Ballinastragh and Duffry deadlocked
len at the cutting edge.
Katie Breen-Sherlock and Laura Conroy paved the way for Cullen’s first point and the same pair were involvedinthebuild-uptoagoal fromthesameplayer.
On 42 minutes, in one frantic THE DUFFRY and Ballinastragh sequence of play at the clubhouse Gaels served up an Under-16 end of the pitch, Hughes forced a Roinn 1B camogie final which save from Rovers goalie Dobbs offered plenty of commitment before Shauna Owley was blocked and excitement to supporters at and then Tara O’Connor hit the bar. Farmleigh on Sunday, without Though Ballinastragh were delivering a winner. somehow denied on that occa
A late point for Rovers from sion, the levelling point came not Katie Bates raised a huge cheer long afterwards when centre-half and ensured that two very evenKatlyn O’Connor found the target ly-matched sides must meet again with a free from a distance of 40 to decide who takes the spoils. metres.
The Enniscorthy area girls also This only stimulated the Duffry claimed the first score as Lauren – who entered the match with an Roban pounced eagerly on the unbeaten record – to reply through rebound when Rebecca Codd’s Katie Bates’ free and Claire Doyle’s initial shot pinged back into play close-range point. off a post. The see-saw battle – and it
They came within inches of truly was a battle, with nothing adding a second goal when conceded easily by either side crowd-pleasing forward Laura – then swung back in favour of Conroy clipped the bar above Ballinastragh as they forced their ‘keeper Amy O’Sullivan’s head. third goal.
The Ballinastragh forwards took This time it was Aisling Fitzpatsome time to find their range, rick’s turn, kicking the sliothar over with Róisín Hughes drawing a the line after arriving in the square good save from netminder Róisín to greet a long ball from player-ofDobbs. the-match Katlyn O’Connor.
They eventually broke their However, there was still time for duckwhenOrlaBolgersomehow Bates to conjure up the equalising managed to lob Dobbs for an score before referee Aiden O’Brien equalisinggoal. blew the final whistle of a contest
Midfielder Katie Breen-Sherlock which was always keen but never soloed up the field to propel the free-flowing.
Duffry briefly back into the lead, Duffry Rovers: Róisín Dobbs; which was extended when Rebecca Lucy McCarthy, Emilia Fortune, MiCodd scooped the ball over the chelle Kearns; Isobel Kavanagh, bar on 20 minutes. Aoife Dunne, Nicola Dobbs; Katie
However,theirrivalsthenseized Breen-Sherlock (0-1), Shauna Nolan; the initiative in the run-up to the Katelyn Cowman, Laura Conroy, Katie break as a point from Tara O’ConBates (0-2, 1 free); Rebecca Codd (0nor and 1-1 from Hughes had the 1), Claire Doyle (0-1), Lauren Roban Gaels three up. (1-0). Subs. - Heather Boyce for
The goal was reward for an McCarthy (11), Abigail Cullen (1-1) always threatening display from for Cowman (18), Aoife O’Leary for the nippy front runner as she made Doyle (57). scoring look easy after collecting a Ballinastragh Gaels: Amy O’Sullong pass from Aisling Fitzpatrick. livan; Cliona McCarthy, Olive Curtis,
Unfortunately for Fitzpatrick Elsa Hughes; Róisín Noctor, Katyln and company, the scores dried O’Connor (0-1 free), Dervla Noctor; up for long stretches of the secTara O’Connor (0-1), Laura Ivers; ond-half, though the wind blew in Orla Bolger (1-0), Robyn Cousins, their favour. Aoife McGonigle; Róisín Hughes (1-1),
As the number of wides chalked Shauna Owley, Aisling Fitzpatrick (10). up against them mounted, their Sub. - Hannah Noctor for Ivers (55). opponents set about overhauling Referee: Aiden O’Brien (Cloughthem, with substitute Abigail Cul- bawn). BALLINASTRAGH GLS 3-3 DUFFRY ROVERS 2-6