Extra Time disappointment for Shannon Rovers
CAMOGIE: AIB Munster Club Intermediate Championship Final
Clanmaurice 1-14
Shannon Rovers 2-7
(After Extra Time)
Report: Liam Hogan in Caherdavin
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Game: Niamh Leen (Clanmaurice).
SCORERS – Clanmaurice: Patrice Diggin 0-11 (8 frees, 2 45s); Jackie Horgan 1-1; Ann Marie Leen, Caoimhe Spillane 0-1 each.
Shannon Rovers: Aoife McLoughney 1-5 (0-4 free, 1-1 45s); Gillian McKenna 1-0; Laura Leenane, Aine Leenane 0-1 each.
Shannon Rovers bid to win their first Munster Intermediate Camogie title came up just short when they lost to holders Clanmaurice in the final at the Na Piarsaigh GAA Grounds, Limerick on Saturday.
Their spirited performance almost saw them successful when Aoife McLoughney’s 45 in the 62nd minute went all the way to the Clanmaurice net to give the Rovers a 2-5 to 0-10 lead.
The game had reached a climax and as both sets of supporters had to experience another four minutes of nail-biting excitement which ended with Patrice Diggin levelling matters with a brilliant 47-metre free close to the side-line.
That equaliser meant extra time where Kerry’s Clanmaurice had the greater energy accompanied by a stroke of luck seven minutes into the first period when Jackie Horgan’s high delivery slipped through the fingers of Rovers goalkeeper Aine Slattery to give them a 1-13 to 2-5 lead. Rovers replied with a point to leave them trailing by four points for the final changeover.
The second half of extra time saw both defences seal off every avenue to the respective oppositions with the Kerry side using all the experience that comes with now winning seven Munster finals in a row including five junior titles 2017 to 2021 before back to back intermediate successes.
The slightly better team might have won but Shannon Rovers died with their boots on. Aoife McLoughney played a captain’s part and her work from play was an example to many while accuracy from placed balls was exemplary as it was all year.
Elsewhere, Gillian McKenna posed a threat on the inside forward line and took her goal very well, while she was unlucky not to have raised another green flag in the early stages of the game. Aine Cleary and Laura Leenane never gave up. Emma Darcy came on as a replacement in the second half and won a lot of possession and was unlucky not to score.
The Rovers defence played to a standstill with Niamh Franks, Rachel Hannigan, Aishling McKenna, Julie Brennan and Eimer Fogarty refusing to relent. Celine Guinan was in the thick of everything as did her partner Aine McKenna when she moved to the midfield berth.
Then there was the brilliance of Aine Slattery in the Rovers goal as she produced a litany of great saves and made vital clearances and possibly saved her side from a bigger beating. The concession of the Clanmaurice goal will haunt her but she is not the first keeper to err in such away and won’t be the last. Goalkeepers prefer the hard shot rather than the dropping ball.
However, Clanmaurice were the better team. They possessed really good hurlers including a very good defence led by full back Sara Murphy, who was named the official player of the match, and Niamh Leen who was also brilliant at centre back and would have been my player of the game.
An ability to win aerial ball and good striking was an advantage to the Kerry side and Leen was a shining example in both spheres. She covered lots of ground as well and had great assistance from wing backs Aoife Behan and Aine O’Connor helped complete a reliable half backline.
Sharpshooter and midfielder Patrice Diggin had a good first half in open play but tired in the second half. Her expertise from placed balls was a key to her staying the battle before she was replaced late in the game because of cramp.
Caoimhe Spillane and Ann Marie Leen caught the eye as did Jackie Horgan on the edge of the square. The classy full forward didn’t have it all her own way with Julie Brennan in close contact but yet scored 1-1. She was unlucky not to have raised another two goals with her 35th minute attempt coming back of the crossbar while having a point-blank shot saved by Aine Slattery in extra time.
Clanmaurice made most of the early chances and had three points on the board by the tenth minute thanks to two frees by Patrice Diggin and Ann Marie Leen from play. Rovers had their chances too and in the thirteenth minute Gillian McKenna had goal on her mind but a perfect hook by corner back Rachel McCarthy denied her.
Four minutes later, Aoife McLoughney pointed a free to open Rovers’ account. One minute later, Patrice Diggin had Clanmaurice three in front for the second time with a brilliant individual point.
The final ten minutes of the half saw Shannon Rovers finally come to grips with the game and two McLoughney frees plus a good point by Aine Leenane brought the teams level 0-4 by half time.
The Rovers were good for their money in the opening minute of the second half when Aoife McLoughney’s free reached Gillian McKenna who turned her marker and fired home a well-taken goal.
Two minutes later, the tables were turned when Aoife Behan’s clearance reached full forward Jackie Horgan. After a short run towards goal her looping ball went over the head of the advancing Aine Slattery before the ball came back off the crossbar and was cleared away from danger.
Neither side scored over the next eight minutes until Patrice Diggin revived Clanmaurice’s chances with a free and then cut the margin to one with a 45 after Aine Slattery saved a point-blank shot from Horgan.
The pendulum was swinging towards the Kerry side with Caoimhe Spillane levelling matters and Patrice Diggin giving Clanmaurice the lead with a long range free after 52 minutes.
Aoife McLoughney’s free brought the Rovers level three minutes later before Aine Slattery denied Jackie Horgan from close range. Clanmaurice continued to press with two Diggin frees moving them two in front as the game entered additional time.
It looked as if Clanmaurice had done enough but the Rovers refused to give up and in the 62nd minute they won a 45. Aoife McLoughney’s delivery was at crossbar height and through a crowded goalmouth the ball flew past Clanmaurice netminder Aoife Fitzgerald.
Leading by one point, the prospects of a Munster final success coming to North Tipp looked very likely but after four minutes of tense action followed where the reliable Patrice Diggin levelled with a well struck free from out on the wing to send the game to extra time.
Prior to the start of the second half of extra time, referee Mike Flannery sent Rovers’ manager Vince McKenna from the dugout. He was unhappy with some of the referee’s decisions, some of which incensed the Rovers supporters as well.
TEAMS - Clanmaurice: Aoife Fitzgerald (7); Rachel McCarthy (7), Sara Murphy (J-Capt 8), Michelle Costello (7); Aoife Behan (8), Niamh Leen (J-Capt 9), Aine O’Connor (7); Patrice Diggin (8), Kate Lynch (7); Caoimhe Spillane (7), Danielle O’Leary (7), Ann Marie Leen (7); Julianne O’Keeffe (6), Jackie Horgan (7), Laura Collins (6).
Subs: Ciara Moloney (6) for O’Keeffe (45); Elaine Ryall (NR) for Diggin (15 ET inj).
Shannon Rovers: Aine Slattery (Capt, 9); Aine Leenane (7), Julie Brennan (7), Aisling McKenna (7); Rachel Hannigan (6), Niamh Franks (6), Francis Bugler (6); Eimear Fogarty (7), Celine Guinan (8); Bethany Slattery (6), Aine Cleary (6), Nicola Kelly (6); Laura Leenane (7), Aoife McLoughney (7), Gillian McKenna (8).
Subs: Emma Darcy (7) for B Slattery (38); Anna Harding (6) for Kelly (53); Sarah Leenane (NR) for A Leenane (9 ET).
Referee: Mike Flannery (Limerick).