Shannon Rovers dethroned by Annacarty in thriller
CAMOGIE: Tipperary Under 21 Division 1 Final
Eire Og Annacarty/D 2-12
Shannon Rovers 2-7
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Danielle Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill)
SCORERS – Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill: Lucy Heffernan 2-2; Danielle Ryan 0-5 (4 frees, 1 ’45); Orla O’Brien 0-3; Jennifer Heffernan, Shauna Ryan 0-1 each.
Shannon Rovers: Aine Leenane 2-0; Niamh Franks 0-4 (3 frees, 1 ’45); Emma D’Arcy 0-3.
Shannon Rovers were dethroned as County Under 21 Division 1 champions by Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill in an enthralling game at Fethard Town Park on Sunday.
The Rovers were appearing in their third ‘A’ final in a row, having won last year and lost the year before.
One would have assumed that Annacarty would be a little on the tired side having won their semi-final on the same pitch a mere 42 hours earlier.
The opposite was the case as they started in whirlwind fashion scoring the first five points in six minutes, through Orla O Brien (2), Jennifer Heffernan, Lucy Heffernan and a free from the impressive Tipperary senior panellist Danielle Ryan.
Shannon Rovers Emma D'Arcy settled her sides nerves with a vital point on seven minutes, but this was followed by three more Annacarty points from Shauna Ryan, Lucy Heffernan and another Danielle Ryan free.
Shannon Rovers Nicola Kelly and Eimear Fogarty then combined to set up Áine Leenane to score a vital goal by beating the superb Tipperary All Ireland minor winning goalie Danielle Butler just inside her post.
Niamh Franks then converted a free, followed by another two from play from Emma D'Arcy with Annacarty closing out the half with points from Orla O’Brien and Danielle Ryan (free) to leave the half time score at 0-10 to 1-5.
Both teams made a change at half time with Annacarty bringing on Chloe O’Neill for Miriam Butler and the Rovers bringing Jessica Leenane in for Shauna Gantly.
Scores were hard to come by in the early stages of the second half with both teams putting in trojan effort levels keeping the crowd buzzing.
Danielle Ryan converted a free and a 45 for Annacarty before they found the net with their first goal from a rebound save through the ever dangerous Lucy Heffernan.
Shannon Rovers responded with the next 1-2 with points from a Niamh Franks free and 45 and then a superb flick from Áine Leenane one-handed on the bounce to touch it past the on rushing Danielle Butler and into the net.
While the camogie was frantic for the last ten minutes and had the crowd in full voice on the edge of their seats, there was just one more score and it was another well taken goal from Annacarty's other All-Ireland minor winner Lucy Heffernan, who played most of the second half in the full forward line.
Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill had impressive displays from Danielle Butler, Shauna Heffernan, Lucy & Jennifer Heffernan, Orla O’Brien and player of the match Danielle Ryan.
Shannon Rovers more than played their part with their outstanding joint captain and county under 23 panellist Eimear Fogarty powering up and down the pitch at pace, with county senior panellist Celine Guinan also hoovering up ball after ball. Emma D'Arcy and Áine Leenane were also impressive.
TEAMS – Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill: Danielle Butler, Áine O Dwyer, Idemae Loughman, Aisling De Cruis, Clodagh Ryan, Shauna Heffernan, Ella Cummins, Lucy Heffernan, Jennifer Heffernan, Nia Donovan, Danielle Ryan, Shauna Ryan, Orla O’Brien, Miriam Butler, Libbie Quinn. Sub used: Chloe O’Neill.
Shannon Rovers: Margaret Cleary, Áine Cahalan, Frances Bugler, Anna Kennedy, Shauna Gantly, Celine Guinan, Emma Costello, Eimear Fogarty, Niamh Franks, Clodagh Cahalan, Emma D'Arcy, Caitlin Murphy, Nicola Kelly, Áine Leenane, Makenzie Symmons Loughnane. Subs used: Jessica Leenane, Ally Mulvihill.
Referee: David Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla).