Duffry denied in odd ending
Ibar’s and Rovers deadlock
DUFFRY ROVERS 1-6 IBAR’S/SHELMALIER 2-3
THERE WAS a bizarre ending to the Under-14 camogie Roinn 1A championship final in Farmleigh recently, as Duffry Rovers were deniedachanceofawinningfree three minutes into added time.
The Coolree side were on the attack when Lauren Smyth was clipped around the head on her way towards goal, and with his handintheairandnoadvantage presenting itself, referee Martin Kenny blew his whistle.
However, instead of stopping at one blow, he blew three times to end the game and leave the Duffry understandably perplexed.
On the face of it, the Enniscorthy District club will feel hard done by, but on the other hand they only levelled the game after an equally strange call.
Grace Harding-Kenny was blown for fouling the ball while taking a free at midfield in the 59th minute, and it was the first time the infringement was called despite the fact that the Ibar’s/Shelmalier youngster’s technique remained the same throughout the game.
The Duffry fired the turnover free down the field, won a ’45, and Smyth converted. In a sense, one might say a draw and a replay was a fair outcome, considering the series of events that led to the full-time whistle.
Earlier it was a committed contest that neither side wanted to lose. Both defences were strong against talented attacking options, but it was the Duffry who were stronger in the opening exchanges.
Orlaith Hearne had given her side a third-minute lead, but Rovers came into the game unbeaten and started to show why.
Cerys Fortune knocked over their equalising point before Niamh Doyle raced away on the right of goal and fired powerfully past Laura Wilson to make it 1-1 to 0-1.
St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier were quick to hit back. Lucy Roche drilled home a smashing finish from Muireann Lanigan’s pass, and Saoirse Banville converted a free to give the Hollymount girls the leadback.
Smyth and the influential Niamh Hearne exchanged points, but St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier moved further ahead when a dribbler from Chloe Whelan found the net. Down by 2-3 to 1-2 at half-time, the Duffry mounted their comeback.
Smyth started it with a deadball score after the excellent Anna Roban was fouled, and she added another from play moments later.
Cerys Fortune narrowed the game to one in the 43rd minute, but it wasn’t until Smyth converted the late ’45 that the Duffry had their draw.
Duffry Rovers: Ellie Watchorn; Eva Nolan, Heather Boyce (capt.), Aimee Neville; Eimear Tobin, Katie Bowe, Anna Kinsella; Anna Roban, Róisín Dobbs; Libby Cullen, Carla Cloney, Lauren Smyth (0-4, 2 frees, 1 ’45); Niamh Doyle (1-0), Lucy O’Toole, Cerys Fortune (0-2). Subs. - Kaylee Doyle for Kinsella, inj. (16), Libby Nolan for Cloney (31), also Maeve McCarthy, Naomi Kavanagh, Eabha Roche, Caitlin Doyle, Elle Jackson, Jessica Bolton-Lee, Charley Fitzhenry, Heather Bolton-Lee, Nicole Cullen.
St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier: Laura Wilson; Caoimhe Tobin, Emily O’Reilly (joint capt.), Aoife Cullen; Ellie Roche, Grace Harding-Kenny (joint capt.), Niamh O’Brien; Muireann Lanigan, Clara O’Leary; Orlaith Hearne (0-1), Niamh Hearne (0-1), Lucy Roche (1-0); Zara Corrigan, Saoirse Banville (0-1 free), Chloe Whelan (1-0). Subs. - Cara Parker for O’Brien (38), Anna Dempsey for Corrigan (46), also Ruth O’Leary, Amy Cullen, Maria Coone.
Referee: Martin Kenny (Kilrush).