Magnificent Cotterell leads Tullogher to Southern league Slam

St. Canices Credit Union Junior camogie league final

Tullogher 2-13

Blacks and Whites 0-8

By Michael O’Leary

A sensational display from the mighty Lynda Cotterell led a driven Tullogher unit to league success as they dominated the junior league final from start to finish at sun-drenched Thomastown last Saturday afternoon.

Tullogher completed the camogie league grand slam following the exploits of Mooncoin, Rower-Inistioge and Mullinavat the previous weekend.

In truth it was a bitterly disappointing encounter as the Tullogher girls were always in control and never at any stage were the Tullogher contingent in any danger whatsoever.

They have their stall set on getting back up the camogie ladder following relegation from Senior to junior over the last two years.

Cotterell was simply sensational.

She completely dominated the game from the outset scoring 1-4 during the opening-half, and constantly making speeding solo runs that inspired her colleagues her.

Also, she dropped back to help out her defence when needed, and always made the time and space for herself, to pick out a fellow team-mate that was in a better position.

She’s a natural born spiritual leader.

It was an excellent team performance from the victors.

Catriona Ryan was coolness personisfied as expected in goal, the back line was generally dominant subduing the threat of the opposing attack, with Niamh Barry performing superbly at wing-back.

Alongside Lynda Cotterell, the tireless Sarah Hennessy grafted relentlessly in midfield, while in attack Marie Ryan, KellyAnne Cotterell, and the hard-working Siobhan Murphy all impressed with Joanne Cotterell always lurking in danger.

Joanne was denied a hat-trick of goals, including one attempt where her goalbound shot agonisingly hit the crossbar.

Lynda Cotterell opened the scoring with a great point in the 4^th minute, before her 5^th minute goal via good fortune.

Her attempted point was spilled by Blacks and Whites netminder Mellissa Dunne as it ended up in the net, before the Skeough girls almost replied in a similar vein.

Sinead Kelly’s point attempt was blocked by Catriona Ryan who untypically almost paid the ultimate price of embarrassingly allowed the sliothar trickle over her goal-line.

Tullogher dominated the majority of the half and led 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval with Lynda Cotterell adding three excellent points, while cousin Kelly, and a brace of points from Marie Ryan completed the scoring for the half.

Siobhan Murphy pointed a ’45 early in the second-half to stretch the advantage, and victory was sealed with a second goal in the 38^th minute.

Joanne Cotterell set up Marie Ryan for a point, but her attempt dropped short.

The sliothar fell nicely into the path of Stephanie Cotterell who stroked the ball to the net from close range. 2-8 to 0-4.

Blacks and Whites battled away but all in vein, as their best player Sinead Kelly added three points from play, but the winners were content to play down the clock.

They added further points over the last 15 minutes from Joanne Cotterell, cousin Kelly Anne, and three – including two frees – from Siobhan Murphy as they ran out resounding winners.

Best for the losers were Sinead Kelly, KellyAnn Whelan, and the hard-trying Aoife Carroll.

They will have to put this defeat out of their system as they face Young Irelands in Tom Walsh Park in the junior championship quarter-final on Thursday night.

Scorers: Tullogher – Lynda Cotterell 1-4, Siobhan Murphy 0-4(0-2 frees 0-1’45), Stephanie Cotterell 1-0, KellyAnne Cotterell + Marie Ryan 0-2 each, Joanne Cotterell 0-1,

Blacks and Whites: Sinead Kelly 0-5(0-2 frees), KellyAnne Whelan 0-2, Brid Kelly 0-1,

Player of the match: Lynda Cotterrell(Tullogher_

No doubting the outcome here as Lynda Cotterell took the game by scruff of the neck right from the outset

Teams:

Tullogher: Catriona Ryan, Susan Cullinane, Elaine Mullally(captain), Hazel Foley, Vivienne Forristal, Ursula Walton, Niamh Barry, Lynda Cotterell, Sarah Hennessy, Siobhan Murphy, KellyAnne Cotterell, Marie Ryan, Stephanie Cotterrell, Joanne Cotterell, Siobhan Dollard,

Blacks and Whites: Melissa Dunne, Elenor Brennan, Caroline O’Brien, Claire Kirwan, Philomena Murphy, Ann-Marie Lennon, Brid Doran, Brid Kelly, Liz Barcoe, Emily Murphy, Sinead Kelly, Aoife Farrell, Carolyn O’Dowd(captain), KellyAnn Whelan, Aoife Carroll

Subs: Emma Ryan, Emma Carroll,

Referee: Gavin Quilty(Slievrue)

Lizzie strikes on double as Rower ease to league glory

St. Canices Credit Union Intermediate league final

Rower-Inistioge 2-13
Dicksboro 0-9

By Michael O’Leary

Rower-Inistioge who lost out last Intermediate championship final replay by a point eased to league glory over hard-trying Dicksboro in the second part of a double header in Ballyhale last Sunday.

A mainly forgettable first-half saw the South Kilkenny ladies lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval with Kelly Hamilton prolific from the frees shooting 0-5(0-4 frees 0-1 ’45).

The Rower effortlessly stepped up the accelerator gear afterwards and they broke the deadlock within two minutes of the restart courtesy of good fortune.

Great work down the left-flank from Lizzie Lyng, and Sarah O’Mahoney saw Aoife Lyng lurking in anticipation.

Lyng’s shot was brilliantly smothered by Sarah Kennedy, before Lizzie found possesson unmarked.

Her tamely struck effort took a deflection off Helen Byrne for the vital touch. 1-06 to 0-5.

The Boro responded and the lively Orla Hanrick added two consecutive points(including a free) before a great score from Kelly Hamilton settled the winners nerves somewhat.

Jenny Dillon pointed taking advantage of a defensive slip, before Hamilton pointed three frees between the 39^th and 43^rd minutes as the Rower began to take control. 1-10 to 0-8.

The ever-lively Aoife Lyng added a point in the 47^th minute before been fouled allowing Hamilton to apply the finishing touch. 1-12 to 0-8.

The Boro girls were denied a clear goal chance in the 52^nd minute when Orla Hanrick had a clear path unmarked.

However, her goalbound shot was brilliantly saved by Emma Kavanagh, before the Rower netminnder performed further heroics moments later when she saved an attempted 20 metre free from Hanrick.

The South Kilkenny girls applied the crowning glory when Briona Langton set up Lizzie Lyng for a well driven shot to the the bottom left-hand corner.

An Orla Hanrick free concluded the Boro scoring, but the winners final point was an excellent team score.

Emma Kavanagh drove the sliothar out to 14-year-old Aine Gannon who sent a low probing ball into the path of Aoife Lyng who applied the finishing touches with a superb score.

A much improved second-half display from the winners as their work-rate improved immeasurably.

Emma Kavanagh’s heroics in goal put to bed any notion of a Boro comeback.

Eimear Lyng was a colossal at centre-back and dominated throughout, while the free-taking of Kelly Hamilton, hard-working youngster Aine Gannon, Lizzie Lyng in second-half and Aoife Lyng who was always a threat were central to Rower-Inistioge’s victory.

Best for the Boro were Orla Hanrick, and Jenny Dillon, while Geraldine Kelly and Niamh O’Donoghue were dominant in the central defensive positions during the first-half.

Player of the match:Aoife Lyng(Rower-Inistioge)

Eimear Lyng, Kelly Hamilton and Emma Kavanagh all strong contenders, but Aoife Lyng was a condstant danger throughout. Scored 0-3 and played a handful in winning numerous frees

Scores: Rower-Inistioge – Kelly Hamilton 0-10(0-8 frees 0-1’45), Lizzie Lyng 2-0, Aoife Lyng 0-3,

Dicksboro: Orla Hanrick 0-7(0-6 frees), Sinead Maher + Jenny Dillon 0-1 each

Teams:

Rower-Inistioge: Emma Kavanagh, Elaine Fleming, Andrea Lyng, Becky Dempsey, Emma Hynes, Eimear Lyng, Michelle Murphy, Briona Langton, Kelly Hamilton, Jane Cullen, Sarah O’Mahoney, Bridin White, Aoife Lyng, Lizzie Lyng, Aine Gannon,

Dicksboro: Sarah Bawle, Helen Byrne, Geraldine Kelly, Sarah Kennedy, Emer Tynan, Niamh O’Donoghue, Sorcha Fennelly, Sinead Maher, Sonia Buggy, Noelle Corrigan, Sinead Corrigan, Aisling O’Grady, Orla Hanrick, Jenny Dillon, Anne-Marie Hoyne,

Subs: Aine Maher, Mairead Dowling, Breena Hamilton

Referee: Martin Quilty(Slieverue)

Crowley inspires Suirsiders to junior league glory

St. Canices Credit Union Junior B league final

Mooncoin 0-11
O’Loughlin Gaels 0-7

A tense and wholehearted junior B league final played in warm sunshine at Ballyhale GAA grounds saw Mooncoin overcome O’Loughlin Gaels in a hard-fought where the brilliant Sarah Crowley inspires the Suirsiders to a deserved success.

Mooncoin’s victory should have been far greater only for the wastefulness of their forward line in front of goal where they shot 9 wides and they also squandered needless possession when attempting to shoot for goals. They would have been better off taking their points.

However, it was an excellent display by the suirsiders as their immaculate defence led by Crowley was superb where a high work-ethic was applied throughout the team

Crowley who was on the under-16 inter-county team was simply sensational.

A class act, she played a captains part leading by example.

She constantly drove the team forward sending long balls to her attacking colleagues.

Her work-rate and sense of positioning and defensive display play was first class, and she inspired her colleagues around her in a 10/10 display.

Crowley’s wonderful individual performance led an inspired back-line, where the other wing-back Roisin Delahunty was superb while Kay Quinn, Sarah Kearns, Hananh Ryan, Aisling Walsh kept denying the O’Loughlins forward time and space to shoot on goal.

O’Loughlins made the brighter start and after 10 minutes, they led 0-4 to 0-1 with Sarah Buckley(2 frees), Rebecca and Karen Cleere on target.

Mooncoin took over the game completly and hit a purple patch scoring 8 unanswered points between the 14^th and 28^th minutes including significant switches that had a telling effect.

The lively Siobhan Delahunty started and finished the scoring sequence as Deirdre Connolly(4 2 frees), while Emma Heneby with a superb point and Deirdre Walsh also added to the victors account.

Sarah Buckley added a pointed free to close the first-half scoring as Mooncoin led 0-9 to 0-5 at the interval.

The second-half may have been low scoring (2 points each), but it didn’t detract from the enjoyment and tense nature of the contest.

Sarah Buckley added pointed frees in the 31^st and 46^th minutes respectively to halve the deficit before Geena Henebry settled the winners nerves with a great point in the 49^th minute after great work involving namesake Emma.

Mooncoin were winning the majority of the 50/50 balls, and they were awarded a penalty in the 54^th minute after Siobhan Delahunty was fouled

She was subsequently replaced in the process and Deirdre Connolly wisely took the sensible option and tapped the penalty over the cross-bar.

Significantly a 4-point cushion had opened up and try as O’Loughlins might and despite the best attempts throughout of full-back Stephine Buckley, Sarah Buckley, and the hard-working Annie Dunne, they were denied by a trojan working Mooncoin defence that laid the platform for victory.

Player of the match: Sarah Crowley(Mooncoin)

Refer to match report

Scorers: Mooncoin – Deirdre Connolly 0-6(0-3 frees 0-1 penalty), Siobhan Delahunty 0-2, Geena Hennebry, Emma Hennebry, + Deirdre Walsh 0-1 each

O’Loughlin Gaels: Sarah Buckley 0-5(all frees), Rebecca Cleere + Karen Cleere 0-1 each

Teams:

Mooncoin: Ellen Crowley, Sarah Kearns, Hannah Ryan, Aisling Walsh, Sarah Crowley(captain), Kay Quinn, Roisin Delahunty, Deirdre Connolly, Geena Hennebry, Eleanor Walsh, Niamh Madden, Deirdre Walsh, Laura Wall, Emma Hennebry, Siobhan Delahunty

Subs: Eveleen Rowe, Margaret Grace,

O’Loughlin Gaels: Elizabeth Kavanagh, Laura Butler, Stephine Buckley, Kate Nolan, Samantha McGuni, Aisling Butler, Ena Kearns, Annie Dunne, Sarah Burke, Shauna Brennan, Rebecca Cleere, Aoife Nolan(captain), Karen Cleere, Sarah Buckley, Karen Galvin,

Subs: Jean Delaney, Amy Bryan,

Referee: Gavin Quilty(Slieverue)

Shamrocks reach semis after great escape

Camogie round-up

By Michael O’Leary

In a busy weekend of camogie action on the club scene, Ballyhale Shamrocks recovered from a 4-point deficit as they emerged victorious against Thomastown in Mullinavat last Sunday.

Trailing 2-2 to 0-4 courtesy of goals from Jenny Reddy and Anna Farrell, the victors recovered and inspired by Jacqui Frisby and Keeva Fennelly, goals from Emma Nolan and the flamboyant swashbuckling Emilie Dermody sealed a semi-final.

Windgap also progressed to the semi-finals as 2-5 from Denise Gaule helped Windgap to a 3-10 to 2-6 victory over St. Martins.

Meanwhile, Clara sealed a semi-final spot in the Intermediate championship as a brace of goals from Aoife Murphy and one each from Elaine Nolan and 14-year-old Mary O’Connell gave Clara a 4-7 to 3-9 victory over Piltown following a resounding contest.

Lisdowney also reached the semis as Aoife Murphy netted a hat-trick of goals in a 4-7 to 1-10 victory over Paulstown, while Tullogher set up a junior league final showdown with Blacks and Whites as the bustling Joanne Cotterell was the double goalscoring heroine as they overcame Tullaroan 2-11 to 2-8.

That junior league final scheduled for next Saturday.