Clonoulty power past Nenagh

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Group 2

Nenagh Eire Og 2-4

Clonoulty/Rossmore 6-22

Report: Shane Brophy in Nenagh

Nenagh Eire Og felt the full force of a Cait Devane inspired Clonoulty/Rossmore side in Saturday’s one-sided County Senior Camogie Championship clash at MacDonagh Park.

Before throw-in, a win for Nenagh would have put them into the knockout stages but by half time that ambition was good as gone and in the second half, the West Tipp side put them to the sword conceding just twice, going onto record a thirty-point win and head into the knockout stages in rude health.

They could also afford to take off county panellist Casey Hennessy at half time ahead of her playing in a county football semi-final for Boherlahan the following day as Clonoulty served notice of their championship ambitions having been beaten in last year’s final.

Having a player of the calibre of Cait Devane in your team helps and despite Nenagh putting one of their strongest players in Alannah Morris on her, she found Devane in top form scoring 2-11, 2-8 coming in the second half when she moved to full forward, and also had a hand in many more.

Crucially for Clonoulty in their quest for a first senior title, they don’t look completely reliant on her in attack, judging by the contribution of Eimear Bourke who contributed 2-6 from play from corner forward, and was really elusive all through. The hard-working Kate Ryan and Kate Ferncombe were also to the fore as was Courtney Ryan in midfield with fit again Clodagh Quirke marshalling things from centre back.

Clonoulty’s use of the ball was on a different level to a Nenagh Eire Og side who were committed right through but didn’t have the same level of quality. Grace O’Brien was held scoreless from play as they couldn’t get enough ball into full forward Caroline Browne who struck two fine goals but needed more service.

The early stages were well contested, despite Eimear Bourke getting Clonoulty’s first goal on three minutes, running onto an angled ball and turning her marker, finished well. Nenagh’s response were two Grace O’Brien 45’s but their task was made even harder on eleven minutes when Cait Devane’s angled ball found Kate Ferncombe in behind the Nenagh rear-guard, and she finished well past Niamh Sheridan for a 2-3 to 0-2 lead.

Nenagh, however, were resolute and scored their first goal on nineteen minutes when Caroline Browne won a breaking ball outside the square and fired low under the hurley of Clonoulty keeper Therese Whyte to reduce the margin to four points. However, Nenagh wouldn’t score again in the half as Clonoulty added four unanswered points for a 2-8 to 1-3 half time advantage and they could have had another goal but for Niamh Sheridan’s save from Eimear Bourke

The second half was a one-way procession with Clonoulty outscoring their opponents 4-14 to 1-1 with Cait Devane getting her first goal within seconds of the restart, set-up by Bourke.

It was becoming the Bourke and Devane show with the former getting her second goal on 33 minutes, but Nenagh responded briefly with Caroline Browne catching a high ball before first to the net on 35 minutes.

However, the respite was brief as Cait Devane goaled two minutes later with Courtney Ryan bagging the sixth goal on 41 minutes as the final quarter proved to be a procession with Grace O’Brien getting Nenagh’s only other score of the half with a 51st minute free.

For Nenagh, they must consider is another season at senior level is good for this squad at the moment while a quarter final is upcoming against Thurles Sarsfields but in this mood they’ll be a strong challenger for ultimate honours.

Player of the Match: Cait Devane (Clonoulty/Rossmore)

Nenagh Eire Og: Niamh Sheridan (6); Jennifer Casey (7), Megan Grace (6), Lily O’Brien (6); Alanna Morris (6), Rachel Maher (7), Kristen Howard (7); Zoey Gratton (6), Kerrie Howard (6); Michelle Collins (6), Grace O’Brien (0-4, 2f, 2 45s) 7), Eabha O’Brien (6); Michelle Barry (6), Caroline Browne (2-0, 7), Avril Dooley (6).

Subs: Jennifer Tracey (6) for Dooley (HT); Lauren Spain (6) for Morris (50).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Therese Whyte (6); Lorna Ryan (6), Moira Kinane (6), Aoife Burke (6); Bernadette Ryan (7), Clodagh Quirke (8), Eimear Loughman (7); Sinead Ryan (7), Courtney Ryan (1-2, 7); Kate Ferncombe (1-0, 7), Kate Ryan (0-1, 8), Cait Devane (2-11, 0-7f) 9), Eimear Bourke (2-6, 9), Casey Hennessy (0-1, 7), Sophie Maher (6).

Subs: Kayleigh Davern (6) for Maher (HT); Avril Quirke (6) for Hennessy (HT); Orla Ryan (0-1, 6) for S Ryan (35); Shannon Quirke (6) for B Ryan (40); Kellie Quirke (6) for Ferncombe (47).

Referee: Pat Murray (Moneygall)