Drom not showing any weakness

Holders Drom & Inch made it two wins from two in the County Senior Camogie Championship with another thoroughly convincing win, this time against Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams on Saturday evening.

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Group 2 Round 2

Knockavilla-D Kickhams 0-12

Drom & Inch 3-28

The visitors got off to the perfect start with a majestic point from the classy Eimear McGrath. This was followed by a goal from an acute angle by Ciara Cahill who used all her pace to run directly at the Kickhams defence.

The home side responded well to the lightning fast start by Drom with a brilliantly taken score from near the sideline by Ellen Browne. Knockavilla added three more points in the next ten minutes from Ereena Fryday and Eimear Heffernan while Niamh Treacy and Eimear McGrath were on target for the visitors for a 1-5 to 0-4 lead in favour of Drom with fourteen minutes played and those who had come to watch were being entertained by a good contest.

But in the 14th minute, Ciara Cahill again went on the attack for Drom and shot for goal. Her shot was saved but Eimear McGrath followed up the rebound to raise a green flag.

From here on, Drom completely took over and the game was quickly over as a contest as they hit another 1-6 in succession before Eimear Heffernan pointed a free for the hosts.

This was only a temporary reprieve for the home team as Drom’s attack were on fire and slotted over another seven points to give them a 3-18 to 0-6 lead.

Ciara Cahill finished the half with 1-3 while Eimear McGrath was flawless from placed balls and play. Miriam Campion, Niamh Treacy and Mary Bourke all chipped in scores as the Kickhams defence struggled to deal with all of Drom’s scoring options.

All of Knockavilla’s second half points came from Eimear Heffernan frees and 45s including the last three points to bring their tally up to 0-12.

Drom added ten more points in the second half with Eimear McGrath scoring five including a monster point from play. Niamh Treacy scored two points, Aoife McGrath one while Siobhan McGrath hit two points after being introduced.

It will be limited what new manager David McGrath will have learned from their opening games after two comfortable victories where the defence was never under too much pressure.

He has certainly found a gem in Ciara Cahill who was very impressive again on Saturday in only her second ever adult championship game. In the opening stages when the game was still close, she looked the most impressive of the forwards with her pace, vision and direct running and has proved to be a huge addition to the team.

Eimear McGrath has also continued her excellent scoring form from her intercounty season finishing with a fantastic 2-15.

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams will be disappointed with the manner of their defeat. When Drom hit them for two quick goals at the start of the second quarter they were no longer able to contain the Drom attack.

Eimear Heffernan was excellent on frees while Niamh Slattery, Caoimhe McCormack and Mary Anne Hayes battled hard throughout.

Player of the Match: Ciara Cahill (Drom & Inch)

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Sheena Ryan (6); Sinead Furlong (6), Emma O’Mara (7), Emma Ryan (6); Sarah Ryan (6), Caoimhe McCormack (7), Saoirse O’Dwyer (6); Caoimhe McCarthy (6), Niamh Slattery (7); Emma Daly (6), Ellen Browne (0-1, 6), Ereena Fryday (0-1, 6); Eimear Heffernan (0-10, 7f, 2 ‘45s, 7), Jessie Collins (6), Mary Anne Hayes (7).

Drom & Inch: Caoimhe Bourke (7); Maria Connolly (7), Christina Brennan (7), Eimear Cahill (6); Anne Eviston (6), Mairead Eviston (7), Aine Greed (6); Caroline Shanahan (6), Aoife McGrath (0-1, 7); Mary Bourke (0-1, 6), Maureen Ryan (6), Ciara Cahill (1-3, 9); Eimear McGrath (2-15, 0-10f, 0-2 45s) 9), Miriam Campion (0-2, 7), Niamh Treacy (0-4, 8).

Subs: Siobhan McGrath (0-2, 7) for Cahill; Niamh Long (6) for A McGrath; Katie O’Dwyer (6) for Campion; Tara Hoare (6) for Connolly.

Referee: Michael Heffernan (Moycarkey/Borris).