DELIGHT FOR ’DALES
Burke’s side make jump to Senior after sweet victory
THE second game on the Camogie Finals programme played in Baltinglass on Saturday last, September 15, was the clash of Avondale and Kiltegan.
As in the Junior final, this was the third meeting of these sides this year.
Avondale had been successful so far but there was no guarantee that those victories earlier in the year would mean anything. After all, finals are won on the day.
Kiltegan played the first half down towards the road goal and had the aid of a stiff breeze.
They put on a lot of pressure early on and a point from an Eimear Doyle free after six minutes was a great boost to their confidence.
Caitlin Olohan levelled matters with an Avondale free in the 14th minute.
However, Kiltegan came back on the attack and went back ahead when Lynn Fenton pointed a free.
The girls from the Carlow border were playing well at this stage and some nice combined play between Sarah Fennelly, Fiona Hobson and Lynn Fenton kept the pressure on the Avondale backs.
Fenton elected to point a penalty after 18 minutes to leave Kiltegan 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.
Midfielder Stephanie Rattray pulled back a point for Avondale on twenty minutes but Fiona Hobson responded one minute later with another Kiltegan point.
The Avondale forwards were beginning to look more dangerous and Caitlin Olohan and Tanya McDonald were coming more into the game.
The Kiltegan goal had a miraculous escape after 24 minutes when Tanya McDonald was put through on goal but her blistering shot came back off the crossbar and the defence could breathe again.
Lynn Fenton scored her side’s fifth point from Kiltegan’s next attack downfield following the crossbar escape.
However, Avondale received a huge boost one minute from the break for hal- time.
Kiltegan goalie Teresa Kehoe made a great save from Avondale corner-forward Antonia Heffernan when she deflected her shot on to the post.
Kehoe had lost sight of where the ball had gone and the in rushing Tanya McDonald finished to the net for the equalising goal.
This was a big turning point in the game as Kiltegan, having made much of the running in the first half, were now turning over to face the wind in the second period on level terms.
Avondale made a strong start to the second half and within four minutes had gone into a two point lead with points from centre forward Caitlin Olohan and centre back Mairead Dunne.
Both these players went on to have very influential displays in the second period.
Kiltegan continued to battle strongly but were now finding it difficult to move into attack where Mandy Burke at full-back for the Dales had shut down any chances that might arise.
Stephanie Rattray and Katie Kennedy got on top around the middle third of the field and the Kiltegan defence came under constant pressure.
Tanya McDonald pointed an Avondale free after 12 minutes to bring the lead to a goal – 1-5 to 0-5.
There was no further score for the entire second half until the game entered the time added on period.
Avondale had six wides in this half but the Kiltegan defence with Teresa Kehoe, Patricia Kehoe, Elisha Ryan, Emilia Cullen and Andrea Byrne continued their stout resistance making scores difficult to come by.
Caitlin Olohan finished the half as she began it when she pointed the insurance point for Avondale two minutes into a six minute period of added time.
Matters became a little heated before the end and referee Fidelma Dowdall from Kildare issued a couple of yellow cards and one red to an Avondale player.
It was a pity that the game should end on this note as the game had been contested in a sporting manner.
Following the game the Intermediate Trophy was presented by Breda Byrne, Cathaoirleach of the Wicklow Camogie Board, to Avondale captain Katie Kennedy.
Scorers – Avondale: Caitlin Olohan 0-3, Stephanie Rattray 1-1, Maureen Dunne 0-1, Tanya McDonald 0-1.
Kiltegan: Eimear Doyle 0-1, Lynn Fenton 0-3, Fiona Hobson 0-1. Avondale: Helen Heffernan; Tracy Sunderland, Mandy Burke, Kelly Kavanagh; Lorraine Doyle, Mairead Dunne, Michelle Humphries; Stephanie Rattray, Katie Kennedy; Ciara Clancy, Caitlin Olohan, Orla Byrne; Antonia Heffernan, Tanya McDonald, Stephanie Keogh. Kiltegan: Teresa Kehoe; Elisha Ryan, Patricia Kehoe, Emilia Cullen; Anna Byrne, Andrea Byrne, Shefali Daly Danne; Sarah Jane Winder, Sarah Fennelly; Evelyn Deans, Fiona Hobson, Lynn Fenton; Jackie Byrne, Sarah Byrne, Eimear Doyle. Sub: Stephanie Jackson, Aine Timmons Referee: Fidelma Dowdall (Kildare).