Horeswood guile prevails
HORESWOOD NEEDED all their grit and guile to claim the Under-16 camogie Roinn 1 championship title over a gallant Craanford in Boolabawn.
The south county side looked to be on course for a strong victory when holding a seven-point advantage at the end of the third quarter, but they were given a severe test by their gutsy opponents right to the final whistle.
Up to the weekend, it had been fairly routine all season for Horeswood. They sauntered through the group stages unbeaten, racking up big wins with stunning performances along the way. Their form has been no surprise, as they boast an array of talented players all across the line-up.
However, Craanford played in the other group and compiled a perfect record themselves.
They were spearheaded by Wexford starlet Katie Smyth but were made tick by the talented diamond in the middle of the park, with Laura Doran at centre-back exceptional throughout.
With just three minutes on the clock, Horeswood got the perfect start. It came from a scrappy phase of play, but the ball eventually popped out to Amy Ennis and she was clinical with her finish, low past Melissa Doran.
Aine Doyle replied with a point at the other end but Horeswood, playing with the breeze, slowly moved into a decent lead. Kathryn Dempsey picked off a pair of points while Kate Foley chose to fire over a penalty after Michelle Kinsella was fouled.
Down by 1-4 to 0-1, Craanford responded. Smyth pointed a free after Sarah Doyle was impeded and things got even better when Siofra Bairéad’s wicked shot skipped up off the ground and found the back of the net.
Horeswood didn’t panic. They missed a couple of decent goal chances but Kinsella’s point, plus a brace of placed balls from Kate Foley, gave the New Ross District side a 1-7 to 1-2 lead at the change of ends.
The advantage increased to seven after Kinsella and Dempsey registered again, but back came the ’Ford with a couple of Smyth frees. After Foley got her fifth, Elena Kenny flipped over a nice score to make it 1-11 to 1-4.
Smyth’s runs were causing more and more problems and it was no surprise when she cut in and drilled past Hayley Griffin with eight minutes left.
She put three between the sides with a free but Kate Foley eased the nerves with a 58th-minute point and Horeswood hung on to take the title.
Horeswood: Hayley Griffin; Ciara Corish, Leanne Rowe, Yvonne Murphy-Walsh; Emer Hunt, Katie Kehoe, Róisín Parker; Elena Kenny (0-1), Kate Foley (capt., 0-6, 3 ‘45s, 2 frees, 1 pen.); Michelle Kinsella (0-2), Kathryn Dempsey (0-3), Ciara Walsh; Sinéad Clancy, Amy Ennis (1-0), Sarah Foley. Subs. - Jasmine Howlin for Clancy, inj. (31), Annie Rose Lyng for Walsh (35), also Hazel Cooney, Hannah Chapman, Mai Dempsey, Shauna Foley.
Craanford: Melissa Doran; Aisling Somers, Máire Doyle, Fiona Doyle; Áine Tobin, Laura Doran (capt.), Alannah Dowling; Blathnaid Kenny, Siofra Bairéad (1-0); Katie Smyth (1-4, 0-4 frees), Carla Brannigan, Saoirse Kenny; Eilish Doyle, Áine Doyle (0-1), Sarah Doyle. Subs. - Méabh Bairéad for Dowling (12), Derbhaile Kenny for E. Doyle (50), also Emma Byrne, Bríd Doyle, Abbie Byrne.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).