Larkins fires Rovers into final

CAMOGIE: Tipperary Intermediate Championship Semi-Final

 

Shannon Rovers         0-7
Kilruane MacDonaghs     0-6

Report: Liam Hogan in Borrisokane

MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Sabrina Larkin (Shannon Rovers)
SCORERS - Shannon Rovers: Sabrina Larkin 0-5 frees; Gillian McKenna, Laura Leenane 0-1 each.
Kilruane MacDonaghs: Roisin Cahill 0-3 (2 frees); Kate Ryan, Laura Shinners, Georgina Finn 0-1 each. 

Sabrina Larkin injury time free secured victory for Shannon Rovers and progression to the County Intermediate Camogie final after seeing off Kilruane MacDonaghs in the semi-final on Saturday. 

The Tipperary intermediate star held her nerve convert which saw her team turn around two point half time in what was a tenacious encounter, despite the low scoring nature of the game which had many thrills and spills, including great goalkeeping while the uprights were called into action on three occasions.   

But facing major obstacles has always been part of the Rovers history and they entered last Saturday’s game without Aoife McLoughney who won’t take part for the remainder of the year because of a threatened cruciate injury.  

Roisin Cahill had Kilruane in front after 65 seconds and two minutes later Kate Ryan doubled the lead when her effort to lob Rovers keeper Áine Slattery was denied by an alert custodian who deflected the ball over the bar. Slattery was brilliant all through the game and if that save was there was a much better one about to come later in the half. 

Kilruane looked full of confidence as the tormented the Rovers defence but against the run of play Jillian McKenna collected Sabrina Larkin’s lengthy clearance to flight the ball over the bar. Meanwhile back the other end, the Rovers goal had a lucky escape when Laura Shinners weak shot had Slattery beaten but it came back of the butt of the upright.  

But bit by bit one could see Rovers beginning to settle and Sabrina Larkin’s free from half-way had scores level after eight minutes. From there the Rovers defence remained under pressure but Larkin, Roisin Collins, Stephanie O’Sullivan, and Julie Brennan ensured that the Kilruane attack would be kept quiet as Roisin Cahill and Laura Shinners threatened to spoil the party. 

At the other end, any possibilities that Rovers might score were denied by the Kilruane half backline of Shauna Tooher, Emma Cleary, and Bonnie Conroy. What chances did come the way fell to Kilruane, Laura Shinners extended the lead with two frees, either side of the water break. Minutes after resuming Áine Slattery made a double save to deny Roisin Cahill, second later Cahill made amends when adding another free in the 27th minute.

Kilruane’s three-point lead could have been greater but for two great saves by Áine Slattery, the second one in the 29th minute was out of the ordinary as she faced down a fourteen-metre rocket. It was a game changer and approaching half time Rovers were relieved to see Sabrina Larkin’s lengthy free cut the margin to two, 0-5 to 0-3.

Kilruane returned with several forays but the tenacious Rovers defence were giving little away as Julie Brennan, Aisling McKenna and Frances Bugler and the brilliant Sabrina Larkin refused to bow. The Rovers attack were looking much more alert but were repulsed by Mary Walsh and the excellent Shauna Tooher and as a result Rovers had to depend on two Sabrina Larkin frees in the 33rd & 45th minutes.

 
By then Kilruane had amassed their 11th wide but at the other end the butt of the upright came to Kilruane’s rescue after a shot by Laura Leenane. 
After the water break, Rovers were returning to form. Both Emer Fogarty and Ciara Cleary were more involved in the midfield area and in the 54th minute Laura Leenane gave Rovers the lead. 

It lasted just two minutes as Georgina Finn levelled for Kilruane. As another ten minutes of frantic action followed both sides tested the opposition. Kilruane might have taken the initiative but for the number of wides increased to fifteen. In addition, they lost Laura Shinners to injury while at the other end Laura Leenane was fouled but Larkin’s free came back off the upright before she made amends moments later with the winner.

There was another minute remaining as Kilruane made one last attempt. Roisin Cahill went for broke, but her effort was fell short where Julie Brennan caught high in the air to the sound of the final whistle.  

Sabrina Larkin was the player of the match with Áine Slattery a close second. Julie Brennan and the remainder of the backline played their part with Ciara Cleary, Emer Fogarty and Áine Harding very much to the fore. 

Shauna Tooher played brilliantly at centre back for Kilruane. Emma Cleary and Bonnie Conroy rarely put a foot wrong in front of a close marking inside backline led by Mary Walsh. In attack Roisin Cahill, Laura Shinners, Laura Farrell, and Georgina Finn tried best.  

TEAMS – Shannon Rovers: Áine Slattery; Stephanie O’Sullivan, Julie Brennan, Aisling Mckenna; Francis Bugler, Sabrina Larkin, Roisin Collins; Emer Fogarty, Ciara Cleary; Áine Cleary, Paula Hannigan, Rachel Hannigan; Áine Harding, Gillian McKenna, Laura Leenane.
Subs: Bethanie Slattery for P Hannigan (41); Lisa Kelly for A Cleary (47). 
Kilruane MacDonaghs: Orla Molloy; Áine Mulcahy, Mary Walsh, Sophie Whelan; Bonnie Cleary, Shauna Tooher, Emma Cleary; Lisa Cahill, Sauna Heffernan; Niamh Williams, Laura Shinners, Roisin Cahill; Lianne O’Kelly, Georgina Finn, Kate Ryan.   
Subs: Maura Ryan for Ryan (HT); Lynn Farrell for Kelly (47); Maria Hogan for Shinners (60 inj).
Referee: TP Sullivan (Nenagh Eire Og)