Clonoulty start out in ruthless fashion against Kickhams

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Championship Tipperary Senior Championship Group 2

Knockavilla-D Kickhams 0-7

Clonoulty/Rossmore 6-25

It was one-way traffic in Dundrum on Saturday evening as Clonoulty/Rossmore made a powerful statement in the County Senior Camogie Championship with a comprehensive victory over neighbours Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams.

Having had a bye in round 1, last year’s beaten finalists were eager to get their championship campaign underway, and they certainly wasted no time in making their intentions clear.

The 2024 champions produced a ruthless first-half display, with their flying forwards causing constant problems for a young Knockavilla side who were also missing a number of players through injury.

Knockavilla battled on after the restart, but unfortunately for them the second half brought more of the same, as Clonoulty continued to dominate and added another three goals on their way to an emphatic victory.

Bernadette Ryan was excellent in the middle of the field, while Clonoulty also impressed defensively, with Clodagh Quirke and Eimear Loughman forming a strong defensive unit.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Knockavilla did manage seven points, with two from Caoimhe McCarthy, one from Deirdre Hales and four from Eimear Heffernan, including two frees.

For Clonoulty, there was plenty to please manager and supporters, particularly the spread of scores and the contribution from their younger players. Sophie Maher was in excellent form, finishing with a hat-trick of goals and a point.

Róisín Ferncombe was also impressive throughout, contributing a goal and two points, while the evergreen Cait Devane was once again in outstanding form. She proved a constant threat from both frees and play, finishing with seven points in the first half before adding 2-7 in the second half.

The result sees Clonoulty/Rossmore carry their excellent league form into the championship in impressive fashion and will be expected to back it up when they host Silvermines this Friday in their second game.

It is back to the drawing board for Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams although their two hardest games are out of the way with Silvermines and Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill to come.

Player of the Match: Bernadette Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore).

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Mary Anne Hayes (6); Niamh Hayes (6), Orla Gleeson (6), Aoife White (6); Emma Ryan (6), Emma O’Mara (6), Sinead Hayes (6); Ereena Fryday (6), Caoimhe McCarthy (0-2, 6); Ciara Farrell (6), Eimear Heffernan (0-4, 2f, 7), Emma Daly (6); Mary Ellen Holmes (6), Doireann Hales (0-1), Niamh Buckley (6).

Subs: Aine Hayes (6) for White; Emma Kingston (6) for N Hayes; Therese Ryan (6) for Hales; Niamh Hayes for Gleeson.

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Eva Ryan (7); Moira Kinane (7), Clodagh Quirke (7), Eimear Loughman (7); Aoife Bourke (7), Casey Hennessy (0-3, 8), Kate Ryan (7); Bernadette Ryan (0-1, 9), Kellie Quirke (7), Sinead Ryan (0-3, 7), Cait Devane (2-14, 0-7f, 9), Roisin Ferncombe (1-2, 8), Sarah Fryday (0-1, 7), Sophie Maher (3-1, 9), Sarah O’Dwyer (7).

Referee: Tommy Ryan (Kiladangan).