Drom’s late surge finally sees off battling Rovers

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Championship Quarter Final

Drom & Inch 2-15

Shannon Rovers 0-8

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

Photos: Marty Ryan/SportsFocus

Holders Drom & Inch scored 1-6 without reply in the last quarter to finally fend off a battling Shannon Rovers challenge in the quarter final of the County Senior Camogie Championship on Saturday evening.

In a game of champions, the 2023 senior champs against the 2023 intermediate winners, the experienced Drom had all the aces as evidenced by the manner in which they turned the game in their favour in the last ten minutes.

They had leaders in very line of defence as Christina Brennan, Aine Greed, Anne Eviston and Mairead Eviston played well in front of the experienced Caoimhe Bourke in goal. Up front, Ciara Cahill, Siobhan McGrath and Niamh Treacy were prominent with the latter producing a player of the match performance. Tipp star Eimear McGrath had led the way in the first half before she had to be replaced before half time due to injury.

For Shannon Rovers, Rita Burke turned back the years with a great performance in goals, while Paula Hannigan, Gillian McKenna, Emma Costello and Celine Guinan, who did very well in the role as sweeper, in the company of Niamh Franks and Eimear Fogarty. Anna Harding covered many blades of grass in partnership with Clodagh Cahalan in midfield, while Aoife McLoughney and Laura Leenane tried best in attack.

The Rovers lined out with nine of the victorious fifteen that won last year’s intermediate final with Rita Bourke, Paula Hannigan, Emma Costello, Anna Harding, Clodagh Cahalan and Bethany Slattery the new faces.

Both sides had their share of possession in the opening minutes before Miriam Campion had the opening goal after eight minutes.

The goal kept the champions in front, and they led 1-7 to 0-4 at half time with Campion adding two points while Ciara Cahill and Siobhan McGrath added a point each.

The latter replaced Eimear McGrath who had scored three points before her departure. Meanwhile, Aoife McLoughney had scored three points, including a free and a 45, for the Rovers with Laura Leenane adding the other.

The Rovers pressed hard in the opening nine minutes of the second half and cut the lead to three as Aoife McLoughney scored two frees either side of an Anna Harding point from play. Miriam Campion had Drom back on the scoreboard with a 42nd minute free followed by a score from play a minute later.

The Rovers responded with another McLoughney free leaving the senior champions with a fight on their hands with a four point lead.

But like champions, they regrouped but Rita Burke denied Miriam Campion with a good save before over the next five minutes they added three points through Siobhan McGrath and two from Ciara Cahill.

The Rovers continued to fight but the Drom defence were getting stronger with their front eight taking over with the decisive moment coming in the 53rd minute when Siobhan McGrath evaded the Rovers cover to direct a high ball by Niamh Treacy to the net.

Ten points up, Drom & Inch were now in the driving seat and completed the win with three late points through subs Michelle Woodlock and Joanne Ryan, while Mary Burke sealed a hard earned but deserved victory to set up a semi-final against Clonoulty/Rossmore.

Player of the Match: Niamh Treacy (Drom & Inch).

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

Subs: Siobhan McGrath (1-3, 8) for E McGrath (20 inj); Maria Woodlock (0-1, 7) for Shanahan (51); Joanne Ryan (0-1, 7) for Campion (51); Grainne Long (6) for Greed (51).

Shannon Rovers: Rita Burke (8); Paula Hannigan (7), Gillian McKenna (7), Aine Cleary (7); Emma Costello, Niamh Franks, Eimear Fogarty (7); Anna Harding (0-1, 8), Clodagh Cahalan (7); Celine Guinan (8), Nicola Kelly (6), Aine Slattery (6); Aoife McLoughney (0-6, 4f, 1’65) 7), Laura Leenane (0-1, 6), Bethany Slattery (6).

Subs: Emma Darcy (6) for B Slattery (37); Ava Young (6) for Kelly (41); Rachel Hannigan (6) for P Hannigan (47); Paula Hannigan for R Hannigan (56 inj).

Referee: Philip Shanahan (Nenagh Eire Og).