Drom show Nenagh no mercy

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Group 1 Round 4

Nenagh Eire Og 3-8

Drom & Inch 6-23

Report: Geraldine Kinane in Nenagh

An awesome second quarter display from Drom & Inch in which they blitzed Nenagh for 3-7 demonstrated the gulf between the current county champions and a Nenagh side who will be facing into a relegation battle to maintain their senior status, after this round 4 senior championship clash on Sunday.

The visitors were quickest out of the blocks with three points in two minutes from an Eimear McGrath free and two from play from Miriam Campion and Aoife McGrath. Nenagh, who competed well for the opening fifteen minutes, had a great passage of play and scored four points in a row to take the lead, three from Grace O’Brien placed balls and a Zoey Gratton score from midfield.

In the eleventh minute, Drom raised the first of their six green flags when Katie O’Dwyer, who impressed throughout the hour, brilliantly finished a great team move. Katie had missed a chance moments earlier so when the opportunity rose again, she made no mistake.

Her goal kick-started Drom and with Anne Eviston thundering into the game at centre back, their forwards enjoyed lots of possession and started to really get the scoreboard ticking over. Miriam Campion, Eimear McGrath, Mary Burke, and Siobhan McGrath all raising white flags before Katie O’Dwyer turned provider for Eimear McGrath with a neat pass and she gave Sarah Quigley no chance in the Nenagh goal.

While Rachel Maher and Allanah Morris worked hard in the Nenagh defence, they had no answer to the movement and passing of the Drom & Inch attack, especially Miriam Campion and Mary Burke.

In the 29th minute, Nenagh had a chance to narrow the gap when they won a penalty, but Kristina Kenneally saved from Grace O’Brien. Immediately, Drom went on the counter-attack and Mary Burke fired home a goal to add to Nenagh’s woes. They did finish the half on a positive with a brilliant goal from Tipp senior player Grace O’Brien leaving the half time score 4-11 to 1-5 in favour of the visitors.

Nenagh’s Caroline Browne was their standout performer in the second half with 2-2 from play, the first point in the opening minute. Drom though had such a spread of scoring options picked off the next 1-5 before Caroline Browne breached the Drom rearguard for a goal in the 40th minute.

From here to the final whistle, Eimear McGrath was on fire with 1-4 to bring her personal tally to 2-9. She struck four points in a row before Caroline Browne goaled. Siobhan McGrath then fired over her fourth point while Nenagh’s top forwards O’Brien and Browne scored again.

As well as having the stronger fifteen, Drom & Inch were able to introduce the calibre of Joanne Ryan off the bench. Her pass found Eimear McGrath who fired a laser shot to the roof of the net on the 60th minute before Ryan, no doubt eager to impress the management, pointed to conclude the scoring.

All six forwards for Drom & Inch were really impressive including Caroline Shanahan who didn’t get on the scoresheet but put in a huge shift on the wing. Aoife McGrath and Mairead Eviston were on top in midfield while Niamh Long and Christina Brennan impressed in defence.

Player of the Match: Miriam Campion (Drom & Inch)

Nenagh Eire Og: Sarah Quigley, Laura Nagle, Rachel Maher, Lily O’Brien, Allanah Morris, Hazel McAuliffe, Kerrie Howard, Zoey Gratton (0-1), Samantha Howard, Eabha O’Brien, Caroline Browne (2-2), Grace O’Brien (1-4, 0-3f), Michelle Barry, Ella Carey, Ellie Spain.

Drom & Inch: Kristina Kenneally; Aine Greed, Christina Brennan, Eimear Cahill, Niamh Long, Anne Eviston, Maureen Ryan, Aoife McGrath (0-2), Mairead Eviston, Siobhan McGrath (0-4), Mary Burke (1-2), Caroline Shanahan, Katie O’Dwyer (2-0), Eimear McGrath (2-9, 0-5f), Miriam Campion (1-5).

Subs: Maria Connolly for Brennan; Joanne Ryan (0-1) for A McGrath.

Referee: Tommy Ryan (Kiladangan).