Duharra upset by slick Annacarty

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Quarter Final

Eire Og Annacarty 2-14

Burgess-Duharra 3-7

Report: Michael Brophy in Kilcolman

Burgess/Duharra exited the County Senior Camogie Championship on their own patch on Saturday evening against a more accurate and threatening Eire Og Annacarty side.

The North side couldn’t build on a strong start, and it was Annacarty that slowly grew into the game and found the scores easier to come by via precise passing and sharp shooting forwards.

Burgess-Duharra only hit four wides over the course of the game, which reflected the difficulty they experienced in creating chances. Annacarty grew in confidence after the interval with Jean Kelly, Eva O’Dwyer and Eibhlis McDonald among those who enjoyed excellent days for the West side’s forward line.

It was the North side that started the game the livelier, however, with Ciardha Maher surging from the half-forward line before striking the ball high into Aoife Butler’s net after five minutes. When Jenny Grace added another point shortly afterwards, the hosts had built an early four-point lead.

Annacarty slowly came to terms with the game however, with Jean Kelly’s pace and precise control a constant menace to the opposition defence. They would take the lead for the first time in the 21st minute when Kelly collected the ball, turned her marker sharply, and laid it off to Eibhlis McDonald who converted past Ciara Holohan.

Scores were hard to come by for both sides with the defences well on top as the half progressed. Katie Grace and Kelly traded points from narrow angles before Eva O’Dwyer’s first free gave Annacarty a two-point advantage at the break, 1-5 to 1-3.

Annacarty grew in confidence after the interval, finding more space in the forward line and winning plenty of primary possession around midfield. O’Dwyer’s second point increased the lead to four, before Eibhlis McDonald struck low past Holohan to raise her second green flag in the 32nd minute.

Burgess-Duharra needed a quick response, and they got it. When Katie Grace’s effort at a point hit the post, Laura Reid was there to claim the dropping ball before finishing it to the Annacarty net. The hosts closed the gap to two points minutes later when Ciardha Maher surged through the Annacarty defence before striking between the uprights.

Annacarty would regain control of the game, however. Two quick-fire points from McDonald and Kelly extended the gap back to four points, and the West side’s defence, led terrifically by Rosanna O’Donnell and Shauna Heffernan in particular, was becoming more and more frugal in giving up chances.

Eva O’Dwyer extended the lead to five with another classy score before a third Burgess-Duharra goal gave them renewed hope midway through the half. Kaitlin O’Halloran collected a poor clearance and struck to the back of the net from the 21-metre line.

They wouldn’t close the gap any further however and were reliant on Jenny Grace frees to stay in touch. In the meantime, Annacarty’s forwards remained threatening with Jean Kelly converting after good work from O’Dwyer, while Leah Heffernan’s goal-bound effort was tipped over the bar by Ciara Holohan.

Kelly saved the best of her five points until last when she converted classily from the right-hand side-line while pacing away from goal.

Burgess-Duharra had no answer for the accuracy and varied scoring threat of their opponents in the second half, while Annacarty will hope that they’re gathering momentum at just the right time of the year.

Player of the Match: Jean Kelly (Eire Og Annacarty)

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill: Aoife Butler (7); Mary O’Dwyer (7), Rosanna O’Donnell (8), Laura Heffernan (7); Shauna Heffernan (8), Karen Fox (7), Orlagh Walsh (7); Ciannait Walsh (0-1, 8), Elaine Kelly (7); Leah Heffernan (0-1, 7), Rachel O’Dwyer (7), Orla O’Brien (0-1, 8); Jean Kelly (0-5, 9), Eva O’Dwyer (0-5, 3f) 8), Eibhlis McDonald (2-1, 8).

Subs: Cora Heffernan (6) for E Kelly (47); Elaine Kelly (NR) for O’Donnell (60).

Burgess-Duharra: Ciara Holohan (7); Una Quigley (6), Fiona Kirwan (7), Grace O’Dwyer (6); Iris Grace (6), Aisling Cremin (7), Eimear Dwan (6); Jenny Grace (0-3, 2f) 7), Katie Grace (0-1, 6); Kaitlin O’Halloran (1-0, 6), Ciara McKeogh (8), Danielle Nealon (6); Roisin Duffy (6), Ciardha Maher (1-3, 8), Laura Reid (1-0, 6).

Subs: Laura Kennedy (6) for Duffy (HT); Fiona McAuley (6) for Nealon (47); Caoimhe Maher (6) for K Grace (50).

Referee: Eddie Kennedy (Borrisokane)