Missed chances cost Rovers against Drom

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 1 Round 4

Drom & Inch 2-13

Shannon Rovers 0-14

Report: Liam Hogan

at The Ragg

Two first half goals proved the difference as Drom & Inch got the better of Shannon Rovers in this fourth round clash of the County Senior Camogie Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The goals, in the 4th & 21st minutes, were the cushion that Drom required to hold off a determined Rovers team who might have gained more out of the game but for poor decision-making and poor handling at times.

Drom’s two goals cushioned them to a 2-7 to 0-8 half time lead the Rovers dominated the play in the second half but were unable to convert enough chances to cut the deficit.

The home side had the star players with the talented Mary Burke, Miriam Campion and Niamh Long creating danger every time play entered the Rovers half.

In addition, they had the brilliant Niamh Treacy directing operations at midfield with a player of the match performance. The Drom defence gave very little away with Grainne Long, Maureen Ryan and Aoife McGrath to shine.

Drom were troubled in defence as they were unable to cope with Laura Leenane who could do no wrong as she fired over point after point in a great display of shooting, giving her Tipperary colleague Mairead Eviston a torrid time.

Celine Guinan was another to shine as the midfielder drove on time after time with Eimear Fogarty catching the eye at centre-back. Stephanie O’Sullivan remains the evergreen defender with Niamh Franks and Emma Costello doing well in the absence of Frances Bugler who was late arriving for the game but was restored to the full back line early in the second half.

Miriam Campion gave Drom the lead, but Nicola Kelly levelled in the second minute.

Neither team had settled by the fourth minute when Mary Burke drove forward to beat Rita Burke with a low shot to the net.

Points by Aine Slattery and Laura Leenane had the margin down to one by the seventh minute with Mary Burke scoring a point a minute later.

Both sides had further chances to score but indecision hurt Rovers more while at the other end, Miriam Campion disposed Niamh Franks before taking a point.

A great catch and run by Celine Guinan saw the midfielder fire over from thirty metres. Rovers were okay going forward but back at base a failure to clear danger saw Miriam Campion take advantage to score Drom’s second goal in the 20th minute.

Points by Laura Leenane and Niamh Treacy helped maintain the five-point lead held before the Reds brought the deficit back after Laura Leenane fired over a great score before Nicola Kelly scored from the right wing in the 26th minute.

As play continued, Drom were able to regroup and points by Miriam Campion (free) and Mark Burke from play left the half time score at 2-7 to 0-8.

With Anna Harding coming on as a substitute at half time, Rovers began the second half by narrowing the gap to another well-taken point by Laura Leenane.

It was the first of four points inside six minutes with Mary Burke, Gillian Long and Niamh Long on song for the home side who also spurned three good chances before Laura Leenane pointed a close range free for the visitors.

After Aoife McGrath abandoned her wing back position to score, the Drom the lead increased to six when Miriam Campion scored from a thirty metre free.

However, points by Gillian McKenna and Emma Darcy brought Rovers back into contention with eight minutes remaining.

Before the puckout, Drom welcomed Tipp star Eimear McGrath back onto the field, almost a year on after sustaining a cruciate knee injury against the same opposition in the same venue.

After Miriam Campion increased the home side’s lead with a free, she was on hand once more to link up with Mary Burke who brought her total to 1-4.

Three minutes remained and it was the Rovers who continued to press and going for goals was their motus operandi with Caoimhe Bourke coming to the fore and deny Laura Leenane from close range, but Nicola Kelly posted her third point in the 59th minute.

As the seconds ticked on Drom & Inch won a penalty, but Rita Burke denied Eimear McGrath.

Despite the defeat, Shannon Rovers still have a chance to grab a place in the knockout stage provided they beat Moneygall in their final game.

Player of the Match: Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch)

Drom & Inch: Caoimhe Bourke (6); Christina Brennan (7), Grainne Long (7), Maureen Ryan (7); Aoife McGrath (0-1, 7), Mairead Eviston (6), Tara Hoare (7); Ciara Cahill (6), Niamh Treacy (0-1, 8); Laurie Mullen (6), Mary Bourke (1-4, 8), Caroline Shanahan (6); Kate Fogarty (6), Miriam Campion (0-6, 4f, 8), Niamh Long (0-1, 6).

Subs: Eimear McGrath (6) for Fogarty (52); Kate Fogarty for Treacy (60+2).

Shannon Rovers: Rita Burke (7); Stephanie Sullivan (7), Niamh Franks (6), Paula Hannigan (6); Aine Cleary (7), Eimear Fogarty (7), Emma Costello (7); Celine Guinan (0-1, 8), Rachel Hannigan (6); Laura Leenane (0-6, 2f, 8), Nicola Kelly (0-3, 7), Gillian McKenna (0-1, 7); Clodagh Cahalan (6), Aine Slattery (0-1, 6), Makenzie Simmons Loughnane (6).

Subs: Anna Harding (7) for Cahalan (HT); Emma Darcy (0-1, 7) for Simmons Loughnane (40); Frances Bugler (6) for O’Sullivan (43); Clodagh Davis (6) for R Hannigan (52).

Referee: Mike Ryan (Nenagh Eire Og).