St Odhran’s Mine their way from Silver to County Gold

LADIES FOOTBALL: Camida Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Championship Final

St Odhran’s Silvermines 6-14

Rockwell Rovers 5-8

Report: Joe Scully at Sean Treacy Park, Kilcommon

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Niamh Cunneen (St Odhran’s Silvermines)

SCORERS – St Odhran’s Silvermines: Clodagh Daly 4-3 (1-0 pen, 0-1 free); Niamh Cunneen 1-3; Maeve Cunneen 1-1; Ellen Cunneen, Sarah Madden 0-2 each; Kellie O’Dwyer, Emer Moroney, Rachel Shanahan 0-1 each.

Rockwell Rovers: Ciara Fitzpatrick 2-6 (1-1 free); Anna O’Donoghue 2-0; Emily McGrath 1-1; Cliodhna Farrell 0-1.

The Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Ladies Football Final on Saturday threw up an absolute humdinger of a game before St Odhran’s Silvermines emerged victorious over Rockwell Rovers.

It was a game which saw two players sin-binned, 11 goals scored with four coming from Silvermines Clodagh Daly. At the end of it all it was Silvermines who came out victorious in the main thanks to a scintillating first half performance, led superbly by the Cunneen sisters, Ellen & Maeve, with ample help from Sarah Madden and Clodagh Daly.

Rockwell, to their credit, after finding themselves behind by fifteen points at the break fought back superbly and had the gap back to four at one stage before the ‘Mines refocused and added another couple of goals to seal victory.

The game got off to a fast start when straight from the throw-in Rockwell’s Emily McGrath made a bee-line for goal before rattling the net after just nineteen seconds.

The North outfit reacted to this set-back brilliantly and by the sixth minute were four ahead with their full forward line of Niamh Cunneen, Rachel Shanahan and Emer Moroney all knocking over points, before Cunneen added a fourth, and then in the sixth minute following a fine team move, Clodagh Daly scored her first goal.

Two minutes later, Daly had the ball in the net again before she pointed in the twelfth minute with a superb finish from Ellen Cunneen.

After a Rovers kickout went astray in the 18th minute, Sarah Madden got her name on the scoresheet before Cunneen added her second point.

Rockwell responded through a Ciara Fitzpatrick free in the 21st minute. Madden and Fitzpatrick exchanged points before the ‘Mines scored their third goal through Niamh Cunneen, and seconds later Clodagh Daly completed her hat-trick with a delightful lob over the keeper.

Soon after, ‘Mines centre-back Ciara Ryan was sin-binned and from the resultant free the ball came to Ciara Fitzpatrick who added the final score of the half with the score at 4-9 to 0-4

Rockwell Rovers, with the aid of the strong breeze, were a transformed team in the second half and opened the scoring through Ciara Fitzpatrick, and they goaled straight from the kickout via Anna O’Donohue.

Cliodhna Farrell added a point in the 32nd minute before Clodagh Daly got the ‘Mines moving again with a free.

Fitzpatrick responded for Rovers from play, before she won a penalty after rounding the keeper and was dragged down by Jane Ryan who was sin-binned with Fitzpatrick converting the penalty.

Maeve Cunneen responded with a point from play before a brilliant team move ended with Anna O’Donoghue goaling to leave just five points in it.

Silvermines responded through Niamh Cunneen but points from Emily McGrath and Fitzpatrick had the gap at four.

The ‘Mines then took control once again and two goals in quick succession from a Clodagh Daly penalty and Maeve Cunneen ended the game as a contest. Daly added another point to her impressive tally of 4-3 before Kellie O’Dwyer hit the ‘Mines final score in the added time.

There was still time for more as Rockwell scored their fifth goal through Ciara Fitzpatrick but it was St Odhran’s Silvermines who made up for last year’s final disappointment.

TEAMS – St Odhran’s Silvermines: Jane Ryan (6); Aileen Moroney (6), Ava Quigley (7), Nessa Murray (Capt 6); Eimhear Troy (6), Ciara Ryan (7), Maria Moroney (7); Ellen Cunneen (8), Maeve Steed (7), Kellie O’Dwyer (8), Sarah Madden (8), Clodagh Daly (9), Emer Moroney (7), Niamh Cunneen (9), Rachel Shanahan (6).

Subs: Maeve Cunneen (8) for Troy (HT); Emily O’Neill (6) for Quigley (42); Ailbhe O’Keeffe (6) for Murray (45); Bronagh Kenneally (6) for Shanahan (53).

Rockwell Rovers: Kate Hennessy (8), Clodagh O’Gorman (6), Margaret McGrath (Capt 6), Jayne Corcoran (8); Emma Durkan (8), Edel Shortall (6), Ashling Cully (6); Orla O’Grady (6), Cliodhna Farrell (7), Maeve Moloney (6), Emily McGrath (7), Grace O’Dwyer (6), Annie Flynn (6), Ciara Fitzpatrick (9), Anna O’Donoghue (8).

Subs: Emma Hally (7) for O’Gorman (HT); Meabh Lonergan (6) for Moloney (HT); Sophie Lonergan (6) for Flynn (43); Stephanie Kelly (6) for O’Dwyer (48).

Referee: Paul Carew (Lattin-Cullen).