Munster Camogie Finals – Match Reports

Limerick Junior Championship 2009

Feenagh-Kilmeedy 2-11 v 2-03 Kilmallock

An under strength Kilmallock team were quick off the mark with star of the future Sinead O’Riordan crashing a ball to the Feenagh net after only 5 minutes , this gave the Balbec girls the start they needed against the raging hot favourites, that goal seemed to spark the Feenagh girls into action. First half goals from Joanne O’Gorman and Emily O’Regan had the winners in the driving seat as they lead at half time by 2-07 to 1-01.

Fiona Moloney shortly after the restart, steadied the ship for Kilmallock team. Sinead O’ Riordan was in great scoring form and tacked on another goal and two points. They reduced the margin to six but that was as close as they got. Futher points from player of the match Joanne O’Gorman and one from Claire O’Regan saw the Feenagh girls safely over the line.

Feenagh-Kilmeedy: M Galvin, D O’Sullivan, A Fitzgibbon, E Murphy, G O’Regan, P Murphy, SO’ Sullivan, T Hurley, J O’ Gorman (1-07, 7frs), C O’Regan (0-01), E O’ Regan (1-01), I Irwin (0-01), B Stokes, M Foley, Karen Moore(0-01)

Kilmallock: J Kelly, E Murphy, S Burchill-Murphy, M Roche, S Stapleton, B O’Reilly, E Leahy, E Deady, A Ryan, S O’Riordan(2-03), M Freney, J Cleary, O Finn, F Neenan, N Ryan Sub: A Hennessy for N Ryan

Limerick Intermediate Championship 2009

Knockaderry 1-10 v 2-06 Murroe-Boher

Quick out of the blocks Knockaderry’s Michelle Casey scored a great goal to give her team the start they needed . Some excellent free taking from player of the match Marie Corkery and a point from Deirdre Mcgrath saw the eventual winners score 1-05 in the first half . Muroe were not put off though. They recorded two quickfire goals, from All-Ireland Minor medal winner Niamh Richardson and talented half forward Elaine Berkery, which put the Murroe girls two points to the good at the break. Knockaderry 1-05 ,Murroe-Boher 2-04.

The second half was going to be tight , a two point lead was never going to be enough for the Boher girls. Deirdre McGrath pointed early followed by another free from Marie Corkery. Niamh Richardson answered for Murroe leaving only the bear minimum in it. With twelve minutes left Corkery slotted over a twenty meter free and the sides were level. The sides traded points again before an injury time free from who else but Marie Corkery raised a white flag and the roof of the stand as Knockaderry were crowned champions y a single point.

Knockaderry: O Condon, S Fitzgerald, J Mortell, M Hanley, A O’Kelly, E Hannon, S Sheehy, L Murphy, M Sheehy, A O’Brien, M O’Sullivan, M Corkery(0-08, 7frs), C Cronin, D Mc Grath(0-02), L Moran.Sub:M Mc Grath(1-00).

Murroe-Boher: Á Fogarty, H Hayes. A O’Connor, C McCormack, C Hickey, N Hogan, M Ryan, C Laffan, J Ryan, E Berkery(1-01), Á Coughlan(0-02), M O’Brien, A Flannery, N Richardson (0-03, 2 frs), E Richardson

Limerick Senior Championship 2009

Kileedy 2-10 v 1-11 Granagh-Ballingarry

Two early points from Granaghs Fiona Morrissey and a free from County star Eileen O’Brien were quickly cancelled out by a well executed goal from Kileedy’s Michele Casey . Four more white flags from free taker O’Brien and one from Tara Power were answered superbly by Noreen Barry and Michelle Casey. This kept the prospect of the three in a row a reality for the Kileedy girls. With the half time score Kileedy 1-03 v Granagh-Ballingarry 0-08.

Granagh hit the ground running in the second half as an early goal and point from full forward Mairead Fitzgerald put the Ballingarry girls 6 points to the good, with 20 minutes left on the clock. Noreen Barry put Killeedy back on track with a superbly taken goal. This was followed by four white flags from placed balls through Michelle Casey. This had the regining champions one point to the good with seven minutes left on the clock. Granagh full forward Mairead levelled matters, but points from Dympna O’Brien and Edwina Mullane put Kileedy back on top. Eileen O’Brien pointed from a placed ball to put the minimum between the sides with time nearly up. It wasn’t enough though as Feile skills winner in 2008 Lisa Scanlon scored a majestic point from the right wing to cement the three in a row.

Kileedy: C Scanlon, M Kinsella, C Hayes, N Barry, B Downes, M O’Sullivan-Hunt, M O’ Connell, K Mullane, D Fitzpatrick, O Curtin, M Casey (1-06, 5frs), N Barry (1-01), E Foley, E Mullane (0-01), Bridget Butler Subs: D OBrien (0-01), L Scanlon (0-01)

Granagh Ballingarry: A O’Sullivan, F Chawke, N Houlihan, A McCarthy, L Potter, A Sheehan, F Hickey , T Power(0-01), M Nash, E O’Brien (0-06,all frs), F Morrissey (0-02), J Clifford, S Enright, M Fitzgerald (1-02), N Chawke. Sub: Vera Sheehan

Clare Senior Camogie Final

Kilmaley 0-07 v 0-05 Sixmilebridge

Kilmaley dominance continued on Saturday as they eventually edged out a spirited Sixmilebridge challenge to win back-to-back titles. On a special day for Clare camogie who were celebrating their 75th anniversary. After two thrilling semi-finals, this historic decider was expected to be an open encounter, pitting the defending champions against the coming force of Sixmilebridge but in a low-scoring affair that only saw one point from play over the hour, it turned out to be a slog that needed all of Kilmaley’s experience to prevail.

That Kilmaley eventually came out on the right side of result was predominantly down to experience. Having been in this situation before and boasting a vastly experienced spine of Denise Lynch at full-back, the multi-talented Eimear Considine outside her and Helen McMahon, captain Emma O’Driscoll and Claire McMahon further forward, they knew that patience was the key to success and overall, they just had the more attacking options and threat. Sixmilebridge on the other hand, despite being fully determined, never really threatened the Kilmaley goal throughout the hour and only for the unerring accuracy of Chloe Morey from placed balls, it is difficult to see how they would have won this tie.

Sixmilebridge were quicker off the blocks to open up a two point advantage by the 11th minute but McMahon and Kilmaley soon settled to draw level at 0-3 to 0-3 at half-time.

Kilmaley were better after the break though but were almost dealt a huge blow when Claire McMahon sustained an injury to an ankle in the opening minutes. The former county senior recovered though to tack on two further frees by the turn of the final quarter and give the holders the lead for the first time. With the game slipping from their grasp, Sixmilebridge switched Sinead Tuohy to midfield and they did cut the deficit to only the minimum with only eight minutes remaining when Morey converted another free.

Kilmaley had to dig deep and in the move of the match, finally grabbed a point from play when Siobhan Maher soloed down the left wing and out in a teasing delivery that broke off lively substitute Aisling Darcy to Emma O’Driscoll to point over her shoulder. However with 16 year old Chloe Morey driving Sixmilebridge on at every opportunity, they didn’t wilt and set up a grandstand finish when Morey herself was fouled outside the ’45 and got up to convert the resulting free in the 57th minute. The game was finally settled in injury-time though when Claire McMahon added her sixth free of the day and although they held a dangerous lead for the remainder, Sixmilebridge hadn’t the firepower to take advantage. This was Kilmaley’s day and whether they win in style or just win ugly, the main thing is that they are still winning and more significantly are still the standard bearers in the county for everyone else to aspire to.

Kilmaley. E Griffey, S O’Halloran, D Lynch, S Reidy, L Higgins, E Considine, A Griffey, H McMahon, E O’Connor, S Enright, E O’Driscoll (0-1), S Maher, K Cahill, C McMahon (0-6 6f), M Hehir Sub Aisling Darcy for Hehir

Sixmilebridge. A McNamara, A Sweeney, D Shanahan, O Chaplin, C Whelan, B O’Halloran, A O’Shea, N Corry, C Morey (0-5 4f 1’45), S Costelloe, B Crowe, S Chaplin, R O’Halloan, N Neylon, S Tuohy Subs C Early for Neylon (Inj), J Chaplin for S. Chaplin, O Fitzgerald for Crowe, K Connors for O. Chaplin, M Hyland for Early Player of the Game Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge)

Regards,

Orla Considine

Munster Camogie PRO