Camogie win for Rathnure

RATHNURE 1-10 ST. IBAR’S/SHELS 1-3

RATHNURE CONTINUED their bid for a Junior ‘A’ camogie double with victory over St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier in the league final in Farmleigh on Tuesday.

The Blackstairs club, who are unbeaten in Group A of the championship and on the verge of the last four, were given a good test by the Hollymount side in the opening half.

However, their potent mix of experience and youth proved devastating the longer the game went on, with Rathnure captain Sandy Carr playing a starring role as they kept their opponents scoreless in the second-half.

With just two minutes on the clock, Shauna O’Connor got her club off to a solid start with the opening point, however, their opponents were soon hitting their stride.

Two pointed frees followed from former county Minor Róisín Tobin before a player at the other end of her career, Michelle Hearne, did what she’s been doing for two decades for her club, scoring the game’s opening goal.

That gave St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier a surprise 1-2 to 0-1 lead after 19 minutes.

Yet things started to change after Sandy Carr picked off her opening score for Rathnure two minutes later.

Róisín Higgins was next to point, and then Jackie Carr found the St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier net to give Rathnure the lead back.

Róisín Tobin’s 28th-minute free would prove to be her side’s last score, and it wasn’t enough for parity at the break as Sandy Carr split the posts to give her club a 1-4 to 1-3 advantage.

After strong performances from Sadbh McCarthy and Sarah Harding-Kenny in the opening half, hopes were high for the Hollymount club after the changearound.

Yet it was Rathnure who dominated. Two Sandy Carr dead-balls, a Lisa Martin score and a point from play by Lisa O’Connell ensured that the Enniscorthy District side took a 1-8 to 1-3 lead into the final quarter.

There was to be no dramatic recovery. Carr brought her tally to six with another pair of points and then collected the league trophy on behalf of her victorious side.

Rathnure: Brudge Roche; Ashlynn O’Leary, Bridget Murphy, Anne Marie O’Connor; Kelly O’Connor, Niamh O’Connor, Emma O’Connor; Lisa Martin (0-1), Lizzy Whiteley; Jackie Carr (1-0), Sandy Carr (capt., 0-6, 2 frees, 2 ‘45s), Shauna O’Connor (0-1); Lisa O’Connell (0-1), Róisín Higgins (0-1), Nora Higgins. Subs. - Shannen O’Connell for R. Higgins, Lara Conran for S. O’Connor, Mackenzie O’Leary for A. O’Leary, also Andrea Creane, Aoife Guiney, Megan Roche.

St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier: Caroline Curran; Lisa Quill, Sinéad Kelly, Maeve Doyle; Larah Campbell, Sadbh McCarthy, Eleanor Lacey; Sarah Harding-Kenny, Eadaoin Fitzgerald; Fiona Kinsella, Róisín Tobin (0-3 frees), Ceara O’Brien; Thea Kehoe, Michelle Hearne (1-0), Sarah Lacey. Subs. - Catherine Roche for Kehoe, Molly Byrne for Doyle, also Chloe Mahon, Mikaela Lanigan, Michelle Murphy, Anna Whelan, Chloe Mythen, Caitlin Sinnott, Ciara Corrigan, Mary Cullen.