Cloughbawn capture title
Blistering start was crucial
CLOUGHBAWN HORESWOOD 3-12 2-4
CLOUGHBAWN’S BLISTERING start went a long way towards ensuring their victory in the Minor Roinn 1 camogie championship final in Horeswood.
With almost three-quarters of their final tally scored before the half-time whistle, it was that, coupled with a stern and unforgiving defensive display, which paved the way for an impressive eleven-point victory for the visitors.
It really was a stunning defensive performance by the Cloughbawn girls. Limiting this talented Horeswood side to just six scores is an achievement in itself, and major credit must go to Caoimhe Larkin, Marguerite Furlong, Kate Foley, Elaine Quigley, Oonagh Barden and Kate Jackman.
Their intensity and eagerness to carry out defensive actions meant that Horeswood were never allowed more than a glimmer of time or space in their attacking half without being closed down.
That intensity transferred into their attackers too. Sarah Flynn got their side of the scoreboard moving early on before a momentary setback, when Kathryn Dempsey’s effort from distance was batted into the path of Ciara Walsh who finished well into the net.
Order was restored afterwards as Cloughbawn clocked up nine unanswered scores. Minors from Faye Codd, Niamh Ogilvie and Niamh Kehoe restored their twopoint lead before Hannah Keating’s shot from distance found a way past Emer Hunt, cancelling out Walsh’s goal (1-5 to 1-0).
Putting distance between the sides, Elaine Quigley struck a peach of a point over from an acute angle before Flynn bundled the ball over the line in a melee in the Horeswood square.
May Wickham and Keating both added points before Horeswood scored for just the second time, when Michelle Kinsella stopped the rot with a minor from play.
Niamh Kehoe finished the half with a well-taken placed ball to extend Cloughbawn’s lead at the break to eleven (2-9 to 1-1).
Horeswood showed a lot of fight after the re-start and they dominated the second-half. However, they continued to struggle to make meaningful inroads into the Cloughbawn defence.
Rachel Greene between the sticks was solid throughout for Cloughbawn, and she played a crucial part in keeping her opponents at arm’s length.
It took a cracking finish to beat her for Horeswood’s second, as Kinsella looped an effort into the top left corner to momentarily make the deficit seven (2-9 to 2-2).
The killer blow happened less than 30 seconds after Horeswood got back into the game. Wickham went straight up the other end and fired a shot in over Emer Hunt as Cloughbawn made sure their opponents didn’t have any ideas of an unlikely comeback.
That killed off Horeswood. Keating and Niamh Kehoe points were answered by Kate Foley and Amy Ennis, but Cloughbawn closed out the game to comfortably win the trophy.
Cloughbawn: Rachel Greene; Caoimhe Larkin, Marguerite Furlong, Kate Foley; Elaine Quigley (0-1), Oonagh Barden (capt.), Kate Jackman; Niamh Kehoe (0-3 frees), Faye Codd (0-1); Hannah Keating (1-3), May Wickham (1-1), Sarah Flynn (1-2); Niamh Ogilvie (0-1), Ciara Murphy, Aoife Murphy. Subs. - Méadbh Wickham for A. Murphy (45), Lisa Murphy for Codd (56), also Caoimhe Kehoe, Guevara Hughes.
Horeswood: Emer Hunt; Ciara Corish, Leanne Rowe, Aoife Foley; Katie Kehoe, Róisín Parker, Annie RoseLyng; Elena Kenny, Kate Foley (0-2, 1 free); Michelle Kinsella (1-1), Kathryn Dempsey, Yvonne Murphy-Walsh; Hannah Chapman, Amy Ennis (0-1), Ciara Walsh (1-0). Subs. - Niamh Lyng for Chapman (52), Jennifer Cummins for C. Walsh (52).
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).