Munster Camogie Intermediate Club Final – Lismore (Waterford) 5-5 Newmarket-on-Fergus (Clare) 0-11

Lismore (Waterford) defeated Newmarket-on-Fergus (Clare) by 5-5 to 0-11 in the Munster Camogie Intermediate Club Final on Saturday at Buttevant.

Lismore (Waterford) 5-05 v 0-11 Newmarket-on-Fergus (Clare)

Lismore the eventual winners threatened early in this game but saw a ‘45 attempt drift wide inside the opening minute. It was the youngster Niki Kaiser of Newmarket who opened the scoring after a deft handpass from sister, and captain, Ruth put her through the defense. Niki was settling well into her role and causing trouble in the inside forward line so a foul on the youngster as she broke onto the ball gave Newmarket their second oppertunity and Aine O’Brien duely slotted over. Newmarket looked to be in control in many areas but long high balls into their rear line of defense started to cause trouble and one of these, from player of the game Shona Curran, drifted in over Carol Twoomey’s head and gave Lismore the lead after 8 minutes. Aoife Hannon who was accurate with frees converted a free after Kate Henegan was fouled. Aine O’Brien and Niki Kaiser pointed again for the Banner side as the sides drew level again. Hannon was on hand for Lismore to convert again to go ahead but they were level two minutes later when Deirdre Cassidy pointed from the right wing. Lismore were threatening more and Toomey was on hand in goal to pull of a point blank save from Caithriona McGlone it was only delaying matters though as Hannon converted a free and 16yr old Ruth Geoghan was on hand for Lismore’s second goal after collecting and rounding her marker she crashed to the net giving Toomey no chance. Aine O’Brien converted a free for Newmarket in their last score of the half while Hannon with a like score for Lismore and then as Newmarket looked to be holding out under severe pressure Caithriona McGlone did goal as Toomey attempted to bring the sliotar back from over the line. The winners went in with a 3-04 to 0-06 lead.

The opening score of the second took nearly ten minutes to materialise as defenses controlled the game. It was Lismore who eventually broke the hoodoo after Cathriona Ormonde goaled after the third attempt with Toomey having put herself on the line to defend the goal line. And Ruth Geoghan followed swiftly with a point. Newmarket did not lie down though and pushed forward at every attempt and points followed from a Niki Kaiser free, Ruth Kaiser, Iris Kaiser and a second Niki free. Ruth Kasier had the gap back to 6 with her second free but that was as close as the Banner side got as Lismore defended well. Probably it was Newmarket’s down fall that they were trying from goal from here as point chances were there for the taking and so they never threatened Lismore as captain Aisling O’Brien was never really threatened as her back line dominated. Indeed this all out attack left Newmarket open behind and Ruth Geoghan again got the chance to break onto a long clearance and grabbed her second goal of the game and made sure of the Lismore win.

Lismore: Aisling O’Brien, Jennifer Hannon, Niamh Ryan, Laura Buckley, Marie Russell, Grainne Kenneally, Sarah Fenton, Shona Curran(1 gl), Rachel Whelan, Cathriona Ormonde, Shauna Kiernan, Aoife Hannon(4pts, all frs), Kate Heneghan(1 gl), Caithriona McGlone(1 gl), Ruth Geoghan(2-1)

Newmarket-on-Fergus: Carol Toomey, Aoife Griffin, Jane O’Leary, Aimee McInerney, Carol O’Leary, Róisin McMahon, Carol Kaiser, Ruth Kaiser(2 pts), Joanne Walsh, Deirdre Cassidy(1 pt), Eirca Minogue, Aine O’Brien(3 pts, 2frs), Sharon McMahon, Iris Kaiser(1 pt), Niki Kaiser(4pts, 2 frs)

Ref: John O’Leary, Cork

Match Preview

Munster Intermediate Club Camogie Final ‘Trixie Toomey Memorial Cup’

Newmarket-on-Fergus(Clare) v Lismore(Waterford)

This is an historic final in many ways. The first ever Intermediate Club final to be played, the cup donated by a family from County Clare, the Toomey family in memory of their late husband and father after the many years he served to both club and county camogie as selector and trainer. Trixie was a Newmarket man and now his native club are in the final with his daughter Carol playing in goal. It is sure to be an emotional day for the family whatever the outcome. These two clubs will never have met but as county champions both are looking to go one step further. A close contest is expected as both had convincing wins over their semi-final opponents of Templemore and Mallow.

The Newmarket team has strong family links through out the field with the Kaisers all having played for the Clare county teams from Captain Ruth right down to 15year old Niki at corner forward. Also the McMahons and O’Learys. Aimee McInerney, Aine O’Brien, Aoife Griffin, Erica Minogue and Joanne Walsh also have county experience and saying this they are a young team with average age of 20 years.

This Lismore team bases its roots in Feile na nGael 1999 as they have represented the county for the last eleven years. This is the first Senior county championship for this club in nine years and they have worked hard to get to this level. Shauna Kiernan, Maire Russell, Rachel Whelan, Grainne Kenneally, team captain Aisling O’Brien, Shona Curran and Niamh Ryan have all county experience over the last number of years and with Grainne Kenneally having captained U.C.C. to the Ashbourne final last year. This lays all the markers for a tight game going all the way to the wire.

Newmarket-on-Fergus(Clare): C Toomey, A Griffin, J O’Leary, C O’Leary, A McInerney, R McMahon, C Kaiser, R Kaiser(C), J Walsh, S McMahon, E Minogue, A O’Brien, D Cassidy, I Kaiser, N Kaiser

Lismore(Waterford): A O’ Brien(C), J Houlihan, N Ryan, L Buckley, J Hannon, S Curran, S Fenton, M Russell, R Whelan, G Kenneally, A Hannon, S Kiernan, K Heneghan, C Ormonde, T Morrissey

Ref: John O’Leary, Corcaigh