Cloughbawn clinch title
CLOUGHBAWN 3-10 CASTLETOWN 2-3
CLOUGHBAWN DOMINATED the first-half on their way to a memorable victory in the Under-16 Roinn 1 camogie championship final in Hollymount recently.
The Castleboro girls were able to build their advantage on the back of an opening period with the wind at their backs, eventually going in at the break with a 1-8 to nil lead.
However, the opening exchanges were a little closer than the score suggests. Hannah Keating opened the scoring with a nice point but Castletown were able to exert some pressure without scoring.
Ciara Murphy made it 0-2 to nil but she was denied an opening goal shortly after when Eimear Goland make a superb save from her kicked shot. Niamh Kehoe became her side’s third scorer with a floated point.
Orla Hoey almost got Castletown on the scoreboard, but Rachel Greene was able to pull off a fine save in the Cloughbawn goal. Hanging on for dear life, the Gorey District side conceded 1-5 in the final few minutes of the half.
After points from May Wickham and Hannah Keating, Wickham struck a shot from distance that found its way to the net. Keating and Ciara Murphy (two) added further scores in the last moments of the half to make it 1-8 to nil at the break.
Things were different for Castletown with the elements at their backs. Megan Cullen followed a point with a raised green flag and all of a sudden just seven points separated the sides.
However, just when there seemed to be some hope, Niamh Ogilvie took it away with a goal, pulling home a breaking ball to put her side 2-8 to 1-1 ahead. Hannah Keating then found the net as Cloughbawn eased away.
Castletown did show resilience and never gave up. Doireann Cullen picked off a couple of nice points while Megan Cullen drilled a 20-metre free low to the net.
It couldn’t stop Cloughbawn, who fittingly wrapped up the Edward Kehoe Cup with a late Keating point.
Cloughbawn: Rachel Greene; Cao- imhe Kehoe, Oonagh Barden, Chloe Bradley; Niamh Whitty, Marguerite Furlong, Elaine Quigley; Tara Doyle, Niamh Kehoe (0-1); Hannah Keating (capt., 1-5), Ciara Murphy (0-3), Julie Furlong; May Wickham (1-1), Aoife Murphy, Niamh Ogilvie (1-0). Subs. - Ulrika Dreelan, Eadaoin Stafford, Sarah Flynn, Faye Codd, Katie Foley.
Castletown: Eimear Goland; Olive McGarry, Jessica Kavanagh, Joey Fleming; Doireann Cullen (0-2), Eimear Wildes, Susan Boyle; Muireann Fitzpatrick, Lucia Merrigan; Sarah Gleeson, Mollie Somers, Megan Cullen (2-1, 1-0 free); Eimear Hagan, Orla Hoey, Clare McGarry. Subs. - Isabelle Dempsey for Hoey, Aoife Byrne for C. McGarry, Emily Kavanagh for Fleming, also Bella Byrne Erin Dunne, Mia O’Shaughnessy.
Referee: Francis Neville (St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier).