Unlucky in Leinster
Knockananna lose out narrowly
LOOKING out on this AIB Leinster Club Junior B Camogie Championship semi-final from the sheltered comfort of the small stand in St Kevin’s Park in Tinahely on Saturday last October 13, this observer had great sympathy for the Camogie girls of the home county, Knockananna, and the visiting club from Meath, Ratoath. Sheets of rain were blowing down the pitch and it was anything but an appealing day for camogie.
However, the sod was in good condition for a game and both sides went on to provide a well contested, sporting and enjoyable game.
The home side, Knockananna, got off to the better start and had two points on the board from Sinead Byrne and Sarah Byrne by six minutes.
However, Ratoath gradually began to find their feet and the Knockananna defence began to find themselves under increasing pressure.
The clean striking left hander Aine McNearney at centre half forward was causing lots of problems for the usually dominant Laura Hogan at centre-back for Knockananna.
Points from midfielder Emma McGill, two more from Sinead Beagan frees and three points from play by Aine McNearney had the visitors from Meath ahead by 0-6 to 0-2 at the quarter-hour mark. Some stout defending by the Knockananna full-back line kept it from getting any worse. Goalie Macayla Murphy and fullback Aine O’Keeffe dealt capably with some intense pressure and prevented Ratoath from raising a green flag.
When Knockananna pushed forward their attack did look dangerous, but the first quarter belonged to the Meath girls. Gradually the home side began to recover and with wing backs Orla Kealy and Shannagh Goetelen pushing more into attack, the tide turned a little.
Sinead Byrne had a point from a free, Ciara Byrne pointed from play, Sinead pointed another free and even though Aisling O’Reilly added another point for the visitors, Knockananna went into the half time break only two points down, having been under a lot of pressure for much of the first half. Half-time score stood at 0-7 to 0-5 in favour of Ratoath.
The Meath champions began the second period very well and had three further points on the board from Fiona McNerney (2) and Sinead Beagan by five minutes.
Double scores at this stage and Knockananna were under pressure.
Indeed, they had a lucky escape in the seventh minute when a great goal chance for Fiona McNerney came back off the crossbar. The game was slipping from Knockananna but they were thrown a lifeline after 12 minutes.
A long ball from Laura Hogan dropped in on the Ratoath goalmouth. Goalie Niamh O’Riordan batted back out but only as far as Claire Byrne who scored a great goal to reduce the lead to two points.
This score brought the Knockananna girls to life and when Eireann Moules kicked home a second goal from close in, Knockananna were now one point ahead.
This unlikely situation came almost out of the blue and shook Ratoath back to life. Four minutes later they scored a goal of their own.
The Knockananna defence lost control of the ball in their own goalmouth and full-forward Fiona McNerney knocked in a goal from close in. The score stood 1-10 to 2-5 at this stage but this was to be the Meath champions’ final score.
As in the first half, Knockananna had a good final quarter. Sinead Byrne pointed a free with eight minutes to go to reduce the gap to the minimum.
Unfortunately for Knockananna, their accuracy deserted them from here to the end and they missed at least four good scoring opportunities to level and maybe win the game.
It was a pity as by this stage the Wicklow champions did appear to have got the measure of their physically stronger opponents. However, Ratoath held on for a one-point victory, 1-10 to 2-6.
Scorers – Ratoath: Fiona McNerney 1-2, Sinead Beagan 0-3, Aine McNearney 0-3, Emma McGill 0-1, Aisling O’Reilly 0-1.
Knockananna: Sinead Byrne 0-4, Claire Byrne 1-0, Eireann Moules 1-0, Sarah Byrne 0-1, Ciara Byrne 0-1.
Knockananna: Macayla Murphy; Emily Hadden, Aine O’Keeffe, Sarah Tallon; Orla Kealy, Laura Hogan, Shannagh Goetelen; Claire Byrne, Jessie Byrne; Ciara Byrne, Aimee Maher, Sarah Byrne; Eireann Moules, Dervla Byrne, Sinead Byrne.
Ratoath: Niamh O’Riordan; Clodagh Griffiths, Orla Hayes, Chloe Faherty; Louise Gaffney, Aine Cooke, Lauren McCann; Aine Brannigan, Emma McGill; Eimear Griffiths, Aine McNearney, Aisling O’Reilly; Sinead Beagan, Fiona McNerney, Niamh McLoughlin. Subs: Anna Fagan, Lelia Byrne.
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)