Thurles withstand strong Moneygall challenge

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 1

Thurles Sarsfields 4-11

Moneygall 3-12

Report: Joe Scully in Thurles

Holders Thurles Sarsfields made it three wins from three in Group 1 of the Tipperary Senior Camogie championship on Saturday but they were pushed all the way by a Moneygall side who proved that they are more than a match for the top sides and could be dark horses to win the championship.

Once again, the North outfit were inspired by the brilliance of Mairead Teehan who for the second game in a row scored a hat-trick of goals, but a lack of scores from elsewhere proved to be their downfall, and if they are to win a county title this is something they will need to fix.

Thurles, who were missing their star player Karen Kennedy, had a better spread of scorers, and a devastating two-minute spell around the 27th minute when they scored 2-1 without reply was the winning of the game, and showed just how devastating their attack can be when they click.

Moneygall seemed to run out of steam in the second half, with all their points coming from dead-balls, and two late goals which reduced the gap to two, coming too little too late.

It was a highly entertaining game with some fine scores throughout, and the ferocity brought by both sides was to be admired as nothing was earned easily.

Thurles opened the scoring straight from the throw-in when Aoife O’Dwyer went on a solo run and pointed after just thirteen seconds. It was two a minute when Nicola Loughnane pointed.

Moneygall then came roaring into the game with Mairead Teehan, hitting two points from play, and then in the seventh minute she won a penalty, which she converted to put her side ahead.

Thurles struck back with a goal of their own three minutes later when a Moneygall defender mis-controlled the ball and Aoife O’Dwyer found herself through on goal and finished smartly.

The visitors were back ahead a minute later when Mary Ryan pointed after a one-two with Bronagh Kenneally.

Thurles responded quickly, and after a goalmouth scramble, Laura Loughnane finished to the back of the net. Sarah Stakelum added another point to leave the home side 2-3 to 1-3 ahead after fourteen minutes.

Kenneally responded with a point after overturning a Thurles defender, and it was Teehan in the 17th minute with a superb score to leave the gap at just one.

A Caoimhe Stakelum free had it back to two, but Moneygall would then hit three-in-a-row, firstly, a great finish from Mary Ryan, then Teehan again with a free, before the score of the game from Teehan again after Caitlyn Treacy flicked the sliotar onto the Offaly star who finished with aplomb to put Moneygall ahead.

Five minutes later, Thurles would up it a gear and in a two-minute spell showed why they are county champions.

First up, Lucy Purcell, following a well-worked move, hit her sides third goal, and straight from the puckout, Caoimhe Stakelum passed to Marie Creedon who pulled to the net.

Then Caoimhe Stakelum, following a fine pass from O’Dwyer, pointed to put ten in between the sides.

Mairead Teehan hit the final score of the half in the last minute as Thurles led 4-5 to 1-9 at the break.

Two Teehan frees at the start of the second half gave Moneygall the ideal start but Thurles would then hit three-in-a-row through O’Dwyer and two Caoimhe Stakelum frees.

Another Teehan free in the 40th minute would be her sides last point of the game, and they wouldn’t score again until the 57th minute.

Caoimhe Stakelum then hit three-in-a-row from play and two dead balls to move eight ahead with just over four minutes of normal time to play.

Moneygall, to their credit, never gave up and in the 57th minute, Mairead Teehan found herself in possession and made a direct beeline for the Thurles goal and finished smartly for her third goal.

Then, in the 62nd minute, Teehan won a ball close in and was dragged down, awarded a free just outside the 21-metre line, which she stood up to and despite a large Thurles presence on the line, found the back of the net, but unfortunately for her and Moneygall the final whistle sounded seconds later as Thurles held on for the win that guarantees them a place in the knockout stages.

Despite the defeat Moneygall are still in a strong position to make the quarter finals and if they can get the likes of Orlaith Treacy and Ciara Maher back before the end of the campaign can be quietly confident of success.

For Moneygall, Stephanie Kenny, Mary Ryan, Edwina King, Caithlyn Treacy, and Mairead Teehan played well, while for Sarsfields, Emer Kennedy, Emma Carey, Marie Creedon, and Aoife O’Dwyer were their best players.

Player of the Match: Mairead Teehan (Moneygall)

Thurles Sarsfields: Siobhan Hennessy (6); Leanna Coppinger (8), Niamh McCormack (6), Rebecca O’Mara (7); Robyn Fanning (6), Emer Kennedy (8), Emma Carey (7); Nicola Loughnane (0-1, 7), Aoife O’Dwyer (1-2, 9), Andrea Loughnane (6), Sarah Stakelum (0-1, 7), Marie Creedon (1-0, 7), Laura Loughnane (1-0, 7), Caoimhe Stakelum (0-7 5f, 8), Lucy Purcell (1-0, 7).

Subs: Ciara Cummins (6) for R Fanning (42); Roisin Corbett (6) for N Loughnane (57), Maria Ralph (NR) for S Stakelum (57).

Moneygall: Eimear Ryan (6); Julie Kenny (7), Stephanie Kenny (7), Shauna Kirwan (6); Mary Teehan (6), Mary Ryan (0-2, 7), Katie Hayes (6); Edwina King (7), Katelyn Deane (6); Mairead Teehan (3-9, 2-4f, 9), Caithlyn Treacy (7), Emma Costello (6), Emily Whyte (6), Orlaith Cleary (6), Bronagh Kenneally (0-1, 7).

Subs: Stephanie Treacy (6) for Whyte (37); Alice Maher (6) for Hayes (40); Amy Sayers (6) for Kenneally (51), Maria Maher (NR) for Cleary (58).

Referee: Tommy Ryan (Kiladangan).