Moneygall survive as Duharra go down with honour

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Camogie Relegation Final

Moneygall 1-16

Burgess/Duharra 3-8

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Mairéad Teehan (Moneygall).

SCORERS – Moneygall: Mairead Teehan 1-13 (0-11 frees); Caithlyn Treacy, Emma Costello, Orlaith Cleary 0-1 each

Burgess/Duharra: Jenny Grace 2-4 (0-4 frees); Amy Kennedy 1-2; Katie Grace 0-2.

Burgess/Duharra illustrious history in the senior ranks of Tipperary camogie came to a heartbreaking end, for the time-being, on Saturday as a determined Moneygall side secured their senior status following a fiercely contested relegation final.

Inspired by the outstanding Mairéad Teehan, Moneygall held their nerve in a gripping encounter to emerge with a hard-earned three-point victory. The talismanic centre-forward was the difference between the sides, finishing with a remarkable 1-13.

For Burgess/Duharra, the defeat brought a devastating conclusion to their campaign and condemned the club to the second tier of camogie for the first time in its history.

Before throw-in, Burgess/Duharra paid a poignant tribute to former teammate Laura Kennedy. Players formed the initials ‘LK’ on the pitch, while her retired number nine jersey was laid in the centre of the field. A minute’s silence was impeccably observed by all in attendance, providing a deeply moving start to an afternoon of high emotion.

When the action got underway, Moneygall made immediate use of the stiff breeze with Mairead Teehan converting a brace of frees. However, Duharra responded in spectacular fashion, striking for the opening goal in the sixth minute. Tara Kennedy supplied a perfectly timed pass to her sister Amy, who finished emphatically to give them an early boost.

Moments later, the influential Jenny Grace created another opportunity, setting up Katie Grace for a sweetly struck point. Grace continued to cause problems for the Moneygall defence with a well-delivered free finding Amy Kennedy, who added a close-range point to stretch the advantage. Jenny Grace then raised another white flag in the thirteenth minute as Duharra threatened to take control.

Teehan stemmed the tide with a well-flighted free midway through the half, and the two sides subsequently exchanged scores from placed balls. The Moneygall marksman then produced a booming effort from distance in the nineteenth minute to reduce the deficit to two points.

Moneygall were beginning to establish a stronger foothold around the middle of the field, although Jenny Grace did briefly restore Duharra’s three-point advantage on the 21-minute mark.

Three unanswered Moneygall points from Caithlyn Treacy, Teehan and Emma Costello, however, brought/Bertie Sherlock’s side level with four minutes remaining to the interval.

Burgess/Duharra responded through another excellent Amy Kennedy effort in added time, but Moneygall ensured the sides remained deadlocked at the break when Teehan converted a close-range free with virtually the last puck of the half, 0-9 to 1-6.

Moneygall emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and delivered a devastating early burst of 1-2 without reply to establish a four-point advantage.

Teehan opened the scoring with another free before Treacy supplied the pass for her to find the net with a superbly executed goal. Orlaith Cleary added a point following excellent work by substitute Ciara Maher.

Burgess/Duharra desperately needed a response and found one through a fortunate goal. Jenny Grace’s low effort, which appeared destined to be cleared to safety, took a deflection that wrong-footed Moneygall goalkeeper Róisin Maher and ended up in the net.

Moneygall sought to reassert their authority, with Teehan converting another close-range free. At the other end, Jenny Grace tested Maher with a goal attempt from a close-range free in the 44th minute, but the Moneygall goalkeeper stood firm.

Teehan continued to punish every infringement, adding two frees as Moneygall sought to build some breathing space. Duharra refused to surrender, however, and Katie Grace produced a sublime point from close to the sideline to keep her side within striking distance.

A Teehan point in the 55th minute appeared to strengthen Moneygall’s grip on the contest, but Burgess/Duharra struck another major blow when Jenny Grace’s looping effort found its way into the top corner of the net.

The goal reignited the contest and left the sides separated by just two points as the tension mounted. Moneygall once again turned to their inspirational leader. Teehan converted her eleventh pointed free to stretch the advantage to three.

Jenny Grace responded with a point, setting up a nervy conclusion. Burgess/Duharra threw everything into their late pursuit of an equalising score, but the elusive fourth goal proved beyond their reach.

For Moneygall, it was a triumph built on resilience, determination and the exceptional scoring exploits of Teehan. For Burgess/Duharra, the final whistle marked a sombre and historic moment as their long-standing tenure in senior camogie came to an end.

TEAMS - Moneygall: Róisín Maher (7); Katelyn Deane (7), Stephanie Kirwan (7), Alice Maher (6); Shauna Kirwan (7), Julie Kelly (7), Katie Hayes (7); Mary Ryan (7), Edwina King (7); Caithlyn Treacy (7), Mairéad Teehan (9); Emma Costello (7); Maria Maher (6), Orlaith Cleary (7), Stephanie Treacy (6).

Subs: Ciara Maher (7) for M Maher (HT); Amy Ryan (6) for A Maher (HT); Bronagh Kenneally (6) for Cleary (52).

Burgess/Duharra: Ciara Holohan (7), Ella Slattery (7), Gemma Kaden (7), Lucy Slattery (7); Róisin Duffy (7), Kaitlin O’Halloran (7), Kara O’Carroll (6); Katie Grace (7), Lily Duffy (7); Ciara McKeogh (6), Jenny Grace (8), Amy Kennedy (7); Amy O’Dwyer (6), Danielle Nealon (6), Tara Kennedy (7).

Subs: Caoilfhionn Maher (6) for Nealon (56); Fiona McGauley (NR) for O’Halloran (60+3).

Referee: David Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs).