double on the night.
As both teams played quite narrowly up the middle of the field, this final saw a lot of congested play. This made open spaces and easy scores hard to come by, but nonetheless Castlebridge attacker Caoimhe Parker shone to the fore in the opening minutes.
In the second minute, her teammate Ciara McMahon set her up for a handpassed goal and this good start improved further moments later. This time Caoimhe Parker repeated the trick after bursting through several challenges to put her team up by two goals.
Blackwater had to wait until the 18th minute to get their first and only score and this came through a well-taken Clara Molloy free.
Just before half-time Castlebridge got their first point when Caoimhe Parker registered a nice score under pressure, bringing the half-time totals to 2-1 to 0-1.
The second-half saw the game continue in a similar manner and as legs grew tired, scores and chances all but dried up.
The only score of the half came in the 34th minute when Ciara McMahon combined with team-mate Lilly Stoutt to score her team’s third goal.
Evelyn Burke made some fine saves in the Blackwater goal but the Castlebridge threat was just too much and this proved to be the pattern of the match.
Castlebridge: Ava Watters-Cosgrave, Amy O’Connor, Grace Harding-Kenny, Mai-Ling Tynan, Nicole Harding-Kenny, Abigail Gillen, Nicole Gillen, Keeva Campbell, Caoimhe Parker, Ciara McMahon, Sinéad Banville, Lily Stoutt, Aoife Hearne, Caithlin Rossiter, Lucy O’Rourke, Danielle O’Leary, Anna Dempsey, Beth Byrne, Sophie Byrne, Erin Kehoe, Katie Feeney, Mary Kate Murphy.
Blackwater: Evelyn Burke, Amber Wright, Laura McGuinness, Laura Doyle, Shauna Cullen, Orla Roche, Ella Wright, Clara Molloy, Millie Nolan, Hannah Murphy, Clodagh Whelan, Niamh Cullen, Emily O’Donoghue, Shauna Byrne, Amelia Dunne, Rebecca Byrne, Elizabeth Whelan, Vanessa Byrne, Caitlin Kelly-Kehoe, Isabella Cashe.