Kiltegan roar to ‘B’ success
Furlong shines for champs
KILTEGAN powered to victory over a brave Arklow Rock Parnells in the final of the under-14 ‘B’ camogie championship for the McCarthy Cup (no, not that one) on Saturday morning last, October 12.
The game was hosted by the Arklow girls at the Rock Parnells ground on a beautiful sunny morning when ground conditions were ideal for camogie. A stiff breeze favored the team playing into the cemetery end, but it really had no bearing on the outcome of the game.
The Arklow girls began confidently and had chances in the early minutes. Lizzie Bourke, Erin Byrne and Aine Byrne were prominent at this stage but unfortunately no scores came from some early pressure.
Gradually Kiltegan came into the game and began to put the ARP defence under pressure. Goalie Erin Bardon, full-back Grace Delaney and centre back Ciara Lancaster held firm in these early attacks but when Kiltegan midfielder Leah Furlong opened the scoring with a goal from a close in free after six minutes, it gave the girls from the Carlow boundary a tremendous boost and they went in search of more scores.
Points from Leah Furlong (2) and Eimear O’Toole plus a second goal from Sarah Keane had Kiltegan comfortably in front by 16 minutes.
Arklow’s Lizzie Bourke and Aine Byrne were carrying the ball forward in solo efforts but they were wide on a couple of occasions when good scoring opportunities arose. The primary difference between the sides at this stage was the Kiltegan ability to score whenever the chances arose.
Emily Ryan got goal number three and Leah Furlong completed the Kiltegan first half scoring when she landed a goal from a distance just before the half time break.
Arklow Rocks, now playing with the help of the breeze, made a brave effort to get back into the game in the opening minutes of the second half. Aine Byrne pointed a close in free and Ciara Lancaster, Lizzie Bourke, Erin Byrne, Dervla Gavigan and Aine Byrne were trying hard to get their side back into the reckoning.
However, the lack of success in their attempts allowed Kiltegan to get going again and further goals from Emma Whelan and Leah Furlong allowed the Kiltegan girls to play in comfort for much of the second half.
They had many accomplished performers in Ella Ryan, Miriam O’Keeffe, Leah Furlong, Eimear O’Toole, Sarah Keane, Emma Whelan and Emily Ryan.
The Arklow girls from Erin Bardon, Grace Delaney and Ciara Lancaster out continued to battle on but they will need a little more luck in the scoring department to put themselves in contention going forward. The final score ended at 9-3 to 0-1.
Con O’Ceadaigh presented the trophy to joint captains Miriam O’Keeffe and Leah Furlong.
Scorers - Kiltegan: Leah Furlong 4-2, Emma Whelan 3-0, Emily Ryan 1-0, Sarah Keane 1-0, Eimear O’Toole 0-1.
ARP: Aine Byrne 0-1.
KILTEGAN: Leah Donegan; Mary Kate Hutchinson, Ella Ryan Katie Hanbidge; Tanisha Daly Danne, Miriam O’Keeffe, Tinde Majlath; Leah Furlong, Ailbhe Maguire; Eimear O’Toole, Sarah Keane, Sophie Kavanagh; Aisling O’Toole, Emma Whelan, Emily Ryan. Subs: Robin Hanbidge, Lucy Keane, Kirsty Reel.
ARP: Erin Bardon; Sophie Mooney, Aoise Dunning, Ailbhe Wood, Ciara Lancaster, Amy Lee Hill; Lizzie Bourke, Erin Byrne; Abbie Wolohan, Dervla Gavigan, Sara Keeley; Aloise Geraghty, Aine Byrne, Isobel Chadwick. Subs: Saoirse Shell, Ava Wolohan, Bronwyn Crummy.
REFEREE: Catherine Boggan.