Duharra bounce back to see off the ‘Mines
Silvermines 0-8
Burgess/Duharra 2-17
Report: Thomas Conway in Dolla
Buzzing following their four-point win over Nenagh Éire-Óg the previous week, Silvermines entered this one with a pep in their step and a confidence in their stride.
No better club to tame the ambitions of an upcoming side than Burgess-Duharra, whose collection of County & Munster titles is large enough to be distributed to each member of the parish. With Burgess eager to atone for defeat to Cashel in the first round, this game was a collision of two sides on somewhat different trajectories - which always makes for exciting viewing.
While the first quarter certainly produced ample excitement, what looked like an even contest quickly descended into a Burgess onslaught in quarter two, as Amy Kennedy sprung into life and treated spectators to an exhibition in classy scoring.
The ‘Mines had set the tone from the first few minutes and winning an early free just left of the posts, Bríd Quinn dispatched it over. Burgess responded instantly, Eimear Dwan arrowing one over from thirty metres, before dead-ball specialist Jenny Grace split the posts with her first from the wing.
Silvermines played with the energy and flair of a young and ambitious side, and although their conversion rate was often lacking, they pieced together a perfect move in the fifth minute, Eimear Murphy and Louise McLoughlin combining with a quick inter-change of possession, before the former struck over their second point.
Sixty seconds later, Kennedy started firing, her first contribution an unstoppable bullet into the roof of the net - not that far right of keeper Aisling Carey, but just too powerful for the Silvermines net-minder to do anything about it.
The home side were struggling to contain a stellar Burgess forward-line, but they stayed with their opponents, Quinn finding the target from play and Sarah Madden spinning around two defenders before slotting over on the turn.
Kennedy had seen a goal disallowed at the other end for overcarrying, and seemed to be appearing virtually everywhere. Her elusive nature and ubiquitous presence made her almost impossible to track, and even when Silvermines did manage to pin her down, another Burgess forward would fill the void.
Invariably, that Burgess forward was Jenny Grace. Both her and Kennedy are a formidable partnership - two players of contrasting styles, who work off one another expertly. That partnership led to Burgess’ second goal on 28 minutes, the former sending the latter through via a clever handpass, with Kennedy then rifling the ball home on the bounce. The points continued to flow thereafter, building up a comfortable half-time lead, 2-11 to 0-6.
An uplifting Sarah Madden point appeared to signal the start of a Silvermines revival just after half-time, but any prospect of a come-back would rely on quick scoring and consistent attacking. They nailed the second part of that template, attacking ferociously in the third quarter, but scores continued to elude them.
It wasn’t that Burgess took their foot off the pedal in the second half, they just decided to take a different route. Content to sit back and absorb the pressure, they cut off access to the scoring zone and forced the ‘Mines to shoot from distance, leading to a number of wayward attempts.
Of course, with Silvermines now investing everything into attack, there were acres of open space at the far end. Burgess countered at speed, almost sending Kennedy in for a hat-trick, but her effort was denied by Aisling Carey, Jenny Grace had become the scoring magnet in that second half, replacing Kennedy as the marquee forward and launching points whenever opportunity beckoned.
Grace, along with a power defensive unit marshalled by her sister Gemma and centre-back Caoimhe Maher, closed out the game in professional style, placing Burgess back on path towards the knock-out stages.
Player of the Match: Amy Kennedy (Burgess-Duharra)
Silvermines: Aisling Carey (7), Anna Stapleton (7), Nessa Murray (6), Miriam Murphy (7), Áine Tuohy (6), Katie Murphy (7), Eimear Murphy (0-1, 7), Ciara Ryan (6), Louise McLoughlin (7), Sarah Madden (0-3, 8), Bríd Quinn (0-3, 2f) 7), Nicola Butler (7), Niamh Cunneen (6), Elaine Murphy (7), Sarah Cunneen (0-1, 7).
Sub: Émer Tuohy (7) for Tuohy (39).
Burgess-Duharra: Ciara Holohan (7), Fiona Kirwan (7), Gemma Grace (7), Úna Quigley (7), Kaitlin O’Halloran (8), Caoimhe Maher (8), Katie Grace (7), Emily Morrissey (7), Eimear Dwan (0-2, 7), Ciardha Maher (8), Jennifer Grace (0-8, 4f, 1 ’45) 8), Danielle Nealon (7), Amy Kennedy (2-5, 9), Ciara McKeogh (0-1, 7), Laura Reid (7).
Subs: Caoilfhionn Maher (0-1, 7) for Nealon (39); Aishling Kennedy (7) for Reid (51).
Referee: Pat Murray (Moneygall).