Drom ease past young Toomevara

Drom & Inch 3-28

Toomevara 0-3

It was all too easy for defending champions Drom & Inch in a one-sided County Senior Camogie Championship affair against a young Toomevara side at The Ragg on Saturday.

The home sides’ forwards were on fire in the opening quarter amassing eleven points, nine from play with Eimear McGrath converting two frees. In the same period Toomevara could only manage a pointed free on the tenth minute from Gemma McCarthy.

Unfortunately for a young and inexperienced Toomevara team things didn’t get any better with two more pointed frees from McCarthy leaving their half time and full time tally at three points with no score from play.

It was a much different game compared to when these sides met in the quarter final last year. That day Drom & Inch had to really earn every score while Toomevara should great heart and determination.

Whether it was memories of this from last year or the fact that many of the Drom & Inch forwards didn’t get on the scoresheet in their opening game against Clonoulty the six forwards were in lethal form from the throw-in causing all sorts of havoc in the Toome defence. Their movement, sharpness and ruthlessness in front of the goals meant five of the starting forwards had scored by the water-break and all six had scored a total of 2-14 by half time (2-11 from play).

Michelle Woodlock and Joanne Ryan showed no signs of a lack of hunger in the opening half scoring 1-2 apiece despite winning their first senior county title eighteen years ago. Dee Dunne also had her scoring boots on with four well-taken points by the half time interval. At the break the scoreline read 2-14 to 0-3.

Unfortunately for Toomevara with all of Drom & Inch’s subs still eligible to play junior championship next weekend the 2020 county champions didn’t make any changes to their line-up and continued to dominate proceedings.

Mary Burke and Niamh Long were excellent together at midfield with Niamh Treacy and Maureen Ryan dominant at wing back and full-back respectively. Despite conceding a third goal to Dee Dunne in the second half, Sarah McCarthy did very well in the Toomevara goals in for the injured Paula Ryan. She couldn’t have done anything about the three well-taken goals scored by Drom & Inch but did pull off a number of good saves and her ball handling was excellent.

Mags Quigley worked hard in defence while Shauna Quirke made a number of runs from midfield they lacked the strength in depth to trouble Drom & Inch. A young side in transition, Toomevara were down a number of players through injury which made their task impossible on Saturday.

While everyone present were praising the scoring of the Drom & Inch forwards in the opening half they were guilty of some very wayward shooting in the second period and clocked up a big wides tally also.

In the end it was job done for Pat Ryan’s side with two wins from two. Next up for them is Annacarty away next Saturday. While for Toomevara they travel to Thurles Sarsfields in search of their first win of the campaign.

Player of the Match: Joanne Ryan (Drom & Inch)

Drom & Inch: Caoimhe Bourke; Maria Connolly, Maureen Ryan, Eimear Cahill; Aoife McGrath, Mairead Eviston, Niamh Treacy; Mary Burke, Niamh Long; Joanne Ryan (1-6), Eimear McGrath (0-6, 4f, 1 ‘45), Dee Dunne (1-6); Michelle Woodlock (1-5), Anne Eviston (0-2), Miriam Campion (0-3).

Toomevara: Sarah McCarthy; Laura O’Meara, Lauren Ryan, Mary Meagher; Shauna Quirke, Mags Quigley, Niamh McCormack; Gemma McCarthy, Michayla Doran; Caoimhe Cantwell, Jillanne Quirke, Ciara Kenneally; Laoise Cummins, Eileen Gleeson, Mary O’Brien.

Sub used: Anna Grace.

Referee: Michael Ryan (Nenagh Eire Og).