Ibar’s firepower sinks Cushinstown in decider
ST. IBAR’S/SHELS 3-16 R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 1-4
ST. IBAR’S/Shelmalier had too much firepower for up-and-coming Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in the Junior ‘A’ camogie league final in Piercestown on Monday of last week.
The Hollymount side came up one short in this competition last season, losing to Marshalstown in a tight final in Craanford, and eight of that team were back looking to make sure they didn’t go home disappointed again.
As well as that octet, a bunch of talented youngsters have been added to the side. The likes of Lauren Murphy and Ailis Neville, who shared 1-10 between them, will likely have higher callings come championship time but they were hugely vital to this success.
That’s not to say St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier won’t have a decent chance of doubling up and taking championship honours too. Around the scorers-in-chief the women in black-and-amber created plenty of opportunities and defended supremely.
If there was a player of the game award for this final it probably would have gone to St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier captain Larah Campbell. She was given the task of facing up to Rathgarogue-Cushinstown’s most important asset, Joanne Dillon, and she did a superb job.
While it was a step too far for the New Ross District side, they will have renewed energy come championship time. They are clearly a young team, developing well, and won’t be without a chance towards the end of the summer if they keep plugging away.
Lauren Murphy already had two points on the board when Molly Byrne stole in on the right and nonchalantly slipped a low shot past Maureen Dunne to the net.
St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier led by 1-3 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter but were not getting everything their own way.
Dillon’s third point and a Becca Foley score kept Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in touch at the interval (1-6 to 0-4), and things got even more interesting in the 32nd minute when Róisín Dillon’s halted run presented Jane Doyle with the chance to collect loose possession and drill home a classy goal.
However, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown couldn’t build on that score and failed to register again. Ailis Neville settled St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier down with her second point and the county Under-16, plus Róisín Tobin, added two more each as their side eased 1-11 to 1-4 ahead.
The game was ended as a contest when the industrious Eadaoin Fitzgerald started a move that saw Campbell pick out Neville, and the youngster fired past Dunne to the net in the 43rd minute. Aoife Fielding almost added another soon after but her handpassed effort was scrambled clear.
Andrea Fielding picked off a point, Neville and Murphy added further scores to their respective tallies, and Hannah Hearne came off the bench to grab a quick 1-1, including a goal from Anne Marie Kelly’s pass, to ease St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier to the league crown.
St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier: Mary Cullen; Lisa Quill, Leona Tector, Caitlin Carroll; Eleanor Lacey, Larah Campbell (capt.), Mikaela Lanigan; Eadaoin Fitzgerald, Anne Marie Kelly (0-1); Ailis Neville (1-5), Lauren Murphy (0-5, 2 frees), Andrea Fielding (0-1); Aoife Fielding, Róisín Tobin (0-3), Molly Byrne (1-0). Subs. - Hannah Hearne (1-1) for Aoife Fielding (52), Katie Lacey for Byrne (54), Caroline Curran for Andrea Fielding (56), also Therese Sheil, Maeve Quill, Fiona Kinsella, Catríona Kinsella, Áine Fitzgerald, Ceara O’Brien.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Maureen Dunne; Gemma Creane, Amy Dillon, Emily Doyle; Ciara Gaffney, Emma Leacy, Eadaoin Murphy; Sarah O’Neill, Oonagh Murphy; Jane Doyle (1-0), Joanne Dillon (0-3, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Róisín Dillon; Chloe Byrne, Becca Foley (0-1), Kate O’Keeffe. Subs. - Laura O’Connor for O’Keeffe (48), Aoife Barron for Byrne (54), also Ella Foley, Orlaith Gaffney, Fiona Holohan, Caoimhe Lyng, Kate Devereux, Niamh O’Shea, Ciara Murphy, Denise McGrath, Michaela Gaffney.
Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).