Through to the final
Knockananna to face Donard after battle with Glenealy
THESE two sides met earlier in the camogie championship in Glenealy and that game finished all square. With unbeaten Donard already waiting in the final, Knockananna and Glenealy played off in Annacurra on Tuesday for the chnce to take on the women from the west.
As current champions, Knockananna went into this game as slight favourites but it was clear that Glenealy did not come to Annacurra for the drive and were determined to upset pre-match predictions.
Right from the start the strong Glenealy mid field pairing of Laura Manley and Erynn Byrne got a grip on the game and put Knockananna on the defensive in the early stages. Lisa Hogan at centre back was keeping close tabs on Knockananna centre forward Ciara Byrne.
Knockananna centre back Laura Hogan was putting up stout resistance and helped her side in huge measure in these early stages.
Laura Manley got Glenealy off the mark with a pointed free in the second minute, but full forward Sinead Byrne had the sides level two minutes later. Ciara Byrne escaped the clutches of her marker to put the champions ahead after six minutes. It was her only opportunity of the half as she was not left unattended again in this period.
Laura Manley again levelled matters from another free by ten minutes. Once again Sinead Byrne put Knockananna back into the lead, this time with a point from a free.
The game was being played at full championship fervour with little leeway being given on either side.
When Laura Manley levelled again from a free the score stood at 0-3 each after seventeen minutes. Knockananna had forwards capable of scoring but were being marked extremely tightly.
Glenealy seemed very dependant on Laura Manley for their scores. Both defences were giving nothing away with Shannagh Goetelen and Sarah Tallon defending well close to goal for Knockananna while Laura Hogan outside them was also playing extremely well.
The game went fifteen minutes scoreless before Sinead Byrne and Aimee Maher added two points to leave Knockananna ahead by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time.
Knockananna brought on Niamh Byrne at the break.
Glenealy began the second half strongly and two Laura Manley points (one from a free) had the challengers back on level terms by ten minutes. The gauntlet was now thrown down to Knockananna.
But from here on they rose to the challenge and began to make their fitness and speed count. Many of their players who had been kept quiet up to now stepped up to the plate. Claire and Jessy Byrne began to swing the midfield battle in their favour and the half forward line came more into the game.
Ciara Byrne was getting on more ball now, but her wing forward colleagues Aimee Maher and Sarah Byrne were equally impressive.
Ciara pointed the champions into the lead again and when half time sub Niamh Byrne scored a goal from close in Knockananna began to grow in confidence.
Their combination play came to the fore and the scoring chances began to come.
Points from Sarah Byrne, Ciara Byrne and Erin Moules had them ahead by 1-9 to 0-5 after twenty minutes and playing in the more relaxed manner that a lead can bring to a team.
Glenealy did not die away by any means and kept battling on. However, scores provide energy and despite midfielders Laura Manley, Erynn O’Brien and forwards Vickie Coen and Lottie Cullen’s best efforts the Knockananna defence repelled their attacks.
Glenealy’s only score in the final quarter came from another Laura Manley pointed free. Knockananna finished the final ten minutes of the contest in control and added two points from Sarah Byrne and a goal from Aimee Maher to run out deserving and comfortable winners on a score of 2-11 to 0-6.
This was one of the better games in the Senior camogie championship and Glenealy put it up to the champions for fifty minutes. The big difference was the ability of Knockananna to score when they got going.
Scorers - Knockananna: Aimee Maher 1-1, Sinead Byrne 0-3, Ciara Byrne0-3, Niamh Byrne1-0, Sarah Byrne 0-3, Erin Moules 0-1. Glenealy: Laura Manley 0-6.
Knockananna: Macayla Murphy; Emily Hadden, Shannagh Goetelen, Sarah Tallon; Derbhla Byrne, Laura Hogan, Orla Kealy; Claire Byrne, Jessy Byrne; Aimee Maher, Ciara Byrne, Sarah Byrne; Niamh Mutton, Erin Moules, Sinead Byrne. Subs. Niamh Byrne, Erin Byrne.
Glenealy: Jackie Driver; Ailbhe Dowling, Denise Welsh, Amanda Doyle; Stacey O’Neill, Lisa Hogan, Anne Marie Manning; Laura Manley, Erynn O’Brien; Vickie Coen, Abbie O’Loughlin, Aoife Weir; Kasey Doyle, Lottie Cullen, Louise Vickers. Referee: John Keenan (Aughrim)