‘Mines put contenders Clonoulty to the test

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 2

Clonoulty/Rossmore 2-14

Silvermines 1-11

Report: John O’Shea at Dillon Quirke Park, Clonoulty

Clonoulty/Rossmore made it two wins from two in the County Senior Camogie Championship on Friday evening in overcoming a spirited Silvermines who fell to their third defeat of the campaign.

Last year’s beaten finalists served an early notice of their intent with a goal after four minutes, having forced Aisling Carey into making a wonderful save after just twelve seconds. They second major ten minutes later as they went on to lead by six at the break.

Silvermines emerged after the interval with renewed vigour and 1-2 inside four minutes had cut the deficit to the minimum, but for the remainder of the contest could only muster two more minors. The home side with Cait Devane, Emer Loughman, Clodagh Quirke and Casey Hennessy, leading by example hit seven points during this second half, including the last three of the game.

With little or no wind to content with, this game opened in a flurry of excitement, with the home side winning possession from the throw-in. Sarah Fryday surged forward but her goal bound shot was brilliantly saved by Aisling Carey.

Following a few attacks which yielded nothing, Cait Devane eventually got the scoreboard moving, from a 45, on three minutes. The opening goal was well-worked, after Roisin Ferncombe raced down the left side before putting over a cross which found Sophie Maher, and the full forward made no mistake when crashing home from close range.

Silvermines picked up their game with Maeve Cunneen, Brid Quinn, and Niamh Cunneen causing problems around the middle third. Quinn opened their account from a 45, after Eva Ryan had had saved well. Niamh Cunneen added a point before Quinn cut the deficit to the minimum with a placed ball on ten minutes.

The 2024 champions hit back in style with Sarah Fryday racing through the defence from midfield before splitting the posts. Cait Devane put over her second free before Casey Hennessy goaled, when she got on the end of a move started by another piercing run by Fryday. Eimear Loughman put seven between the sides with eleven minutes left to the interval.

Silvermines hit back and played some of their best hurling in the ten minutes before the break and carried on after the restart. Points were traded on the run up to half time, with a brace each from Maeve Cunneen and Cait Devane from placed balls, the second when she drew a free following a great move up field from Loughman.

Julie Murphy and Ellen Cunneen traded minors before Niamh Cunneen closed out the half with a point in added time, leaving the half time score, 2-7 to 0-7.

After the restart, Silvermines continued as they had left off with Sarah Madden finding the range after just 21 seconds. Playing the short game out of defence and through midfield, they opened up the Clonoulty rearguard with Niamh Cunneen bursting through for a goal and Brid Quinn adding a free to cut the deficit to the minimum, all inside five minutes.

Cait Devane steadied the Clonoulty ship with her fifth minor from a placed ball, but Silvermines replied from an Ellen Cunneen point. The home side came to grips with the speedy Silvermines and struck three on the bounce from Casey Hennessy, Roisin Ferncombe, and a Cait Devane free, to put a little light between the sides.

Brid Quinn converted her fourth from a placed ball, with eight minutes of normal time remaining, but it was Clonoulty who finished the stronger. Sophie Maher extended their lead out to four when she cut in along the end-line to put over from an acute angle, before Cait Devane finished with two frees in added time.

Player of the Match: Eimear Loughman (Clonoulty/Rossmore).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Eva Ryan (6); Moira Kinane (6), Clodagh Quirke (7), Eimear Loughman (0-1, 9); Aoife Bourke (6), Casey Hennessy (1-1, 8), Kate Ryan (6), Bernadette Ryan (7), Kellie Quirke (6), Sinead Ryan (6), Cait Devane (0-8, 6f, 1 ’45, 7), Roisin Ferncombe (0-1, 6), Sarah Fryday (0-1, 8), Sophie Maher (1-1, 7), Sarah O’Dwyer (6).

Sub: Julie Murphy (0-1, 6) for O’Dwyer (18).

Silvermines; Aisling Carey (8); Ava Quigley (7), Miriam Murphy (7), Grace Quinn (7); Jane Ryan (7), Eimear Murphy (7), Kellie O’Dwyer (7), Sarah Madden (7), Ellen Cunneen (0-2, 7), Maeve Cunneen (0-2, 7), Brid Quinn (0-4, 2f, 1 ’45) 8), Ciara Quinn (6), Aoife Ryan (6), Nessa Murray (6), Niamh Cunneen (1-2, 8).

Subs: Saoirse Ryan (6) for E Murphy (30 inj); Emer Tuohy (6) for Murray (42), Ciara Grace (NR) for M Cunneen (57).

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea).