Clanmaurice miss out on All-Ireland final after another loss to Kilmessan

ALL-IRELAND CAMOGIE JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

Clanmaurice 0-9 Kilmessan (Meath)

ON a wet and windy Sunday afternoon at McDonagh Park, Nenagh, Kerry’s Clanmaurice faced Kilmessan of Meath in the All-Ireland Junior Club Camogie Championship semi-final in what was a repeat pairing of last year’s final that went to a replay.

On that occasion, Clanmaurice had led by a goal with seconds remaining in injury-time only for the Meath Ladies to secure an equaliser. Kilmessan subsequently took the All-Ireland title in the replay.

The first half in Sunday’s instalment was an even affair and after 15 minutes, the Kerry Girls led by 0-3 to 0-2. Despite Kilmessan launching attacks on the Kerry defence, Patrice Diggin (pictured below) proved to be a barrier to their scoring opportunities as she put in a fantastic shift at centre-back. Patrice also contributed six points of the Clanmaurice tally.

However, Kilmessan struck for a decisive score in the 16th minute when Katie Ní Choileáin found the Clanmaurice net to put the Meath girls into a 1-2 to 0-4 lead. This had been stretched to 1-6 to 0-7 by the half-time break.

At the 40 minute mark, the margin was a goal, 1-8 to 0-8, but Clanmaurice were unable to bridge the gap. The game was put to bed with four minutes remaining when Megan Thynne raised another green flag to leave the final score Kilmessan 2-10 Clanmaurice 0-9.

Clanmaurice will be disappointed but great credit is due to team and management for the effort that they put in.