Rapps girls best in derby
A POWERFUL Rapparees side proved just a little too strong for a resilient Davidstown-Courtnacuddy as they claimed the Under-16 camogie Roinn 2B 12-a-side championship title in Castleboro recently.
These teams play at the lower end of the totem pole because of lack of numbers and both are more talented than their grading suggests. It meant that this turned into a fascinating clash between two committed and skilful sides.
Having won all their group games, Rapparees came into the final as warm favourites but their Boolabawn opposition was putting it up to them right into the last quarter. Indeed, just two points separated the sides at the three-quarters point in proceedings (2-7 to 2-5).
It takes a team to win a final but one player can make a huge difference to the fortunes of her side if she peaks at the right time, and that’s what happened here with Eabha Farrell. With Davidstown-Courtnacuddy putting it up to her side, the Rapps joint captain took over in the middle third.
She seemed to be everywhere, and much like a captain does, she lifted those around her too. Suddenly everything the Bellefield club did came off and in the end a fairly harsh difference of nine points separated the teams.
Earlier, the first quarter was an open, entertaining affair. Donna Delahunty, Amy Murphy and Lauren Delaney put Davidstown-Courtnacuddy ahead but Anna Kavanagh’s pulled goal gave her side a foothold.
When Katie Whelan replied in kind at the other end, her club led by 1-3 to 1-2 but the Rapps powered clear with points from Farrell (two) and Áine Murphy, plus 1-1 from the impressive Ciara Boland, to move into a solid interval lead (2-6 to 1-4).
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy needed a positive response after the break and they found it by upping the tempo even further. Whelan pulled home her second major and when Delaney added a free her side were within one.
Kavanagh’s 43rd-minute score was her side’s first of the half and it released Rapparees from the shackles the nerves had created. Amy Murphy was able to nab a 48th-minute goal for Davidstown-Courtnacuddy but their opponents hit right back through Farrell.
Her side were 3-12 to 3-5 ahead when Amy Shannon entered the fray, and with her first piece of action she hauled in a crossfield Áine Murphy ball and fired past Taragh Cooper to complete a memorable win for her Rapparees side.
Rapparees: Alisha Dagg; Méadbh Foley, Abbie Dagg (joint capt.); Ciara O’Connor, Megan O’Connor; Eabha Farrell (joint capt., 1-5, 1-1 frees, 0-2 ‘45s), Áine Murphy (0-1), Erin Cahill; Leah Kidd (0-1), Ciara Boland (1-2); Anna Kavanagh (1-3), Erin Peoples. Subs. - Amy Shannon (1-0) for Peoples (55), Ailbhe Harrington for Kavanagh (59), Ria Murphy for Foley (59), also Rachel Murphy-Buckley, Shauna Doyle.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Taragh Cooper; Nadine Power, Ellie Jevens (capt.); Lucy Egan, Lauren Delaney (0-3 frees); Anna Jevens, Donna Delahunty (0-1), Tara Ennis; Ava O’Connor, Amy Murphy (1-2); Katie Whelan (2-0), Mia Kelly. Subs. - Lucy Kehoe for Kelly (50), Aoibhinn Crean for Whelan (59), also Martha Dunne, Leah Nolan, Catherine Moitie, Norah McGinty.
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).