Drom and Clonoulty aiming for history in senior final rematch
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Drom & Inch’s Mairead Eviston with the O’Dowd Cup and Cáit Devane of Clonoulty/Rossmore ahead of the FBD Insurance County Senior Camogie Final next Saturday in the County Camogie Grounds. PHOTO: MARTY RYAN/SPORTSFOCUSImage 2 of 3
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Clonoulty team Back L-R Andrea Quirke, Michelle Ryan, Emma Ely, Cait Devane, Bernadette Ryan, Katie Murphy, clodagh quirke, Kellie quirke, Kate Ryan, Sinead Ryan, Moira Kinane, Aisling Ely, Sophie maher, clodagh ryan, Michelle Slattery, Julie Murphy, ciara quirke, Abbie Ryan, Kayleigh Davern, Therese Ryan, Courtney Ryan Front row l-r: Dervila Wilson, Anne Marie o Connor, Therese white, Lorna Ryan, Kate Ferncombe, Eimear Loughman, Eimear Bourke, aoife Bourke, orla Ryan, Casey Hennessy, Avril quirke, Jennifer Ryan, Cora Hennessy, Noirin ForrestalCAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Final Preview
By Joe Scully
CLONOULTY/ROSSMORE
V
DROM & INCH
Camogie Grounds, The Ragg
Saturday, 21st October
Throw-in @ 3.30pm
Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy)
For the fourth year in a row, Drom & Inch and Clonoulty/Rossmore will go head-to-head in the Tipperary Senior Camogie Final this Saturday.
Drom & Inch go into the game chasing a fifth county championship in a row and will be slight favourites against a side they have beaten in the last three finals and are still chasing a first senior title.
Both teams come into the game unbeaten throughout the championship, with Drom having a 100% record and Clonoulty coming in with five wins and a draw. Both sides won their respective quarter finals rather easily, but were both tested in their semi-finals, with Drom coming through after an epic game against Thurles Sarsfields winning by three points while Clonoulty came through their semi-final against Borris-Ileigh winning by a one-point margin.
It promises to be a cracking final and both teams will come into it fancying their chances of walking away with the silverware come the final whistle.
A key player on the day will be Clonoulty’s Cait Devane who has the capability of winning the game on her own and Drom will have to come up with a plan to try and curb her influence on the day. They will also have to be very disciplined as Devane can put over frees from anywhere inside her own half as proved in the clutch moments of her sides semi-final victory when she knocked over two massive frees from near halfway, to get her side over the line.
Questions remain over whether Clonoulty are a bit over reliant on Devane, and if Drom can keep the Tipperary star quiet can the rest of the West sides forwards step up to the mark. Drom certainly seem to have a better spread of forwards capable of scoring, having six different scorers in their semi-final victory as opposed to only three for Clonoulty.
Drom & Inch will know they got away with one in the semi-final as they were second best for large parts, going thirty minutes without a score in the game, but as true champions always do, they found a way to get the win, getting goals at key stages. While for Clonoulty/Rossmore they were also made to sweat in their semi-final despite a strong first half performance, as they let a six-point half-time lead slip, before Cait Devane stepped up to the mark late on and got her side over the line.
If Clonoulty/Rossmore are to finally end their years of heartache and finally taste the joy of victory on county final day they will have to bring their ‘A’ game on Saturday and their defence, led by the likes of Clodagh Quirke and Eimear Loughman, will have to be on the very top of their game to keep the champions potent attack at bay, with the likes of Siobhan McGrath, Niamh Treacy, Eimear McGrath, and Miriam Campion capable of causing damage if allowed.
Will it be Drom & Inch celebrating a famous five-in-a-row come Saturday evening or will Clonoulty/Rossmore finally end their wait. It’s going to be the five for Drom but not by much. Verdict: Drom & Inch