Colaiste Phobal Roscrea into All-Ireland Camogie Final
CAMOGIE: All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘C’ Championship Semi-Final
Colaiste Phobal Roscrea 1-7
Colaiste Naomh Cillian 0-9
Report: Liam Hogan in Moneygall
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Nicola Cleary (Colaiste Phobal Roscrea)
SCORERS - Colaiste Phobal Roscrea: Andrea Scully 1-4 (0-1 45); Orlagh Phelan 0-2; Emily Doughan 0-1.
Colaiste Naomh Cillian: Cara O’Boyle 0-6 (5 frees); Monique O’Boyle 0-2; Sine Woodhouse 0-1.
Emily Doughan’s point in the 58th minute proved to be the winner as Colaiste Phobal Roscrea made it to the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘C’ Camogie final final after they survived a brave second half comeback by Colaiste Naomh Cillian from Ballymena in the semi-final on Saturday.
Weather conditions made life difficult for both sets of players. A strong breeze favoured Roscrea in the first half and helped them to a 1-6 to 0-1 half time lead, a lead that should have been greater but for eight wides. This left them in a danger of a second half comeback by Naomh Cillian who succeeded in cutting the deficit to the minimum before Doughan got the insurance score.
When Colaiste Phobal review this game, they will have to question how they went a sleep for most of the second half until those final minutes. In the opening half both Orlagh Phelan and Andrea Scully had a huge influence on the performance.
But facing a strong breeze in the second half the questions were asked but the display of centre back Nicola Cleary really caught the eye. After a steady first half she really thundered into the game when winning a lot of dirty ball and her clearances were top notch. She really made the difference.
Even allowing for the spitting rain and cold conditions Naomh Cillian’s touch let them down on too many occasions but in Kady McNeill, Cara O’Boyle and Orlaith McAllister they had fine performers.
The game was twenty-four seconds old when Andrea Scully had Roscrea in front and the Tipp school were four clear by the sixth minute through Scully and two Cara O’Boyle frees. Colaiste Phobal continued to dominate but squandered a number of chances, and as a result it took them twelve minutes before they scored again thanks to a successful forty-five by Andrea Scully.
One minute later, Scully had the ball in the net before she added a brilliant point in the 23rd minute shortly before Cara O’Boyle got Naomh Cillian on the board two minutes later. Yet there was more from the Roscrea side, but three missed chances was their lot, much of it through hastiness and the swirling breeze was also a hinderance as Colaiste Phobal went 1-6 to 0-1 in front at half time.
The second half was four minutes old when Naomh Cillian had their second point through a Cara O’Boyle free. She added another in the 43rd minute as Naomh Cillian were now well on top and Orlaith McAllister might have secured a goal but her shot hit the side-netting as the Colaiste Phobal defence was stretched to the last.
The attack-minded Naomh Cillian continued their good efforts and another O’Boyle free in the 49th minute was secured and over the next five minutes they hit three more points, two from Monique O’Boyle, either side of a point by Sine Woodhouse before Cara O’Boyle added another free to leave the minimum between the teams with five minutes later.
But as if by magic, Colaiste Phobal began to get back on their feet and Emily Doughan landed what proved to be the winner, much to the relief of the home following. With their tails up she might have engineered a goal but just failed and with one final piece of the action the visitors came down field but had to be happy with just a point.
Colaiste Phobal Roscrea will take on another St Killian’s College, this time from New Inn in Galway in the All-Ireland final on Saturday 19th February.
TEAMS - Colaiste Phobal Roscrea: Grace Mulrooney (Portroe); Rebecca Murphy (St Cronan’s), Ciara Maher (Moneygall), Alice Maher (Moneygall); Jessica Kelly (St Cronan’s), Nicola Cleary (Shinrone), Khya Lynch (St Cronan’s); Kelsey Wing (St Cronan’s), Orlagh Phelan (Naomh Brid); Leah Ryan (Shinrone), Laura Hogan (St Cronan’s), Isabel O’Meara (Moneygall); Andrea Scully (Camross), Caoimhe Flannery (St Cronan’s), Emily Doughan (Shinrone).
Colaiste Naomh Cillian, Ballymena: Orla Donnelly; Rose Black, Eimhear McMullan, Una McAllister; Catherine O’Boyle, Abi McNeill, Erin McCambridge; Cara O’Boyle, Lara Haughey; Orlaith McAllister, Sine Woodhouse, Kady McNeill; Monique O’Boyle, Clodagh McPeake, Niamh Graham.
Subs: Aishling Mulholland for Black (20); Laura Black for McCambridge (20).
Referee: Gerry McGeough (Dublin)