Drom & Inch's arsenal too much for Silvermines in the camogie championship

FBD Insurance Senior Championship

Drom-Inch  4-17 

Nenagh Eire Og  2-6

A strong final five minutes of the opening half by Silvermines which yielded two goals from Ashling Carey and Laura Cunneen meant only four points separated the sides at half time 2-7 to 2-3. 

But the County champions similar to all their games so far got stronger as the game progressed and powered to their fourth victory outscoring Silvermines in the second half 2-10 to 0-3. 

The game started at a blistering pace with Drom going on the attack right from the throw-in and Eimear McGrath firing home the first of her three goals after just 47 seconds. Silvermines responded immediately with a Nicola Butler point. 

With 8 minutes on the clock, it was three points apiece with two pointed frees on either side of a Miriam Campion. 

The game went ten minutes without a score with Drom guilty of some poor wides. There were great battles throughout the field with Sarah Madden and Mairead Eviston at one end and Mary Burke and Brid Quinn at the opposite end.  Drom started to get on top in the middle of the field with Aoife McGrath outstanding and Caroline Shanahan involved in a lot of the action. 

Four unanswered points from Eimear McGrath's placed balls and a lovely Miriam Campion point made it 1-6 to 0-3 by the 24th minute. But Silvermines continued to battle hard with Ellen Cunneen a constant threat and Ashling Carey working hard at the edge of the square. 

A poor clearance straight to Carey gave her the perfect goal opportunity and she made no mistake to fire home in the 25th minute. This was quickly cancelled out though by Eimear McGrath who is playing with real class and confidence throughout the campaign. Another 45m by McGrth made it 2-7 to 1-3 before Laura Cunneen took advantage of some indecisiveness between the Drom keeper and her defence and slotted the ball home – 2-7 to 2-3 at the break. 

Silvermines started the second half well with two points from Elaine Murphy and an Ellen Cunnen free in the 34th minute. But they failed to score again until Sarah Madden pointed in the 56th minute as the Drom & Inch defence snuffed out any attack with some excellent defending by Eimear Cahill and the Eviston sisters Mairead and Anne on the half backline. 

Aoife McGrath started to attack more from midfield and picked off two second-half points while Miriam Campion was really sharp in attack with 1-1 from play while also being fouled for a penalty in the 50th minute which Eimear McGrath buried to seal her hat-trick. 

Mary Burke, Caroline Shanahan and Niamh Treacy all got in on the scoring as Drom-Inch put down another serious marker as they look to retain their county title.

Their work rate, fitness and movement were very impressive against a hard-working Silvermines side with no shortage of talent with Ciara Ryan, Eimear Murphy and Brid Quinn all impressive in defence. However, they lacked the firepower up front to come close to threatening Drom on the scoreboard in the second half. 

Drom & Inch: Kristina Kenneally; Maria Connolly, Christina Brennan, Eimear Cahill; Maureen Ryan, Mairead Eviston, Anne Eviston; Caroline Shanahan, Aoife McGrath (0-2); Joanne Ryan, Mary Burke (0-1), Siobhan McGrath; Miriam Campion (1-3), Eimear McGrath 3-9 (0-5f, 0-2 45ms 1-0 pen) Katie O’Dwyer.

Subs used: Aine Greed and Niamh Treacy (0-1).

Silvermines: Joanne McGrath; Ciara Grace, Rachel Kennedy, Ciara Ryan; Eimear Murphy, Brid Quinn, Nessay Murray; Phoebe Sage, Nicola Butler (0-1); Ellen Cunneen (0-3f), Sarah Madden, Anna Stapleton; Elaine Murphy (0-1), Aisling Carey (1-0), Laura Cunneen (1-0). 

Referee: TP O’Sullivan (Nenagh Éire Óg)