Crossabeg prosper in Clonee
Impressive visitors get campaign off to a flying start
CROSSABEG-B’MURN CLONEE
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN got their Bodibro Senior ladies’ football championship campaign off to a flying start with a powerful performance and dominant victory over hosts Clonee on Friday evening.
The Wexford District club looked primed and ready for competition as they buzzed around the field from the first minute, and they were in no way flattered by the manner of their victory over the home side.
Inevitably teams are going to be at different stages of their preparation, and Clonee didn’t quite look as ready as their opponents. They never stopped trying but their movement wasn’t as crisp or even as biting as a physical Crossabeg-Ballymurn outfit.
The victors will be an interesting team to watch on this form. This group is stacked with quality, with Adamstown and Shelmalier playing out a draw in the other fixture (3-8 to 2-11), but Crossabeg-Ballymurn won’t have any fear of anyone with this level of performance.
Aoife Sheil was critical to their success but, as powerful as she was at number 11, there was far more to like about how they played than just their top scorer. Wexford camogie player Derbhla Doyle caused serious problems for the hosts’ defence.
Her county team-mate Katie Sludds’ athleticism between the sticks was also eye-catching, but it only mirrored what went on in front of her as the Crossabeg-Ballymurn defence smothered out most of what Clonee could offer.
By their own admission, Clonee are in a bit of a rebuilding spell. They have a lot of talented young players in this team and they will learn what it takes at this level, but as a whole they aren’t there yet.
One who is there and was superb was Emma Tomkins. The teenage county starlet continues to impress and always added a little something special in possession.
It was also great to see Claire O’Rourke back from injury, but her side lost two of their full-back line to injuries in the first-half and that will be a huge concern with a trip to Adamstown on the horizon next Tuesday.
Anne Byrne opened the scoring within a minute, but Derbhla Doyle was fouled twice in the first two Crossabeg-Ballymurn attacks, and Aoife Sheil converted to put the visitors ahead. The first quarter continued to be nip and tuck, with Marguerite Doyle and Claire O’Rourke raising white flags at the other end.
When good work by the impressive Noeleen Shanahan allowed Crossabeg-Ballymurn to earn the all-important turnover close to the Clonee goal, Sheil feasted with a clinical finish to the net to make it 1-2 to 0-3 after just seven minutes.
Back came Clonee at the other end. In the first quarter they were able to find overlaps and create chances, openings that disappeared the longer the game wore on.
Claire O’Rourke ripped a rocket past Sludds as the first quarter expired, and Liz Evered put her side 1-4 to 1-2 ahead.
As hard as it would have been to believe at the time, Clonee managed just 1-1 in the remaining 47 minutes. The visitors were level after Diúrí McDonald and Shanahan pointed, and they pushed on with a second Sheil goal in the 23rd minute after more great work by Derbhla Doyle.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn temporarily lost Leanne Cullen to a yellow card in the 29th minute, but her side still hit the break in control, leading by 2-7 to 1-5 after McDonald and Aoife Sheil (twice) added late points.
The game was as good as over as a contest at the end of the third quarter. Sheil added two more minors, but it was Derbhla Doyle’s looping goal from distance that made it 3-9 to 1-5 after 44 minutes.
Ciara Walsh made the lead eleven, but her team were slowed by more disciplinary woes as both Doyle sisters, Loren and Derbhla, were yellow carded in the final quarter.
Sophie Kirwan pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Elaine McCabe was fouled in the 53rd minute, but two injury time Shanahan points put the seal on a superb Crossabeg-Ballymurn success.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Katie Sludds; Polly Frost, Siobhán Cummins, Emma McDonald; Kelly Ann Dempsey, Loren Doyle, Leanne Cullen; Ciara Walsh (0-1), Diúrí McDonald (02), Noeleen Shanahan (0-3), Aoife Sheil (2-6, 0-4 frees), Ava Kelly; Áine Fortune, Derbhla Doyle (1-0), Rianna Cullen. Subs. - Aleisha Cullen for R. Cullen (60+2), Nora Moran for L. Cullen (60+2).
Clonee: Anna Doyle; Danielle Hayden, Edena Mimnagh, Brídín Doyle; Amy Tobin-Cosgrave, Mary O’Neill, Róisín Fitzpatrick; Karen Tomkins, Elaine McCabe; Anne Byrne (0-2), Marguerite Doyle (0-1), Emma Tomkins; Sal Doyle, Claire O’Rourke (1-1), Liz Evered (0-1). Subs. - Lorna Fortune for Hayden, inj. (9), Eilish O’Rourke for Mimnagh, inj. (22), Sophie Kirwan (1-0 pen.) for Fitzgerald (39), also Niamh O’Rourke, Zoe Tobin-Cosgrave, Maura O’Rourke, Sophie McCabe, Melissa Doran, Caroline Murphy, Ali Evered, Emer Fitzgerald, Caitríona Murray.
Referee: Denis Fitzpatrick (Castletown).
Bodibro Senior championship Group A: Shelmalier 2-11, Adamstown 3-8; Crossabeg-Ballymurn 3-12, Clonee 2-5.
Bodibro Senior championship Group B: St. Anne’s 4-12, Dunbrody Gaels 1-12; Clonard/Volunteers 1-9, Clongeen 1-6.
Intermediate championship North: Ballygarrett 7-7, St. Martin’s 1-14; Kilanerin 3-8, HWH-Bunclody 2-4.
Intermediate championship South: Gusserane 3-12, Taghmon-Camross 1-10.
Junior ‘A’ championship North: Baile Dubh Tíre 5-12, Clonee ‘B’ 3-7; Castletown 8-8, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy 1-6.
Junior ‘A’ championship South: Ballyhogue 7-12, St. Fintan’s 1-6; Shelmalier ‘B’ 8-11, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown 5-7.
Junior ‘B’ championship North: Starlights 4-6, St. Brigid’s 2-9; Kilanerin ‘B’ 3-25, Shamrocks 1-2.
Junior ‘B’ championship South: Clonard/ Volunteers ‘B’ 8-1, Clongeen ‘ B’ 0-1; Bannow9-18, Sarsfields 0-1; Dunbrody Gaels ‘B’ 5-9, Glynn-Barntown 5-7.