Silvermines edge Borris-Ileigh to retain Senior Camogie status

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Senior Relegation Final

Silvermines 1-14

Borris-Ileigh 1-11

Silvermines survive and Borris-Ileigh drop back to the Intermediate grade after a closely fought County Senior Camogie Relegation final in Dolla on Saturday.

Borris-Ileigh led by the narrowest of margins at half time, 0-7 to 0-6, and at the three-quarter mark the sides were still level at nine points apiece.

A Nicole Walsh goal three minutes later looked to have put Borris in command until late penalty drama when Silvermines were awarded a penalty in which Ellen Cunneen’s shot was brilliantly saved by Kellie Healy. However, before the danger was averted another foul on a Silvermines forward meant a second successive penalty was awarded. This time Cunneen made no mistake and the ‘Mines went 1-12 to 1-10 up.

Two more points from Silvermines and another Nicole Walsh point ended the scoring and a deserved three point victory for Silvermines.

It was an overall very good team performance from Silvermines who had the Cunneen’s to thank for all their scores. Ellen Cunneen finished with an excellent 1-10 while twin sister Niamh scored three points from play with first cousin Maeve also raising a white flag when introduced.

Borris-Ileigh’s star forward Nicole Walsh scored all bar one point for her side from play and frees, with Aoife Fitzgerald also getting on the scoresheet.

Twelve months ago, Borris-Ileigh ran new senior champions Clonoulty/Rossmore close in a semi-final but next year will be back in the second tier, gutted with how their year went. Down a number of key players through injury and with a young side they struggled in a very competitive championship this year.

Silvermines will also have regrets over how their year panned out with an opening round defeat to Shannon Rovers before suffering heavy defeats to both Thurles Sarsfields and Clonoulty/Rossmore. However, they came good though at the right time with a good display on Saturday to retain senior status for 2025.

Player of the Match: Ellen Cunneen (Silvermines)

Silvermines: Aisling Carey; Ciara Grace, Ciara Ryan, Maeve Steed, Miriam Murphy, Katie Murphy, Anna Stapleton, Sarah Madden, Nessa Murray, Niamh Cunneen (0-3), Jane Ryan, Ellen Cunneen (1-10), Dearbhla Slattery, Ciara Dwan, Aoife Ryan.

Sub used: Maeve Cunneen (0-1).

Borris-Ileigh: Kellie Healy; Sinead O’Meara, Niamh McGrath, Eve Maher, Avril Ryan, Julieanne Bourke, Katie Fitzgerald, Aoife Ryan, Danielle Ryan, Therese Groome, Nicole Walsh (1-9), Aoife Fitzgerald (0-1), Ava Bevans, Noirin Stapleton, Christine Kenny.

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles).