Duffry girls’ delight in Shield final
DUFFRY ROVERS 4-1 DRUMSURN (DERRY) 0-1
DUFFRY ROVERS kept their best until last when they turned in an excellent performance to convincingly see off the Drumsurn challenge in this John West Féile na nGael Division 4 camogie Shield final in Fenagh on Sunday.
Having impressed during earlier round games, it was in this final that Duffry Rovers They played with real abandon as their swift, direct play saw them dominate the game.
They had the benefit of an Aoife O’Leary goal inside 30 seconds of the start when she finished a Rebecca Codd centre to the net with a first-time ground shot.
They continued to attack for most of the opening period but were denied on several occasions by desperate defending.
As a result, it wasn’t until the 15th minute they added their second goal through Lauren Roban who found the net with an excellent shot from ten metres.
In additional time Drumsurn had their opening and only score of the game, a Caitlin Cassidy pointed free, leaving the eventual winners leading by 2-0 to 0-1 at the interval.
Duffry Rovers forwards Rebecca Codd and Lauren Roban looked lethal in possession on the resumption, creating a number of chances only to be denied by the excellent netminding of Clara McIntyre who made a number of excellent saves through this second period.
The Derry girls were making little impression in attack as Emilia Fortune and Katie Breen-Sherlock were outstanding for the Duffry.
Two minutes into the second-half Rebecca Codd fired over an excellent point, while three minutes later the same player found the net with a splendid finish from 14 metres, giving her side a 3-1 to 0-1 lead which was no more than they deserved.
Close to the finish they added a fourth goal through Katie Bowe to cap a fine performance and ensure the winning of the Shield for the very first time.
Duffry Rovers: Lauren Smyth; Heather Boyce, Emilia Fortune, Lucy McCarthy; Michelle Kearns, Katie Breen-Sherlock, Anna Roban; Abigail Cullen, Isobel Kavanagh; Laura Conroy, Rebecca Codd (1-1), Aoife O’Leary (1-0); Jessica Donovan, Lauren Roban (1-0), Katie Dobbs. Subs. - Ciara Tobin for McCarthy, Anna Kinsella for Dobbs, Katie Bowe (10) for Donovan, also Jennifer McGrath-Kerins Katie Bates, Róisín Dobbs, Eimer Tobin, Niamh Doyle, Maeve McCarthy.
Drumsurn: Clara McIntyre; Clodagh Smith, Alessia Doran, Megan McIntyre; Lucy Mullen, Casey Ferris, Sophie Duffy; Caitlin Cassidy (0-1 free), Una Rafferty; Kerry O’Neill, Seána McLaughlin, Nicole Duddy; Maria Murray, Caitlin Mailey, Ceallach Mailey. Subs. - Lucy Mullen for Smith, Cora Robinson for Murray. Referee: Brian Deering (Carlow).