Drom find best form to usurp Clonoulty

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 2 Round 5

Drom & Inch 0-15

Clonoulty/Rossmore 0-12

Great rivals Drom & Inch and Clonoulty/Rossmore played out a fantastic game of camogie at The Ragg on Saturday evening in front of a large and appreciative crowd with the hosts earning a confidence boosting win going into the quarter finals of the County Senior Camogie Championship.

This was a game played with tremendous intensity and physicality throughout. In the end, it was Drom who held their nerve to secure a hard-earned three-point victory.

Drom & Inch set the tempo from the opening whistle and got off to the better start, with Ciara Cahill opening the scoring from play. Mary Burke added a second point as the home side dominated the early exchanges and could have had a goal in the sixth minute when Miriam Campion’s effort just cleared the crossbar.

Cahill added another point to put Drom four points clear before Clonoulty/Rossmore settled into the contest. Róisín Ferncombe got them off the mark before Sarah Fryday, who was outstanding throughout and finished with five points from play, added another.

Eimear McGrath pointed to leave Drom three ahead, but Clonoulty finished the half strongly. Eimear Loughman and Casey Hennessy, both found the target after a runs from the half backline before Fryday added another to leave the sides level at 0-5 apiece at half time.

Drom & Inch’s half-back line had impressed during the opening half with Mairead Eviston excellent at centre-back and Michelle Woodlock and Eimear McGrath providing plenty of drive from the wings. Niamh Treacy was also influential around midfield, winning a lot of possession and delivering quality ball into the Drom attack. Eimear Cahill was a tower of strength in the full backline making a number of crucial interceptions and producing a composed performance throughout.

Clonoulty/Rossmore started the second half brightly with Cait Devane opening the scoring with a beautifully struck point. Drom responded in style, however, hitting three points without reply; two Eimear McGrath frees were followed by a point from Ciara Cahill, who had now moved into midfield and was continuing to influence proceedings.

Fryday responded for Clonoulty before Mary Burke, who enjoyed an excellent game at centre-forward, struck two points in succession to put Drom back in control.

Once again, Clonoulty-Rossmore refused to let the gap develop. Sarah Fryday and Cait Devane from a free, reduced the deficit before McGrath converted another free for Drom. Again, the ever reliable Devane replied with another free to keep the visitors firmly in contention.

Drom then produced what looked to be the decisive spell, scoring three points in a row through McGrath, Niamh Treacy and McGrath again to move 0-14 to 0-10 ahead.

Yet, in keeping with the nature of the contest, Clonoulty/Rossmore came again. Cait Devane converted another free before Fryday added her fifth point from play to bring it back to just two points.

Niamh Long got the final score of the game from play, capping another tireless performance and leaving Drom & Inch three points clear.

However, Clonoulty/Rossmore refused to give up and continued to press right to the final whistle. With the last play of the game, Cait Devane was awarded a free and opted to go for goal, but the Drom defence held firm to keep the effort out and secure a hard-earned three-point victory in a thrilling contest.

It was an impressive response from Drom & Inch following their defeat to Eire Óg Annacarty in the previous round while Clonoulty/Rossmore suffered their first defeat of the group campaign after an excellent series of performances.

The result leaves the three sides level on points at the top of the group, with Clonoulty topping the table on score difference and straight into the semi-finals, followed by Eire Óg Annacarty and Drom & Inch who head into the quarter finals against Cashel King Cormacs and Moycarkey/Borris respectively.

Player of the Match: Eimear Cahill (Drom & Inch)

Drom & Inch: Caoimhe Bourke (6); Eimear Cahill (9), Christina Brennan (6), Maureen Ryan (7); Michelle Woodlock (7), Mairead Eviston (8), Aoife McGrath (8), Niamh Long (0-1, 7), Niamh Treacy (7), Caroline Shanahan (6), Mary Burke (0-3, 7), Ciara Cahill (0-3, 8), Miriam Campion (0-1, 6), Tara Hoare (6), Eimear McGrath (0-6, 3f, 2 45s, 7).

Subs used: Sara Jayne Ormonde (6), Laurie Mullens (6).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Eva Ryan (6); Moira Kinane (7), Clodagh Quirke (7), Julie Murphy (7); Casey Hennessy (0-1, 7), Kate Ryan (7), Eimear Loughman (0-1, 7), Sinead Ryan (6), Bernadette Ryan (7), Cait Devane (0-4, 3f, 7), Kellie Quirke (6), Moira Kinane (6), Sophie Maher (6), Sarah Fryday (0-5, 9), Roisin Ferncombe (0-1, 7).

Sub used: Eimear Bourke (6).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).