Slice of history for Clonroche
Three minutes seal the deal
CLONROCHE 2-3 KILANERIN 0-2
CLONROCHE AND Kilanerin played out a tough contest in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Roinn ‘C’ camogie final in St. Patrick’s Park as both teams went in search of a slice of history.
In the end, three minutes of power play from the Clonroche girls proved the difference between these two evenly-matched teams.
Clonroche began the final in exceptional form and constantly bombarded the Kilanerin goal with attacks. Rebecca Ogilvie in particular was proving hard to manage and she was unlucky to see some of her early efforts drift wide.
Some good defending from the diminutive Anna Hughes and the hard-working Róisín Hughes just about kept Kilanerin in touch.
Midway through the half, Clonroche got the vital scores that their early pressure deserved. Rebecca Ogilvie got two points, from play and a free, but goals from Aoife Fleming and Leah Murphy did the real damage.
With Elizabeth Dempsey pulling the strings from deep, Kilanerin found it hard to work the ball up the field and create some chances of their own.
Kilanerin did enjoy an extended period of good play in the second-half as their midfield of Niamh Murphy, Aisling Fitzpatrick and Róisín Hughes got to grips with the game.
Unfortunately, this good period yielded no scores and another Rebecca Ogilvie point put nine between the teams.
Kilanerin to their credit never gave up and were rewarded with some scores late in the game. Saoirse McDonald was unlucky to see her close-range effort go over the bar instead of under it, and Róisín Hughes saw her hard work rewarded with a well-taken point. These were the only chances that a tough and organised Clonroche defence coughed up over the hour.
Clonroche ran out as well-deserved winners in the end but Kilanerin will learn much from their first appearance in a Rackard League camogie final.
The Clonroche girls now look forward to playing in the top division next year.
Clonroche: Aisling Flood, Aine Doyle, Aoibhinn Cooper, Siobhán Hudson, Elizabeth Dempsey, Shannon Redmond, Erin McDonald, Chloe O’Neill, Rebecca Ogilvie, Aoife Fleming, Leah Murphy, Brídín Quigley, Kate Flood, Kate Earle-Long, Alice Murphy, Makayla Flynn.
Kilanerin: Amy Noctor, Kiva Kinsella, Emma Kelly, Anna Hughes, Caoimhe Fleming, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Niamh Murphy, Róisín Hughes, Saidhbhe Byrne, Bébhínn McDonald, Róisín McGonigle, Saoirse McDonald, Ella Jones, Edie Byrne, Caoimhe McGonigle, Gemma Bolton, Lucy Buggy, Sophie Molloy, Jasmine O’Donoghue, Ella McCarton, Emma O’Sullivan.