Strong Clonoulty set tone for seniors

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Junior B2 Championship Final

Clonoulty/Rossmore 1-11

Shannon Rovers 1-4

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Clodagh Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore)

SCORERS – Clonoulty/Rossmore: Noreen Forrestal 0-4 (3 frees); Caoimhe Quirke 0-3; Lucy Kinane 1-0; Clodagh Ryan, Aisling Ely, Andrea Quirke, Cait Hennessy 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers: Nicola Kelly 1-1; Evelyn Enright 0-2; Julie Brennan 0-1 free.

The talent continues to spring from the banks of the Multeen river as Clonoulty/Rossmore demonstrated last Sunday when they easily accounted for Shannon Rovers in the County Junior ‘B2’ Championship final.

Sprinkled with a very fit and youthful side their victory over Shannon Rovers could be the start of a great week as they will strive for a first senior title next Saturday.

Thankfully, the heavy rain that was soon to follow hadn’t materialised in a game that Clonoulty had won long before the final whistle.

The usual names continue with O’Keeffe’s, Ryan’s and Quirke’s were dotted on the starting fifteen as they dominated from the start and took a 1-8 to 0-1 lead at half time. Noreen Forrestal at centre forward proved to be a leader at the commencement while Ciara Quirke, Teresa Burke and Clodagh Ryan dominated in their positions with Ryan the player of the game.

Clonoulty went 1-10 to 0-1 in front after 35 minutes before the Rovers raised their game as great work by their half back line of Amanda Bourke, Julie Brennan and Kelly Watson plus that of Bethany Slattery helped Rovers outscore the winners 1-3 to 0-1 in the remaining minutes.

Noreen Forrestal’s free inside a minute plus one from play a minute later had Clonoulty off to a great start. They increased their lead with a point by full forward Caoimhe Quirke and in the eighth minute Clonoulty had a chance of a goal, but Meghan Dunne was equal to a shot from Lucy Kinane. Play continued with the Rovers clearing only to see an unmarked Clodagh Ryan pick off a point from outfield.

There was more as Cait Hennessy added a point in the twelfth minute and it wasn’t until four minutes before the Rovers staged their first real attack which saw Evelyn Enright fouled but Bethany Slattery’s free was off target. Once Clonoulty staged their next attack it ended when Caoimhe Quirke doubling her tally and Clonoulty were six in front.

Realising they were in trouble, the Rovers began to come more into the game with Kelly Watson and Amanda Bourke curtailing any potential the Clonoulty could have added. Meabh Cahalan was also involved and there was more promising moves from Nicola Kelly and Bethany Slattery, but the scores would have to wait because Caoimhe Quirke made it 0-7 to nil before Evelyn Enright had Rovers first score bang on the half hour mark.

But there was the problem of additional time and Clonoulty didn’t waste it as Forrestal added a free before Lucy Kinane had the ball in the Rovers net despite the best efforts of Meghan Dunne who had denied Aisling Ely from close range. At half time, Clonoulty/Rossmore led 1-8 to 0-1.

The second half began as the first half ended with Clonoulty to the fore and they increased their lead with a point each from Aisling Ely and Andrea Quirke. Rovers responded but it would be the 39th minute before they received some solace when Nicola Kelly had the ball in the Rossmore net.

From there, the Rovers had the Clonoulty goal under threat two minutes later when Nicola Kelly forced goalkeeper Ann Marie O’Connor to produce a fine save and in the 44th minute Evelyn Enright cut the margin down to eight with a point.

It continued over the next ten minutes where neither side managed a score until Noreen Forrestal pointed a free, her fourth. With five minutes left, it would be the last score for the winners while Rovers tried everything possible to salvage something but ultimately had to be satisfied with a last-minute score by Julie Brennan from a free with Nicola Kelly adding a score from play deep into injury time.

By this stage, Clonoulty/Rossmore were the winners and as well as been winners they managed to create a small bit of history by introducing Emma Ely in place of Clodagh Ryan and with her introduction Emma could play alongside her daughter Aisling for the six and a half minutes of added time allowed.

TEAMS – Clonoulty/Rossmore: Ann Marie O’Connor (6); Suzie Ryan (6), Jennifer Ryan (6), Alison O’Keeffe (6); Ciara Quirke (7), Julie Murphy (7), Therese Ryan (7); Teresa Burke (7), Clodagh Ryan (8); Aisling Ely (6), Noreen Forrestal (7), Andrea Quirke (6); Lucy Kinane (7), Caoimhe Quirke (7), Cait Hennessy (6).

Subs: Bronagh Coffey (6) for Hennessy (16 inj); Abbie Ryan (NR) for Kinane (57); Emma Ely (NR) for C Ryan (60); Rebecca Riordan (HR) for A Quirke (60+6); Niamh Igoe (HR) for C Quirke (60+6).

Shannon Rovers: Meghan Dunne (7); Sarah Bourke (7), Aisling McKenna (6), Susan Keane (6); Amanda Bourke (7), Julie Brennan 0-1 (0-1f) (7), Kelly Watson (7); Ella Walsh (6), Maebh Cahalan (7); Bethany Slattery (7), Aoife Sullivan (6), Stephanie Power (6); Nicola Kelly 1-1 (7), Evelyn Enright 0-2 (7), Niamh Sullivan (6).

Subs: Aoife O’Sullivan (6) for Power (HT); Maggie Sullivan (6) for A Sullivan (HT); Ailbhe Harding (6) for Enright (49); Orla Murphy (6) for Walsh (49); Ciara McKenna (6) for A O’Sullivan (49).

Referee: Donal Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy)