Horeswood girls shine
HORESWOOD CLAIMED a fully-deserved Under-16 Roinn 2 camogie title, beating a gallant Marshalstown in Killurin on Sunday.
The New Ross District side were fantastic in almost every facet of play, although their shooting held them back with 22 wides preventing a much more comfortable run to victory in the final few minutes.
With over half their side still Under-14, it’s clear that the future of the victors’ camogie club is bright. Right from goalkeeper Amy Ennis, through defence to attack, Horeswood were fantastic with Elena Kenny arguably the best of them all.
Marshalstown, with two experienced names to the fore, Chloe Davis and Becky Walsh, began on the front foot. Walsh opened the scoring with a second-minute point but the superb Kenny responded from the right wing.
When Anne Marie Redmond pulled to the net at the second attempt in the eighth minute, Marshalstown had something to hold on to. While Kathryn Dempsey scored for Horeswood, two Walsh ‘30s and another point from play made it 1-4 to 0-2 in the 13th minute.
Slowly things started to change. A Michelle Kinsella pulled shot was deflected wide, and Kate Foley scored the resulting ‘30. The deadball specialist added another after a foul on Leanne Rowe and that was followed by another classy Kenny point.
Peppering the Marshalstown goal, Horeswood pulled within one when Rowe nabbed her impressive point. Another Foley dead-ball tied the game, only for Marshalstown to have the final say of the half when Walsh picked off her fifth point.
Trailing by 1-5 to 0-7, Horeswood came out in the second-half and dominated. They took over in the middle third and battered their opponents’ goal. Still, Marshalstown defended admirably, not conceding the leveller until Foley added a free in the 41st minute.
Elena Kenny won that free, shipping a heavy pull across the legs, and she was also pole-axed moments later and admirably got on with it with the minimum of fuss on both occasions. Foley put Horeswood ahead for the first time in the game from the second of those indiscretions.
Both star performers were involved in their side’s goal in the 45th minute. Foley knocked the ball into the goalmouth, only for the Marshalstown defence to clear. However, Kenny picked the sliothar up, drilled in into the goalmouth and Hazel Cooney directed a delightful flick to the net.
Another Foley ‘30 put her side 1-10 to 1-5 ahead in the 48th minute. Kinsella forced Niamh Finn into a fantastic save before drilling narrowly wide in the next attack as Horeswood looked to seal victory.
However, there was a sting in the Marshalstown tails. Walsh pointed in the 59th minute and took the initial shot that Amy Ennis brilliantly saved, only for Ciara Doyle to sweep home the rebound a minute later.
Horeswood, now 1-10 to 2-6 ahead in added-time, broke straight up the field, held their nerve and Kenny put the seal on victory with her third point of a memorable afternoon for her club.
Horeswood: Amy Ennis; Ciara Corish, Katie Kehoe, Aoife Foley (joint capt.); Róisín Parker, Sinéad Clancy; Kate Foley (0-6, 3 ‘30s, 3 frees), Elena Kenny (0-3); Michelle Kinsella, Kathryn Dempsey (0-1); Leanne Rowe (0-1), Sarah Whitty (joint capt.). Subs. - Hazel Cooney (1-0) for Whitty (31), also Eimear Hunt, Annie Rose Lyng, Yvonne Murphy-Walsh. Absent: Faye Prendergast, Eadaoin Kent, Jade Cleere.
Marshalstown: Niamh Finn; Ciara Bolger, Lorraine Vardy; Jemma Roche, Lauren Finn, Molly Kearns; Chloe Davis, Becky Walsh (capt., 0-6, 3 ‘30s); Eimear Doyle, Kerri Doyle; Ciara Doyle (1-0), Anne Marie Redmond (1-0). Subs. - Clodagh Roche for K. Doyle (48), also Orlaigh Kehoe. Absent: Lettie Hassett.
Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).