Silvermines too good for young Nenagh

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Group 1

Silvermines 3-17

Nenagh Eire Og 1-9

Report: Liam Hogan in Nenagh

Leading from start to finish, Silvermines were much too good for a very young Nenagh Eire Og team in a one-sided County Senior Camogie Championship first round encounter at a sunny MacDonagh Park, on Sunday afternoon.

Helped by a number of players that were much stronger and more experienced, Silvermines were winners a long way out against a Nenagh side with nine players under the age of 23, including five of the starting forwards being under 19. The losers found the going tough.

Six of the Silvermines starting fifteen were involved in Tipperary’s junior side that reached this year’s All-Ireland final, in Aishling Carey, Nessa Murray, Eimear Murphy, Miriam Murphy, Ciara Ryan and Ellen Cunneen and that experience proved hugely beneficial.

Cunneen was Silvermines second highest scorer with six points, five from play and she started the scoring with a free, quickly followed by a second from play by Elaine Murray at right corner forward. Murray was Silvermines joint top scorer with 1-5 (0-2 frees) along with full forward Sarah Madden on 2-2 with the former Tipp senior bagging the ‘Mines first goal in the eleventh minute to make it 1-3 to 0-2.

Such was the stranglehold by the ‘Mines, their lead had increased to eight, 1-8 to 0-3 after Ellen Cunneen, Elaine Murphy, Sarah Madden (2) scored with Murphy adding a free after Madden was fouled.

Madden was having a ding-dong battle with Nenagh full back Rachel Maher with both players giving it their all. Meanwhile, Nenagh’s only response was a brilliantly struck point by Caroline Browne out on the wing after she produced a brilliant overhead catch in the lead up to the score.

Silvermines midfielder Caitlin Murphy was a real trojan in terms of workrate as she covered all the angles and kept the supply going. Eimear Murphy and Rachel Quinn caught the eye too. They had the advantage all over with their high fielding and handling of the ball very noticeable while up front their attack had all the aces.

Approaching half time, they went into the dressing rooms with an eight point advantage after an unmarked Elaine Murphy brought the half to a close with Silvermines ninth point. Grace O’Brien had Nenagh’s fourth and her second from a free by then. Half time, Silvermines 1-9 Nenagh Eire Og 0-4.

Silvermines increased their lead by two after Laura Cunneen and Elaine Murphy scored inside the opening four minutes of the restart. Nenagh replied with three frees in five minutes by the hard-working Carloine Howard, Nenagh’s best player. She had switched from left wing forward to midfield with Grace O’Brien just before half time in a bid to stem the Silvermines tide. The signs of recovery were encouraging for the Nenagh side who had also switched Alannah Morris up to the front line of the attack.

But the Silvermines defence led by Brid Quinn refused to allow much leeway and instead their clearances created chances for their attack where Nicola Butler, Ellan Cunneen and Butler again were on target.

Trends changed again as Nenagh enjoyed another period with Grace O’Brien pointing a free in the 50th minute. One minute later, Morris was unmarked for a well-placed pass from Ella Carey before finding the back of the net from close range.

A possible comeback on the cards, or so we thought but Silvermines, who using the strong breeze, refused to bow and within a minute Ellan Cunneen had the umpires raising the white flag. Three minutes later, Sarah Madden had their second goal after an assist Nicola Butler.

Grace O’Brien replied with a free but the ‘Mines were in full flow over the remaining minutes as Ellen Cunneen and Nicola Butler found loads of space as they increased their tallies with a point apiece before Elaine Murphy had their third goal to put the cream on an impressive win.

Player of the Match: Caitlin Murphy (Silvermines)

Silvermines: Aishling Carey (7); Rachel Kennedy (7), Miriam Murphy (7), Ciara Grace (7); Eimear Murphy (8), Brid Quinn (7), Nassa Murray (7); Ciara Ryan (7), Caitlin Murphy (8); Ciara Ryan (7), Caitlin Murphy (8); Ellan Cunneen (0-6, 1f, 7), Nicola Butler (0-3, 7), Aoife Ryan (7); Elaine Murphy (1-5, 0-2f, 8), Sarah Madden (2-2, 8), Laura Cunneen (0-1, 7).

Nenagh Eire Og: Sarah Quigley (7); Lily O’Brien (6), Rachel Maher (7), Alannah Morris (1-0, 6); Megan Grace (6), Zoey Gratton (7), Laura Nagle (7); Eabha O’Brien (6), Grace O’Brien (0-4f, 6); Clodagh Spain (6), Kerrie Howard (6), Caroline Browne (0-4, 3f, 8); Eimear Brislane (6), Ella Carey (6), Samantha Howard (6).

Subs: Ellie Spain (6) for K Howard (28); Jennifer Treacy (6) for S Howard (HT).

Referee: Joe Kearney (Clonoulty/Rossmore).