St Mary’s fall just short in Munster Final

CAMOGIE: Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘B’ Championship Final

Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir 3-9

St Mary’s SS, Nenagh 2-9

Report: Michael Heverin in Mooncoin

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Emily Cooney (Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir)

SCORERS - Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir: Emily Cooney 1-8 (0-8 frees); Grace Farrell 2-0; Ruby Norris 0-1.

St Mary’s SS, Nenagh: Grace Cleary 0-6 (4 frees); Isabelle Kingston 1-1; Carla Walsh 1-0; Éimhear Troy, Amy O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

A battling display from St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh, came up just short in their Munster Post Primary Schools Senior ‘B’ Camogie Final defeat to Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir on Saturday afternoon.

The sides were level at half time and again nine minutes from the end, at 2-8 each, in this all-Tipperary provincial final. An absorbing contest could have swung either way, but Scoil Mhuire produced the goal of the game to add the Senior ‘B’ title to the Junior ‘B’ crown won two years ago by virtually the same team.

The Nenagh defence had been outstanding throughout, but a flowing Carrick-on-Suir move, involving Moya Egan and Ruby Norris, cut them open for Grace Farrell to shoot to the net past Ava Conneally.

Emily Cooney for Scoil Mhuire and Grace Cleary for St Mary’s exchanged late frees but St Mary’s, despite laying siege to the Scoil Mhuire goal, couldn’t get through for the vital score that would have taken the decider to extra time.

It was heartbreak for the Nenagh girls following the long journey to the south Kilkenny venue. Surprisingly, with players from three Kilkenny clubs and two Waterford clubs in its ranks, the Carrick-on-Suir side had no players from a Tipperary club.

And it was local girls from neighbouring clubs, Mooncoin’s Emily Cooney and Piltown’s Grace Farrell who proved the match-winners, Cooney hitting 1-8, all eight points from frees, and Farrell bagging two goals, including the late winner

Nenagh’s Grace Cleary matched them in an outstanding display, pointing six frees and hitting two points from play. She had superb support in attack from Kiladangan’s Isabelle Kingston and Burgess/Duharra’s Amy O’Dwyer; team captain Éimhear Troy from Toomevara was an inspiring leader, with big games also from Nenagh’s Carly Walsh and Ella O’Brien in defence, and Silvermines player Ailbhe Treacy at midfield.

Amy O’Dwyer had given St Mary’s the lead in the first minute, but Scoil Mhuire hit back to lead 1-2 to 0-1 within seven minutes. Emily Cooney from a free equalised before Grace Farrell hit her first goal, showing great reaction to shoot to the net when a Cooney free came back off the upright. A super point from Ruby Norris on the touchline stretched the lead to four points.

Grace Cleary and Cooney from a free exchanged points before the Nenagh side regained the lead with two goals inside four minutes. The first came from Isabelle Kingston after a great run down the wing from Emma Costello, and then a lofted ball into the danger area from Carly Walsh deceived the Carrick goalkeeper Rachel Tennyson to nestle in the net for a 2-2 to 1-3 lead.

Scoil Mhuire hit back with three pointed frees from the unerring Cooney, before Amy O’Dwyer set up captain Éimhear Troy for the Nenagh leveller at half time, 2-3 to 1-6.

After bringing on Burgess/Duharra’s Malwina Dziewiatka at the interval, St Mary’s started the second half in fine form, running at the heart of the Scoil Mhuire defence and hitting the first two points from Kingston and Cleary, before Cooney pointed a Scoil Mhuire free. The sides exchanged two further points, a Nenagh free from Cleary that was brought closer to goal for dissent, and Cooney responding for the Carrick side after she had been fouled herself.

Apart from her free-taking, Cooney was also a huge threat in open play and she demonstrated that when she intercepted a loose St Mary’s pass and burst through to score her side’s second goal in the 46th minute for a 2-8 to 2-6 lead.

Back came St Mary’s to level again with two superbly pointed frees from Cleary, but Scoil Mhuire replied with their third and decisive goal in the 52nd minute, brilliant play from Egan and Norris setting up Farrell for a superb team score.

That goal was still the difference following pointed frees from Cleary and Cooney.

The Nenagh girls laid siege to the Carrick goal in the closing minutes but the defence held firm, with Katelyn Moore making vital interceptions, and goalkeeper Rachel Tennyson composed under pressure.

St. Mary’s mentors Ger Dullea, Caoimhe Kennedy and Theresa Collins couldn’t have asked for more from their team, with an outstanding display that did their school and clubs proud. On a day of fine margins, it was the concession of two second half goals in the space of six minutes that cost them dearly.

TEAMS - Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir: Rachel Tennyson (Piltown 7); Emma O’Shea (Piltown 7), Caitlyn Moore (Piltown 7), Eilish Norris (Clonea 7); Amy Lynch (Clonea 7), Cliodhna Malone (Piltown 8), Aine Hogan (Mooncoin 7); Sarah Connolly (Clonea 7), Ava Sutton (Mooncoin 8); Ruby Norris (Piltown 7); Emily Cooney (Mooncoin 9), Blaithnaid Keane (Mooncoin 7); Grace Farrell (Piltown 8), Moya Egan (Windgap 7), Riona Shankey (Portlaw 7).

Subs: Maggie Curran (Mooncoin 7) for O’Shea (45), Laura Doyle (Windgap 7) for Hogan (56), Saoirse Barry (Piltown NR) for Keane (60+1).

St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh: Ava Conneally (Burgess/Duharra 7); Robyn O’Dwyer (Silvermines 7), Kellie O’Dwyer (Silvermines 7), Ella O’Brien (Nenagh Éire Óg 7); Carly Walsh (Nenagh Éire Óg 8), Jane Ryan (Silvermines 7), Katie Hayes (Moneygall 7); Ailbhe Treacy (Silvermines 7), Clodagh Spain (Nenagh Éire Óg 7); Éimhear Troy (Toomevara 8); Grace Cleary (Nenagh Éire Óg 8); Emma Costello (Moneygall 7); Amy O’Dwyer (Burgess/Duharra 8) Isabelle Kingston (Kiladangan 8), Kara O’Carroll (Burgess/Duharra 7).

Subs: Malwina Dziewiatka (Burgess/Duharra 8) for Spain (HT), Sailí O’Connor (Nenagh Éire Óg 7) for A O’Dwyer (46), Rhiannon Jones (Éire Óg Nenagh 7) for O’Brien (46).

Referee: Denis Motherway (Cork).