Drom progress to another Munster Final

CAMOGIE: AIB Munster Senior Club Championship Semi-Final

Drom & Inch 0-10

Newcastle West 0-7

Report: Thomas Conway at The Ragg

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch)

SCORERS – Drom & Inch: Eimear McGrath 0-7 (5 frees, 1 ‘45), Joanne Ryan 0-2; Miriam Campion 0-1.

Newcastle West: Rebecca Delee 0-6 (4 frees), Laurie O’Connor 0-1.

Another year, another Munster Final! Drom & Inch now face the prospect of a second Munster decider in just over two months, following a resolute semi-final victory over Limerick champions Newcastle West.

Whether Pat Ryan’s side can claim provincial honours will depend on the challenge posed by Clare outfit Scariff-Ogonelloe, who overcame Inniscarra of Cork to secure the other final berth.

Having looked the more polished side throughout, Drom could have, and perhaps should have won this game by more, but were it not for some hold-your-breath last minute defending, Newcastle West could well have forced the game into extra-time. A late charge from Mike Downes' troops produced several bursts on goal, the last of them halted by the inexorable Niamh Treacy, who stole the ball and wheeled away on a solo-run, averting a late catastrophe.

Treacy had minimal opportunity to attack last Saturday, her usual high-octane running game disrupted by a sodden pitch and a swell of Newcastle West jerseys, but the Tipperary panellist was influential throughout, delivering a superb defensive display.

There was a splash of hailstones moments before throw-in, but it appeared not to unsettle the home side, who raced into action with three points inside four minutes. Each of those scores, all of them from play, were works of beauty in their own right; Joanne Ryan striking off the back foot after Antoinette Kennedy had juggled control of possession and offloaded to the veteran attacker; Eimear McGrath pivoting outwards and sniping over from the wing; Ryan sliding her second effort over while tilting towards the side-line.

Drom had the wind of course - a serious advantage given that the gusts were billowing towards the clubhouse end - but by the time McGrath had slotted her first free, the Tipp county champions were starting to look unassailable. They probably felt unassailable too, considering that Newcastle West had barely threatened - their only attack a mild- mannered counter which saw the ball eventually trickle out over the end-line.

Slowly, the Limerick champions began to work their way into the game, forcing a series of rooks and scrambles which upset Drom's flow and started to generate confidence amongst the players in black and white. Their go-to sharpshooter, Rebecca Delee, connected poorly with an early free but soon got her chance to atone, doing so without fuss from the wing. She added another just before the water-break, and while Drom remained in the driving seat, their opponents were gathering speed. Delee slalomed through before knocking over her side's third point in the twentieth minute, and they reduced the deficit to one moments later, corner forward Laurie O'Connor firing over from close range.

Drom started to push ahead again before the interval, spurning several chances but relying on the free-taking of Eimear McGrath, their marquee forward ensuring a three-point gap remained at half-time, 0-8 to 0-5.

Two early second-half wides didn’t help Newcastle West’s cause, with the Limerick outfit falling further behind thanks to McGrath’s free-taking. Yellow cards followed, two in quick succession, making it clear that frustration was starting to build amongst the Limerick champions, but still they kept in touch, Delee on target from play and a placed-ball.

The final stretch was a nervous one for Drom, who maintained an uncomfortable three-point cushion as their opponents attacked furiously in search of a single prize, but Pat Ryan hailed the resolve of his side after the game, and never was it more evident than in those final moments - Treacy and McGrath displaying typical heroism, with each of their teammates following suit.

TEAMS - Drom & Inch: Caoimhe Bourke (7), Maria Connolly (7), Christina Brennan (7), Eimear Cahill (7), Aoife McGrath (8), Maureen Ryan (7), Niamh Treacy (9), Mary Burke (7), Anne Eviston (7), Niamh Long (6), Antoinette Kennedy (8), Miriam Campion (7), Eimear McGrath (8), Joanne Ryan (8), Deirdre Dunne (7).

Subs: Nóirín Butler (6) for Kennedy (50); Katie O’Dwyer (6) for Dunne (52); Caroline Shanahan (6) for Long (54).

Newcastle West: Aoife Corbett (7), Yvonne Lee (6), Róisín Mann (7), Lily Duggan (6), Grace Lee (7), Kate Ambrose (7), Róisín Ambrose (8), Karen O’Leary (7), Deborah Murphy (7), Ella Whelan (7), Ellie Woulfe (7), Lucy O’Brien (7), Iris Kennelly (6), Rebecca Delee (8), Laurie O’Connor (7).

Subs: Lily Duggan (7) for Whelan (45); Laura Walshe (6) for Woulfe (49).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).