Club Camogie Championship Round-Up

By Geraldine Kinane PRO

Group 1

Thurles Sarsfields easily dismantle an understrength Nenagh Eire Og side to finish second in the group.

Group 2

CLONOULTY/ROSSMORE 2-11 CASHEL KING CORMACS 0-12

Clonoulty/Rossmore were made battle all the way against a Cashel King Cormacs side who needed a win to stay in contention for a quarter final spot.

They started brightly and led 0-5 to 0-2 midway through the opening half. Karin Blair was best for Cashel while Sorcha Ryan was very good in defence and Philly Fogarty worked hard in attack. Anna Fahie and Cait Devane exchanged frees and at the break Cashel were still in front 0-7 to 0-5.

Three in a row from Courtney Ryan and Cait Devane (2) put Clonoulty in the lead before Cashel responded with four points in succession to give them a 0-11 to 0-8 lead approaching the 40th minute mark.

Clonoulty needed a response and they got it thanks to a Courtney Ryan goal. Both sides battled hard but it was the home-side who led by two points going in to injury time. Cashel badly needed a late goal but instead it was substitute Sophie Maher who sealed victory for Clonoulty with an injury time goal.

Eire Og Annacarty 1-9 Borris-Ileigh 2-6

In the final group game of the Championship, Borris-Ileigh and Eire Og Annacarty finished all square in Clonoulty on Monday night.

At half time, Annacarty led 2-4 to 0-5 thanks to goals from Leah Heffernan and Eibhlis MacDonald. Borris-Ileigh up the workrate in the second half and fought hard with Nicole Walsh excellent on frees and from general play. Her second half goal sealed a draw meaning Borris-Ileigh finish second in the group and will play Burgess/Duharra in a quarter final while Eire Og Annacarty will travel to Thurles Sarsfields. The other 2 quarter finals see Silvermines travel to Clonoulty/Rossmore while holders Drom & Inch face Knockavilla Kickhams with all games next weekend. Cashel will face Nenagh Eire Og in the relegation final.

Intermediate

Newport/Ballinahinch and Toomevara played out a highly entertaining draw with the final scoreline 3-14 to Toomevara’s 2-17.

Moneygall continued their impressive performances with a 1-15 to 1-6 win over Cahir.

Moneygall started strong and were up 1-7 to 0-4 at half time playing against the wind. Moneygall had lots of possession, but Cahir were strong in defence preventing numerous goal chances. Moneygall had a good spread of scorers with six (4 frees) from Ciara Maher, 1-2 from Niamh Larkin, Bronagh Kenneally (0-3, 2 frees), two points from Mary Ryan and one each from Norah Larkin and Edwina Keane all keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Cahir, minus Roisin Howard who is gone travelling down under, struck a goal with ten minutes to go but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap as Moneygall marched on.

Boherlahan-Dualla travelled to Ballinderry on Sunday to take on Shannon Rovers with the game ending in a five point win for the home team, 1-16 to 1-11.

Boherlahan were the better team during the early stages enjoying a three point lead before the Rovers found their rhythm to lead 0-8 to 0-7 at half time.

The Rovers continued their dominance through most the second half led by Aoife McLoughney, Laura Leenane and Celine Guinan in front of a dominant half back line containing Frances Bugler, Eimear Fogarty, and Rachel Hannigan.

Boherlahan however did close the gap and threatened to pull level on a number of occasions with great displays from Mags Fryday who made several important saves, Sarah Delaney, Maria Ryan, Sarah McLoughlin, Danielle Ryan, and Clodagh Horgan. In the end the Rovers girls did enough to win by five points.

Junior ‘A’ Championship

Following the final round of group games last weekend, the pairings are set for the quarter finals next weekend. Respective group winners Brian Borus and Moycarkey/Borris host Ballina and Drom & Inch while Lorrha and Holycross/Ballycahill travel to group runners-up St Rita’s Fethard and Kiladangan respectively.

Junior ‘C’ Final Preview

Ballybacon/Grange vs Slieve Felim Rapparees

Saturday 23rd September @ 5.30pm in the County Camogie Grounds

Saturday evening sees the first of the County Finals take place with the meeting of Slieve Felim Rapparees and Ballybacon Grange in the Junior ‘C’ decider.

Lots of history will be made on Saturday with this being the first ever adult championship final for both clubs. It’s also the first ever Junior ‘C’ final with Tipperary Camogie introducing this new competition to cater for the growth of newer clubs this year.

Slieve Felim (Upperchurch/Drombane and Sean Treacys) qualified for the final on the back of a ten point win over Rockwell Rovers where goals were the main difference between the sides. At half time, Slieve Felim led 3-2 to 0-5 with Joanne Shannahan and Annie Phelan the goal-scorers. Margaret McGrath was best for Rockwell and had three of her sides first half points.

A fourth goal from captain Greta Ryan sealed a 4-6 to 1-5 win with Margaret McGrath getting Rockwell’s goal. Annie Phelan impressed throughout for Slieve Felim while they’ll also be hoping for another big performance from Sarah Brennan at centre back on Saturday. Roisin Hickey at wing back is another key player while Greta Ryan and Avril Kinnerk work hard in attack.

They will go into Saturday’s final as underdogs against a Ballybacon/Grange team that beat them well in the group stages, and also are league champions. They will however take huge confidence from their win over Rockwell and the experience of playing in the county grounds.

For Ballybacon/Grange, joint-captain Alice Ryan has been excellent for them so far this year in midfield while Helen Fitz has been very strong at centre back. Other key players include Tipp U17 captain Katie O’Conner who will likely feature in the half forward line and Niamh Boyle who’s continued her good form since the league final in the forwards. A special occasion for both clubs and just rewards for all their efforts in recent years.