Clonoulty quell bright Silvermines start

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Senior Championship Group 1 Round 5

Clonoulty/Rossmore 7-23

Silvermines 3-9

Clonoulty/Rossmore had claimed second spot in the group and Silvermines were facing into a relegation playoff therefore both were hoping for good performances ahead of their next crucial games.

Silvermines started brightly and led 1-7 to 1-4 after seventeen minutes. However, once Clonoulty got into their grove there was no stopping them and by half time they led by seven points before running riot in the second half as the Silvermines challenge faded.

The Clonoulty defence was completely on top in the second half reducing Silvermines to just a goal and a point against the strong breeze.

With the breeze in their favour, Ellen & Niamh Cunneen got Silvermines off the mark with early points. Cait Devane responded with a free, but Silvermines were the more dangerous of the two sides with points from Sarah Madden and Ellen Cunneen and a goal from Niamh Cunneen in the eighth minute.

This was cancelled out by a goal from Sarah Fryday who finished with an impressive 4-5 from play. The Clonoulty full forward caused huge problems throughout and is a great addition to the side having spent a number of years abroad.

Clonoulty were without the injured Casey Hennessy, and they’ll be hoping she will be back in time for the business end of the championship.

Both sets of forwards continued to exchanged scores and when Sarah Madden pointed in the seventeenth minute, Silvermines looked in a good place, leading by three points.

However, a minute later, Cait Devane broke through for a goal after a lovely pass from Sarah Fryday.

The goal would ignite the Clonoulty attack and they hit 1-4 without reply to power into a commanding lead. Dearbhla Slattery narrowed the gap with a goal before Cunneen and Devane exchanged frees to leave the half time score, 3-12 to 2-8.

With the strong breeze to come in the second half, Clonoulty emerged a more ruthless and determined outfit. Lorna Ryan led the charges in the full backline while outside her Courtney Ryan, Clodagh Quirke and Eimear Loughman began to dominate. Up front Cait and Sarah Fryday were in flying form while Eimear Bourke, Cora Hennessy and Kate Ferncombe also contributed to the scoreline.

Despite conceding seven goals, Aisling Carey pulled off a number of great saves between the posts for Silvermines such was the dominance of Clonoulty in the second period. She also came up the field to take a penalty but, in an attempt, to blast to the roof of the net her shot sailed over the crossbar.

Further goals from Cait Devane and Sarah Fryday made it a tough day at the office for the ‘Mines although Dervla Slattery did find the net for the second time late in the game.

Player of the Match: Sarah Fryday (Clonoulty/Rossmore)

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Teresa Burke (6); Lorna Ryan (8), Aoife Bourke (7), Moira Kinane (7); Courtney Ryan (8), Clodagh Quirke (7), Eimear Loughman (7); Bernadette Ryan (6), Sinead Ryan (7); Kellie Quirke (7), Cait Devane (2-9, 0-7f, 8), Cora Hennessy (1-2, 7); Kate Ferncombe (0-2, 7) Sarah Fryday (4-5, 9) Eimear Bourke (0-3, 7).

Subs: Avril Quirke (0-1, 6) for B Ryan; Sophie Maher for E Bourke; Katie Murphy for Hennessy.

Silvermines: Aisling Carey (0-1 pen, 7); Ciara Grace (6), Ciara Ryan (6), Maeve Steed (6); Miriam Murphy (7), Katie Murphy (7), Anna Stapleton (7); Sarah Madden (0-2, 7), Neassa Murray (7); Niamh Cunneen (1-2, 8), Jane Ryan (6), Ellen Cunneen (0-3, 1f, 7); Dearbhla Slattery (2-1, 8), Ciara Dwan (6), Aoife Ryan (6).

Subs: Abbie O’Dwyer for Grace; Laura Cunneen for A Ryan; Phoebe Sage for Steed.

Referee: Tommy Ryan (Kiladangan).