Donard-The Glen bow out

CULLION (WH) 2-3 DONARD-THE GLEN 0-6

DONARD-THE GLEN made the long trip to Mullingar last Saturday to take on the Westmeath camogie champions, Cullion, in the semi-final of the Leinster Intermediate Club Championship.

The Wicklow ladies just came up short of reaching a provincial decider in a low-scoring contest, with the old cliché that goals win matches proving the difference between two well matched teams.

Both sides traded chances early on before Kelly O’Neill settled the Donard side into the game with a well-executed point after great work by Katie Tyrell in the sixth minute.

Cullion broke up the field and landed a major from their wing half forward Niamh Keiran against the run of play. Donard-The Glen responded with a pointed free from the stick of Claire Whelan after a great run by Casey Kelly, who was fouled going through on goal.

It was nip and tuck in the next few exchanges with the Westmeath girls adding on a long-range point to close out the opening quarter with the score line reading 1-1 to 0-2 in a tight encounter.

Conditions were tough for camogie for both sides with penetrating rain throughout the game. Donard had a couple of goal chances but were thwarted by some excellent goalkeeping by Fiona Keating, which had a huge bearing on the end result.

Donard lost the services of lively corner-forward Emma Hayden after a heavy hit to the head. Emma was replaced by Grace O’Neill. Claire Whelan fired over another Donard point from a placed ball.

Cruelly, Cullion broke up the field yet again and landed a second major to knock Donard back somewhat and against the run of play again.

However, the Wicklow ladies responded with a brace of powerful points, one from the hurl of Sive Byrne, who tore through the Cullion rearguard leaving three defenders in her wake before angling over a sublime point which was duly followed by another from the industrious Claire Whelan to cut into the deficit.

Chloe Dwyer gathered possession of the sliotar and played a sweet pass into Aoife Grace who off loaded to Katie Tyrell to split the uprights from distance for the final score of the first period as the half-time whistle sounded as the scoreboard read 2-1 to 0-6 in favour of the Westmeath champions.

Roisin Toomey picked up a yellow card after a heavy tackle on her opponent in the opening few minutes of the restart as the battle intensified. Scores were hard to come by in the second period, however Cullion tagged on a brace of points to extend their lead.

Donard-The Glen introduced Daisie Summer Cullen Dunne to the proceedings as the went in search of some badly needed scores, however Fiona Keating was to the fore again in the Cullion goals and cleared anything that came her way.

Laura Newman landed what would be the last score of the game for the Westmeath side, as Donard just lacked that final chance of a late goal to level the game.

Scorers – Donard-The Glen: Claire Whelan 0-3, Kelly O’Neill 0-1, Katie Tyrell 0-1, Sive Byrne 0-1.

DONARD-THE GLEN: Katie Daynes; Mollie McCormack, Carmel Whelan, Amy Barrett; Chloe Dwyer, Lizzie Brophy, Casey Kelly; Sive Byrne, Roisin Toomey; Emma Hayden, Aoife Grace, Katie Tyrrell; Kelly O’Neill, Shelia Whelan, Claire Whelan. Subs: Grace O’Neill, Daisie Summer Cullen Dunne, Sophie Mills, Jenny Tyrrell, Hollie Eve Cullen Dunne, Izzy Keenaghan, Aoife Brophy, Zena Carey, Lillie May Cullen Dunne.