Great wins for Shannon Rovers and Kiladangan in minor camogie county finals

FBD Insurance County Minor C1 Cup Final

Thurles Sarsfields 2-10

Moyle Rovers 0-13

On Saturday afternoon after a rip-roaring contest, Thurles Sarsfields were crowned FBD Insurance Minor C1 champions. The game began at an exciting pace as both teams traded early points to leave it 0-3 to 0-2 for Moyle Rovers after just six minutes. A minute later Sars were back in front when Caoimhe Stakelum pulled on the ball just outside the square, Chloe Shorley got the final flick to make sure it crossed the line and the green flag was raised.

Thurles were now on top and Caoimhe Stakelum extended their lead with a point from play. Minutes later her free from distance was landing into the danger zone when Maria Ralph connected with the sliothar and it fired passed the Moyle Rovers keeper to make it 2-3 to 0-3.

The response from Moyle Rovers was excellent and from the 11th to the 19th minute they hit five points on the bounce, starting with a superb Ellie Franklin point from play. Eabha Dolan added a free from distance before Ellie Franklin stepped up to nail 3 frees in a row.

The game continued to ebb and flow with some fantastic passages of play from both sides. Caoimhe Stakelum showed her class with a 45m and two frees before a brilliant individual score from Chloe Shorley concluded an epic opening half to leave Thurles ahead at the break 2-7 to 0-10. The second half had much lower scores but the level of physicality and tackling was increased.

Lucy Purcell who was excellent in the first half driving at the Moyle Rovers defensive role in the second half where she once again excelled with some fine clearances.

A Caoimhe Stakelum pointed free was cancelled out by a Hazel Brennan point before Ellie Franklin once again split the posts for Moyle Rovers. Some tremendous work on the wing by Caoimhe Stakelum resulted in a perfect past to Chloe Shorley who finished with a point.

Ellie Franklin’s free in the 49th minute left the score 2-9 to 0-13 and as the clock ticked down Rovers went looking for that all-important goal. On more than one occasion in the dying minutes, they looked to have been in for a goal only for several fantastic saves by Alina Keogh in the Sarsfields goal.

Moyle Rovers continued to bear down on goal but brilliant defending by Larragh Griffen and Leanna Coppinger along with their brave keeper ensured that the goal line wouldn’t be breached.

A late free won by Caoimhe Stakelum hit the crossbar and went over for a point to give Sarsfields slight breathing space and a three-point victory after an enthralling contest between two very good sides.

Thurles Sarsfields: Alina Keogh, Larragh Griffen, Leanna Coppinger, Ella Moloney, Rebecca O’Mara, Sophie Burke, Lucy Purcell, Kaelinn Rossiter, Kate Stakelum, Caoimhe Stakleum, Ava Geoghan, Chloe Shorley, Maria Ralph.

Moyle Rovers: Abbie Hewitt, Ava White, Ava Wall, Eavann Duffy, Eabha Dolan, Sarah Luttrell, Ellie Franklin, Hazel Brennan, Emma Carey, Emer Brennan, Emma Kiely, Aoife Bond.

FBD Insurance County Minor C2 Final

Kiladangan 5-7

Nenagh Éire Óg 1-3

On Sunday Kiladangan and Nenagh Eire Of faced off in the FBD Insurance Minor C2 Final. Kiladangan proved too strong on the day for Nenagh and ran out comfortable winners 5-7 to 1-3. At half-time, they led 3-4 to 1-2 and continued their impressive performance in the second half.

Best on the day was Isobel Kingston who was outstanding throughout contributing heavily to the scoreboard from play and frees.

Niamh Kelly was also really sharp in attack and fired home 3 goals while Siabhdh Fogarty and Ava Seymour were also prominent. Nenagh were unlucky not to have another goal only for a brilliant penalty save by Aoife Gleeson who was excellent throughout.

FBD Insurance County Minor B Shield Final

Shannon Rovers 4-8

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-8

Shannon Rovers beat Kilruane MacDonagh’s 4-8 to 2-8 in the Minor B Shield county final in Puckane on Saturday last. This was a local derby between close neighbours and friends with neither sets of players nor management wanting to concede an inch. Kilruane got off to a much better start and by half time they led by four points. 2-4 to 1-3.

Ava Gaynor was on fire for Kilruane scoring a goal and two points from play and a point from a free. Sarah Williams got their second goal and Sarah Cleary added a fine point from play. For the Rovers girls, Niamh Franks who moved from centre back to centre forward in a direct switch with Celine Guinan scored a goal and Katie Hogan, Erica Fogarty and Celine Guinan (one free) added a point each.

Shannon Rovers half time team talk worked wonders as they were a transformed team in the second half winning their duels all over the field.

Ava Young scored two goals and a point and Nicola Kelly scored one goal and a point to add to points from Clodagh Cahalan and Celine Guinan (one free, one 45). Kilruane fought to the bitter end though and played their part in a fine game of camogie played on a fine pitch in super conditions for the middle of December.

Their second-half scores came from Ava Gaynor (1 point, 1 free), Abigail Clarke (1) and Clodagh Shinnors (1).
Pat Murray did a fine job refereeing the game and afterwards presented the shield to the winning Shannon Rovers joint captains Celine Guinan and Niamh Franks.

FBD Insurance County Minor C2 Shield Final

Drom & Inch 4-7

Mullinahone 4-5

In a hugely dramatic game, a last-minute goal by the influential Ciara Cahill saw Drom-Inch snatch victory from Mullinahone who led from the opening minute until Ciara’s superb individual effort broke Mullinahone’s hearts.

Mullinahone started brilliantly with the excellent Rachel O’Meara scoring a goal from a free in the opening minute. Drom responded with a point from a Ciara Cahill free but two more goals in quick succession from Libby Lynch and Rachel O’Meara put Mullinahone into a commanding 3-0 to 0-1 point lead.

Rachel O’Meara and Leanna Gahon continued the Mullinahone onslaught with 2 more points but Drom finished the half well with three Ciara Cahill points to leave the half-time score 3-3 to 0-4.

Drom needed to start the second half well but it was Mullinahone who struck another killer blow with a goal in the first minute from Libby Lynch. Mullinahone were impressive all over.

Drom however never threw in the towel and with the strong Crossfield wind now starting to blow somewhat in their favour they grew more and more into the game. Ruth Maher, Tara Hoare and Erica and Laurie Mullins had huge second halves and soon the scores began to come.

A Ciara Cahill free was got brilliantly by April Gleeson at the edge of the square, she stepped away from her opponent and then turned to fire home Drom’s opening goal and the goal.

Mullinahone responded with a Rachel O’Meara point to make it 4-3 to 1-5. Ciar Cahill who was excellent throughout fired over a free before a second April Glasheen goal swung the game in Mullinahone’s favour.

Good work by Ciara Loughnane and Mary Kate Ely resulted in a 21-yard free for Drom-Inch and when Ciara Cahill stepped up to take it she had only one thing on her mind. She fired her shot brilliantly home to make it a two-point game 4-4 to 3-5 midway through the second half.

In a hugely entertaining final quarter, both sides showed huge hunger and spirit. Philomena Gillman struck a great point for Mullinahone but this was cancelled out by a Ciara Cahill free.

With time nearly up and knowing a goal was needed, Ciara Cahill gathered possession and went on a solo run straight towards the Mullinahone goal before firing her shot to the back of the net and claiming victory.