Borris-Ileigh snatch last gasp win over Cashel

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance County Senior Championship Group 2

Borris-Ileigh 0-15

Cashel King Cormacs 0-14

Report: Joe Scully in Borrisoleigh

A stirring second-half performance saw Borris-Ileigh claim a one-point victory over last year’s beaten semi-finalists Cashel King Cormacs, in what was a real game of two-halves in the opening round of the County Senior Camogie Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Cashel will be very disappointed with the outcome, after dominating the first half and were ahead for the whole game, only for last year’s intermediate champions to take the lead for the one and only time in the fourth minute of added time, from a free from the imperious Nicole Walsh, who scored all bar one of her sides total, all from frees.

While Borris-Ileigh will be delighted with the win they will also know they have a lot of work to do going forward, as only one of their scores came from play, that in the 56th minute from the stick of Emma Maher, and they only had two different scorers throughout the hour.

Cashel will look back on the game and rue their massive ill-discipline, where they conceded 27 frees, and it was this statistic which ultimately cost them the game.

For Borris-Ileigh their victory was ultimately built on a superb defensive performance in the second half where they nullified what had a been a dangerous Cashel attacking unit in the first half and reduced them to just two scores in the half.

It was Cashel who were quickest off the mark with a free after just 33 seconds from the impressive Anna Fahie. The home side were level a minute later through a free from Nicole Walsh, but Cashel would knock over the next three points all from Anna Fahie, one from play.

Borris-Ileigh then had the first of three great goal chances which fell to Nicole Walsh, but her shot was well blocked, and the danger was cleared. Amy Crosse and Sorcha Ryan would add on two more points for the visitors as Cashel were starting to get on top and playing some superb camogie.

Borris-Ileigh were creating chances, but their shooting was poor, and it was easy for the Cashel to defend against. Amy Crosse got her second point in the fifteenth minute to leave Cashel 0-7 to 0-1.

Ava Bevans then had a glorious chance for a Borris goal but was saved out for a 45 which Nicole Walsh converted. From the resulting puck-out, Anna Farie won the ball and turned her marker for a superb score.

Nicole Walsh would get the next two scores from frees, but Cashel would finish the half stronger with the last four scores, three from Anna Fahie frees and a monster score from Karin Blair to leave Cashel 0-12 to 0-4 up at the break.

The second half would become the Nicole Walsh show as Borris-Ileigh would turn the tide and slowly drag themselves back into the game. Walsh hit the first score from a free, which was answered by a Karin Blair point from play. Walsh then hit the next three points all frees to leave it 0-13 to 0-8.

Anna Farie then hit the next score in the 41st minute, and it would be Cashel’s last score of the game. Nicole Walsh would hit four points in a row from frees, before full forward Emma Maher got Borris’ first point from play to leave just one point in it.

Nicole Walsh would then hit the leveller in the 58th minute and after a frantic final few minutes with both sides going all out for victory, Cashel conceded their 27th free of the game deep into injury time out by the side-line, and despite been under huge pressure Walsh stepped up and slotted over with ease to give her side a well-deserved victory.

Player of the Match: Nicole Walsh (Borris-Ileigh)

Borris-Ileigh: Kellie Healy (6), Emma Galvin (6), Niamh McGrath (7), Jane Delaney (7), Emma Kelly (7), Julie-Anne Bourke (7), Avril Ryan (6), Katie Fitzgerald (6), Teresa Ryan (7), Aoife Fitzgerald (6), Nicole Walsh (0-14, 12f, 1 45) 9), Aoife Ryan (7), Ava Bevans (6), Emma Maher (0-1, 7), Noirin Stapleton (6).

Subs: Danielle Ryan (6) for A Fitzgerald (54), Moira Maher (NR) for Maher (58)

Cashel King Cormacs: Aoife O’Brien (6), Meabh Elle Ryan (6), Una Dwyer (7), Chole Coleman (6), Katelyn Downey (7), Philomena Fogarty (8), Laura Connolly (6), Ella O’Dwyer (6), Karin Blair (0-2, 8), Amy Crosse (0-2, 8), Sorcha Ryan (0-1, 7), Lily Fahie (6), Anna Fahie (0-9, 6f, 8), Ciara Dwan (7), Emer Dwan (6).

Subs: Emily Manton (6) for Emer Dwan (49).

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne-Templetuohy).