Glynn-Barntown treble
A DOMINANT Glynn-Barntown wrapped up their third Senior ‘B’ camogie championship title in a row, defeating Kilrush in Bellefield on Saturday.
The excitement for the Killurin-based club was somewhat muted compared to the energetic blast from the P.A. system congratulating the ‘county champions’. There were happy faces in the ranks but it was clear that retaining this title wasn’t the aim for the season.
And that’s a good thing. With other clubs sliding back a little, new challengers need to emerge to keep a freshness to the competition. Glynn-Barntown are the club closest to making the push through.
They ran St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier close in the group stages and did reasonably well against St. Martin’s, so it’s about getting that big win and building on it. Their general youthful nature suggests their arrow is still pointing up, meaning last four will be the aim in 2018.
For Kilrush, this was a lot less stressful than last year’s relegation final. Survival achieved, they gave this a good go, especially in the first-half.
While it’s clear they have a some improving to do to break into the top five, making a ‘B’ final still shows clear progress in 2017.
They made it hard for Glynn-Barntown in the opening exchanges. After Emma Walsh popped over a dead-ball, Sharon Sunderland and Mags Byrne responded at the other end to give Kilrush a 0-2 to 0-1 lead after six minutes.
Without really excelling, Glynn-Barntown chipped away while playing with the elements. Laura Dempsey flighted over a couple of classy points before Emma Sweeney and Aoife Sheil got their names on the scoresheet.
Things were still going to plan from Kilrush when Byrne cut the deficit to 0-5 to 0-3 after 24 minutes. However, Annette Moroney soon fed Jessie Morrissey from deep, and the Glynn-Barntown full-forward controlled well before flashing a shot past Brídín O’Rourke between the sticks.
Dempsey’s third, and another from Sweeney, made it 1-7 to 0-3 at the break but there were some strong suggestions that county Senior Emma Walsh should have had her second of the afternoon, one that was waved wide despite her clear exasperation.
Chloe Cashe popped over a free early in the second-half but Kilrush had real hope when Mags Byrne latched on to a mis-hit free, made space for herself and buried a shot past Emma Kiely. The onslaught never materialised.
Instead Glynn-Barntown were comfortable. Cashe and Sheil made it 1-10 to 1-3 before Morrissey pulled her second goal to the net with seven minutes remaining.
Sharon Sunderland scored her side’s only point from play in the 55th minute but it only provided a moment’s respite. After Brídín O’Rourke made a couple of fine saves, Emma Sweeney drilled home her side’s third goal and Walsh rounded off the win by finally getting her second score.
Glynn-Barntown: Emma Kiely; Aoife Barron, Aine Shannon, Róisín Cooney; Aisling Halligan, Róisín Doyle, Chloe Cashe (0-2 frees); Annette Moroney, Clodagh Jackman; Emma Walsh (capt., 0-2, 1 free), Laura Dempsey (0-3), Aoife Sheil (0-2); Emma Sinnott, Jessie Morrissey (2-0), Emma Sweeney (1-2). Subs. - Eimear Buckley for Barron (42), Cora Doyle for Sinnott (48), Eva Crean for Halligan (59), Patrice O’Gorman for Sweeney (59), Eva Arthur for Cooney (60+2), also Lara O’Shea, Caoimhe Neville, Emma Goff, Niamh Buckley, Mairéad Furlong, Holly Hynes, Oilbhe Raftery.
Kilrush: Brídín O’Rourke; Mairéad O’Rourke, Maura Kavanagh, Danielle Hayden; Anne Byrne, Cathy Kavanagh, Claire O’Rourke; Sharon Sunderland (capt., 0-2, 1 free), Maura O’Rourke; Gillian Kavanagh, Aisling O’Rourke, Maryann Sheehan; Kelly Murphy, Margaret Byrne (1-2, 0-2 frees), Charlene Hayden. Subs. - Julieann Nolan for G. Kavanagh (46), also Aoife Kehoe, Orla Byrne, Celina Hayden, Susan Byrne, Liz Whelan, Chelsea Sunderland, Leona Kenny, Lisa Fortune, Ciara Nolan, Mairéad Sheehan, Mairéad Lancaster.
Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).