Complete team effort from Cloughbawn
CLOUGHBAWN CASTLETOWN
CLOUGHBAWN got a complete team performance at the perfect time as they powered past Castletown to take the Wexford Minor Roinn 2A Camogie 12-a-side Championship title in Castleboro on Sunday afternoon last.
Right throughout their side they bossed this game. How important it was to win the toss for home advantage is hard to quantify but they looked completely comfortable in their familiar surroundings right from the first whistle.
They used superior speed in the attacking third to really batter Castletown. Cathy O’Brien and Ciara Murphy, in particular, ran their visitors ragged while captain Niamh Kehoe was sharp throughout as the last line of attack.
Further back, the defence was clingy and on-form. They were led by the immovable Oonagh Barden but in truth there was no weak link, right back as far as solid shot-stopper Rachel Green.
Despite a free from sharp-shooter Doireann Cullen, four Kehoe points eased Cloughbawn into an early lead. Further overs by O’Brien and the industrious May Wickham helped make it 0-7 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.
Almost out of nothing Castletown responded when Orla Hoey drilled low to the net after Cullen’s long free dropped short. However, mere seconds later, the ball fell to Ciara Murphy and she swatted low to the net.
The points kept flowing for Cloughbawn as Niamh Kehoe brought her tally to seven.
Cullen tapped over a brace of dead-balls at the other end but they were only enough to get her side within eight at the change of ends (1-11 to 1-3).
Castletown badly needed a fast start to the second half but failed to add another score until Cullen grabbed her fourth point in the 47th minute. In the meantime, Cloughbawn put the game to bed.
O’Brien scored two fantastic overs as her side eased 1-15 to 1-3 ahead at the end of the third quarter. There was still time for some further gloss to be added and it came from a swift Murphy pull home after being picked out by May Wickham.
To their credit the gallant Castletown side battled all the way to the final whistle but it just wasn’t to be.
In the end it was left to Cloughbawn captain Niamh Kehoe to accept the Roinn 2A Cup from county chairman Donnacha Keirns on behalf of her victorious side.
Cloughbawn: Rachel Green; Marguerite Furlong, Elaine Quigley; Oonagh Barden, Niamh Whitty; Niamh Higgins, Tara Doyle, Cathy O’Brien (04); Ciara Murphy (2-2), May Wickham (0-2); Caoimhe Kehoe, Niamh Kehoe (capt., 0-8, 6 frees, 1 ‘30). Subs: Aoife Murphy (Tomfarney) for C. Kehoe (58), Aoife Murphy (Killegney) for Wickham (60), also, Hannah Keating, Caoimhe Doyle, Julie Furlong, Eadaion Stafford.
Castletown: Eimear Goland; Jessica Kavanagh, Susan Boyle; Eimear Wildes, Doireann Cullen (0-6 frees); Lucia Merrigan, Emma Furlong (capt.), Mollie Somers; Megan Cullen, Sarah Gleeson; Muireann Fitzpatrick, Orla Hoey (1-0). Subs. - Olive McGarry for Gleeson (44), Clare McGarry for Hoey (56), Eimear O’Hagan for Fitzpatrick (59), also, Joey Fleming, Roisin Goff.
Referee: Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown)