Annacarty’s three goal first half stun Clonoulty

Annacarty 3-13

Clonoulty/Rossmore1-14

Neighbours Annacarty and Clonoulty/Rossmore fought out a thrilling County Senior Camogie Championship clash on Saturday with Annacarty emerging five-point winners.

Both teams had wins in round two after losing in round one so a win in Annacarty was crucial for both sides.

The home side set the tone from the throw-in as they brought intensity and workrate in abundance. Stalwart Siobhan O'Neill settled the home team with a point after one minute. Gemma Fox playing in midfield echoed that with a long range free from midfield.

Clonoulty won a free after four minutes, but Cait Devane uncharacteristically struck it wide. Annacarty pounced on the puckout which led Jean Kelly putting an attack in play and won a free; Siobhan O'Neill again made no mistake.

Annacarty’s full forward line were full of pace in the opening five minutes and exposed the Clonoulty full backline as Jean Kelly broke through for a point from play which seemed to really lift Eire Og.

It took seven minutes for Clonoulty to get a score on the board which came from a placed ball from Cait Devane. Cora Hennessy is back this year for Clonoulty and it was clear why her presence on the field was welcomed as she fed the perfect pass to Cait from midfield which she converted.

Annacarty looked threatening in the forwards, and it was inter-county player Eibhlis McDonald who broke through and rattled the back of the Clonoulty net.

Annacarty won the following puckout from Therese White, but her shot was deflected out for a 45 which Siobhan O'Neill converted. Cait Devane pointed a free before the first water-break to keep Clonoulty within reach at 1-6 to 0-3.

Clonoulty needed to come on strong into the second quarter with a lift in intensity but a wide from Devane followed swiftly by a second Annacarty goal from midfielder Gemma Fox.

The Clonoulty backs felt the pressure of the quick moving Annacarty forwards, and they were forced to foul inside the square which led to a penalty which Siobhan O'Neill fired over the bar.

Annacarty’s full backline of Sarah Burke, Rosanna O'Donnell and Ellen Gantley didn't give the Clonoulty full forward line an inch of space and Clonoulty relied heavily on Cait Devane to convert frees and take any chance she got from play.

Credit to Annacarty in the first half from their full back line to their full forward they played as a unit which resulted in a third goal from corner forward Eva O'Dwyer. Half time saw Annacarty with a lead of 3-7 to 0-8.

Clonoulty/Rossmore came out in the second half with a mission and looked to leaders Courtney Ryan, Cora Hennessy and Cait Devane as they outscored Eire Og 0-6 to 0-2 in the third quarter, but Annacarty had built a comfortable lead in the first half which made the job difficult for the visitors.

The talking point of the final quarter was a Clonoulty penalty which Cait Devane converted for a much-needed goal. However, Annacarty held out for a well-deserved win.

Player of the Match: Gemma Fox (Annacarty)

Annacarty: Aoife Butler; Sarah Bourke, Rosanna O’Donnell, Ellen Gantley; Orlagh Walsh, Karen Fox, Ciannait Walsh; Gemma Fox, Orla O’Brien; Rachel O’Dwyer, Siobhan O’Neill, Jean Kelly, Leah Heffernan, Eibhlis McDonald, Eva O’Dwyer.

Sub used: Ciara Slattery.

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Therese White; Lorna Ryan, Moira Kinane, Dervla Heffernan; Katie Murphy, Courtney Ryan, Eimear Loughman; Cora Hennessy, Bernie Ryan; Kate Ryan, Casey Hennessy, Avril Quirke; Eimear Bourke, Cait Devane, Kayleigh Davern.

Subs used: Kate Ferncombe, Kellie Quirke.

Referee: Jim Lees (Newport/Ballinahinch).