Rapparees claim maiden Camogie championship title

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior ‘C’ Championship Final

Slieve Felim Rapparees 5-6

St Patrick’s 1-7

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Norma Harrington (Slieve Felim Rapparees)

SCORERS – Slieve Felim Rapparees: Norma Harrington 4-2; Joanne Shanahan 1-1; Annie Phelan, Molly McLoughlin, Emma Ryan 0-1 each.

St Patrick’s: Eabha Hogan 0-3 (1 free); Laura Murphy 1-0; Niamh Keane 0-2; Lucy O’Brien 0-1.

Slieve Felim Rapparees were crowned County Junior ‘C’ Camogie champions on Sunday after an impressive victory over St Patrick’s at the Camogie grounds, The Ragg.

Corner forward Norma Harrington was in devastating form for the Rapparees with everything she touched turning to goal. She finished with a tally of 4-2 and a well-earned player of the match accolade.

Slieve Felim (Upperchurch/Drombane & Sean Treacys) didn’t get things all their own way and St Patrick’s were well in this game in the opening half, but they couldn’t handle the Rapparees full forward line of Joanne Shanahan, Emma Ryan and Harrington who scored all bar two points of their total with all coming from play.

St Pat’s started with the advantage of the wind and Eabha Hogan opened their account after two minutes. With Slieve Felim’s first attack saw Joanne Shanahan goal, and this was followed up a minute later with a Norma Harrington point.

St Pat’s responded well with the next three points from Lucy O’Brien, Niamh Keane, and Eabha Hogan. But their good work was undone as Slieve Felim hit them with 2-2 without reply in the space of ten minutes.

Norma Harrington pointed before getting her first goal. Joanne Shanahan added a point and then Molly McLoughlin, who had a great game at wing forward, fired a shot which was initially saved by Sadbh Morrissey before Norma Harrington pounced on the rebound to slot home her second goal.

With the wind at their backs, Slieve Felim grew with confidence and began to dominate in most areas of the field. St Patrick’s never stopped battling and Emily Fox, Lucy O’Brien and Eabha Hogan were excellent.

The latter two, however, had to come very deep to win possession and this diminished their scoring threat at the opposite end.

St Patrick’s failed to score in the second half until very late on when a Laura Murphy strike from distance was half blocked by the Slieve Felim defence and ricocheted into the back of the net.

It was a great team performance by last year’s beaten finalists Slieve Felim Rapparees with all six backs on top. Annie Phelan and Siofra Pamplin were brilliant in midfield while up front Molly McLoughlin, Michelle Lee and Hazel Ryan kept the inside forward line supplied with good quality ball and they did the rest. Another 2-1 for Norma Harrington topped off the perfect performance while Emma Ryan, Molly McLoughlin and Annie Phelan all added points.

TEAMS - Slieve Felim Rapparees: Sinead Corcoran; Aibhlin Kennedy, Caoimhe McCormack, Molly Carr; Laura Ryan, Sarah Brennan, Roisin Hickey; Annie Phelan, Siofra Pamplin; Molly McLoughlin, Michelle Lee, Hazel Ryan; Joanne Shanahan, Emma Ryan, Norma Harrington,

Subs used: Shannon O’Grady, Lisa Carey, Avril Kinnerk, Roisin Phillips.

St Patrick’s: Sadbh Morrissey; Sarah Grace, Gemma Gahan, Dawn Moroney; Erin Moroney, Emily Fox, Sophie O’Brien; Ailise Fitzgerald, Laura Murphy; Siobhan Hogan, Eabha Hogan, Lucy O’Brien; Dearbhla Morrissy, Niamh Keane, Ella Corbett.

Subs used: Niamh O’Brien, Keelin Ryan.

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport/Ballinahinch).