Gaels crown a super season
Ballynastragh end on high
U18R2B in Blackwater BALLINASTRAGH GLS 1-14 FETHARD 2-9
THE CAMOGIE queens of Ballynastragh Gaels capped off a memorable year on the playing field on Saturday, but they needed to call on every ounce of their fighting spirit to fend off an heroic revival from Fethard on the way to capturing the Minor Roinn 2B championship title at a windy and cold Blackwater in the dictionary definition of a game of two halves.
The Gorey District side were simply superb in the first-half, benefiting from their use of the significant breeze blowing towards the sea as they formed a 1-13 to 0-4 lead by the break.
With a twelve-point deficit to overcome, a comeback from the seasiders would have entered the annals of camogie folklore, and to their eternal credit they had Gaels on the ropes down the home straight as a couple of goals brought them to within touching distance.
But Gaels eventually held on despite only scoring once after the break to clinch a commendable victory, as they added to their collection following the county final success of their Under-14 side earlier on in the year.
Ballynastragh captain Katelyn O’Connor opened her side’s account from a ‘45 after her earlier effort was deflected wide, while some good work from the impressive Olive Curtis set up Tara O’Connor to double their lead by the fourth minute.
Libby Sutton pointed in response for Fethard, and although she added a free and Jennifer Dunne grazed the top of the bar for Fethard’s third point on twelve minutes, Gaels began to assert control with an unanswered run of 1-9 that proved so crucial come the full-time whistle.
Three Katelyn O’Connor frees made it 0-6 to 0-3 after 19 minutes, and some solid defending from Dervla Noctor allowed Curtis to point a minute later.
O’Connor sent over a free from her own half before adding a ‘45. Curtis latched on to the re-start to land her third point, and the latter also kicked over the loose ball to make it 0-11 to 0-3.
Shauna Owley pointed confidently off her left side after 26 minutes, while Tara O’Connor’s deflected attempt bounced into the net as Ballynastragh opened up that cushion at the change of ends.
But Fethard re-ignited their challenge with a goal in the early throes of the new half when Dunne knocked in Sutton’s cross, and two frees from Sutton preceded Aoife Cullen delivering the ball towards the danger-zone where Fiona Ryan’s deft flick on the spin beat Kiva Kinsella for a brilliant improvised goal on 44 minutes.
Two more Sutton frees had the gap down to 1-14 to 2-9 with six minutes left, but Gaels’ rearguard dug in for a hard-fought win, with Róisín Hughes and Dervla Noctor particularly outstanding in repelling Fethard’s relentless pressure.
Ballynastragh Gaels: Kiva Kinsella; Laura Ivers, Róisín Hughes; Katelyn O’Connor (capt., 0-8, 6 frees, 2 ‘45s), Dervla Noctor; Olive Curtis (0-4), Sadhbh Corcoran, Aoife McGonigle; Orla Bolger, Shauna Owley (0-1); Tara O’Connor (1-1), Hannah Noctor. Subs. - Aisling Buttle, Bronagh Bolger, Robyn Cousins, Elsa Hughes.
Fethard: Aideen Foley-Saunders; Jacqui Foley, Eirinn Foley-Saunders; Sarah Molloy (capt.), Méadhbh Nunan; Aoife Cullen (0-1), Fiona Ryan (1-0), Storm Eaton; Aisling Ryan, Jennifer Dunne (1-1); Libby Sutton (0-7, 5 frees), Amy Molloy. Subs. - Cora Hackett for A. Molloy (52), also Ciara Murphy, Laura Walsh, Alison Molloy.
Referee: Colm O’Flaherty (Blackrock, Cork).