Revived Knockavilla push Moneygall over the trapdoor

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Relegation Semi-Final

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 1-13

Moneygall 2-9

Report: Joe Scully in Dolla

In the most dramatic of finishes, Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams secured their senior status for 2027 as an Eimear Heffernan free in the 61st minute gave them a one-point victory over Moneygall this relegation semi-final on Sunday.

A minute before this, Moneygall’s Mairead Teehan had just levelled things with a magnificent solo goal when she caught a puckout on halfway and ran at the Knockavilla goal, past five or six players, before finding the back of the net from about thirty metres.

It was a game where the wind played a huge part with Moneygall playing with the aid of it in the opening period in which they led by six points, but in the second period, the West outfit, inspired by Tipp star Heffernan who scored eight points in the half fought back for a huge victory, their first one of the year.

The North side will definitely rue a lack of discipline in the second half and unforced errors which cost them in the end as they still have one last chance to save their senior status as they face Burgess/Duharra in the final.

It took a while for the game to get going with the first score coming in the sixth minute when Tipperary captain Caoimhe McCarthy who was the player who kept her side in the game in the opening half, scoring all of their points, finished well from out the field.

Moneygall responded a minute later when Julie Kelly set up Mary Ryan for a point. A minute later, Mairead Teehan bore down on goal, but her effort lacked any real power and was easily saved by Mary Anne Hayes.

The red & blacks did have the ball in the back of the net in the eleventh minute via Mary Ryan who saw her first effort hooked but converted at the second time of asking.

A Teehan free extended the lead before Caoimhe MaCarthy hit two-in-a-row in the 16th & 19th minutes to leave Moneygall ahead by two.

Another Teehan free was followed two minutes later by an Orlaith Cleary effort from play, before two more frees from Teehan had Moneygall ahead at the break, 1-6 to 0-3.

Eimear Heffernan would take over proceedings in the second half and opened her account in the 32nd minute with a fine effort from play, and she added another less than a minute later from a dead-ball.

Mairead Teehan responded in kind two minutes later to go five ahead again, but Kickhams would slowly start to reel in the deficit as Moneygall’s discipline would start to let them down as Heffernan converted four frees between the 37th & 45th minutes to leave just a point in it.

From the resultant puckout, the sides were level when Caoimhe McCarthy added her fourth point, and less than a minute later she raised a green flag after a run through the middle and though her shot lacked any real power still found its way to the net, and suddenly Kickhams were in front.

Eimear Heffernan added another from play to put her side four up, before Emma Costello had the gap back to three before Mairead Teehan reduced it further with a free.

In the 59th minute following a fine team move, Ereena Fryday had Kickhams three ahead again, but from the next puckout, Mairead Teehan made a superb catch on half-way before running half the field and goaling to level the game.

Just when it looked like we were heading for extra-time, Knockavilla were awarded a free 65 metres out which Eimear Heffernan duly knocked over to give her side a deserved victory.

Player of the Match: Caoimhe McCarthy (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Mary Anne Hayes (6); Aine Leahy (6), Emma Ryan (7), Emma Kingston (6); Sinead Hayes (6) Ereena Fryday (0-1, 7), Emma O’Mara (6); Anna Butler (6), Caoimhe McCarthy (1-4, 8); Emma Daly (6); Ellen Browne (6), Ellen Brwoen (7); Doireann Hales (6), Eimear Heffernan (0-8, 6f, 8), Sarah Ryan (6).

Sub: Millie Kelly (6) for S Ryan (53).

Moneygall: Roisin Maher (6); Julie Kelly (7), Stephanie Kenny (6), Shauna Kirwan (7); Alice Maher (6), Mary Ryan (1-1, 7), Katie Hayes (6); Edwina King (6), Bronagh Kenneally (6); Mairead Teehan (1-6, 0-6f, 7), Katelyn Dunne (6), Emma Costello (0-1, 7); Emily Whyte (6), Orlaith Cleary (0-1, 6), Maria Maher (6).

Subs: Stephanie Treacy (6) for Whyte (45); Amy Ryan (6) for Kenneally (53); Leah Harney (NR) for Maher (57).

Referee: Mike Ryan (Nenagh Eire Og).