ASHLING’S AN ALL-STAR
MILFORD will try to make it four provincial titles in a row next weekend after seeing off the valiant challenge of Tipperary’s Burgess/ Duharra in the semi-final played in Kilcolman last Saturday.
The north Cork side yet again showed they are the team to beat in Munster as they battled past the premier county team in what turned out to be their stiffest challenge yet in 2015.
In near perfect weather conditions and on a typical heavy November pitch, Milford were pushed all the way and for a period of time it looked like this would be the end of this particular journey however champions show what they are made of when things get tough and this Milford team clearly have that pedigree.
Tipp star Emer McDonnell led the charge for the home side early on as Milford struggled to get to the pace of the game.
Milford responded well though and looked to be heading in at the break leading by a point however a long range free for the home side made its way to the Milford net just before the whistle which meant the reigning champions trailed by 1-5 to 0-7 heading in for the interval.
The first half saw the free takers do most of the damage with Milford’s Emer Watson giving yet another clinical display from placed balls. Watson continued her accurate shooting in the second period and at the finish had racked up an impressive eight points, (five frees).
Marie O’Neill also showed her worth with four scores with Maria Watson, Aisling Thompson and Anna Geary also troubling the umpires.
Maria Walsh and Watson picked up the gauntlet again after the interval with both sides content on taking points from wherever they could get them. There were some excitable moments in front of each goal but this one had a draw written all over it from a distance out.
Burgess led by the minimum as the clock headed into the danger zone however a late free awarded to Milford was despatched with aplomb to send this one to extra time, and in fairness to all concerned it was no more than either side deserved, 1-10 to 0-13.
The first half of extra time saw both sides record a brace of points however the conditions and the duration of the fixture were having a toll on all concerned as players struggled with cramp all over the pitch 1-12 to 0-15.
O’Neill and Watson pushed Milford clear in the final minutes of the second half of extra time and despite a valiant challenge from the Tipp girls, this one was destined to go the way of Milford.
The Cork side don’t get much chance to recover from this one as they face up to Newmarket-on-Fergus next Saturday in the Munster Final. This is the Clare side’s first time in the senior final however they have shown all season that they are a side not to be taken lightly – something that plenty sides have already found out to their cost already this year.
Milford will go into the game this weekend as favourites, justifiably so, and while plenty sides around the country would find it difficult to deal with that tag, Milford seem to wear it as a badge of honour.
MILFORD: R Finn; D Hayes, K Gavin, L Healy; A Watson, A Geary 0-1, E O’Riordan; O O’Mahony, A Thompson 0-1; M Walsh 0-1, C O’Connor, D O’Reilly; M O’Neill 0-4, E Watson 0-8 (5f), M Watson 0-2. Subs: L Stack 0-1 for K Gavin (31), E O’Friel for M Walsh (42).
BURGESS/ DUHARRA: C Holohan; E King, A Cremin, A Egan; G Grace, T O’Halloran, M Moloney; R Barry 0-1, Ciardha Maher; C McKeogh, J Grace 1-6 (1-5), A Kennedy 0-3; Caoimhe Maher, E McDonnell 0-3, T Kennedy. Subs: L Ried for C McKeogh (52).