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Harps experience proves too strong for gallant Boro
Leinster Intermediate Camogie Club final
Harps Durrow 0-10
Dicksboro 0-5
By Michael O'Leary
In the end it was a bridge too far.
Dicksboro gave it everything, but the experience of Harps proved too strong on a wet miserable day in Palmerstown last Sunday afternoon as the Durrow club tasted provincial glory for a 6th consecutive year since making the breakthrough in 2006. Unsurprisingly, forwards found it difficult to make headway in conditions very difficult for playing.
Defences were on top, as the Harps defence during that second-half constantly frustrated the Dicksboro attack. The experience and now-how proved a vital essential difference for the Harps, and despite Dicksboro's best attempts, they were second best on the day to a stronger outfit.
Defensively, Dicksboro were excellent, as they subdued the threat of the opposition attack, but their Achilles heel was at the opposite end, as they struggled to shackle off the Harps defence. Helen Byrne was imperious at corner-back, and she defended magnificently throughout, while Niamh Kelly, team Captain Emer Tynan, the tough-tackling Sorcha Fennelly and the excellence of Aine Maher all performed heroics.
On numerous occasions during the first-half, Harps would have led by further than the 4 point margin that they possessed, only for squandering three goal chances. Harps led throughout, and they were 0-6 to 0-2 ahead at the interval. Aine Mahony had to go off after suffering a bad knee injury in the 7th minute, and the opening score of the match didn't arrive until the 14th minute courtesy of Angela Hanlon.
Teresa Bennett, Elaine Mahony, and three points from namesake the outstanding Louise (2 frees) added to Harps account, as NiamhO'Donoghue (1 free) pointed to complete Dicksboro's first-half scoring tally. Orla Hanrick and O'Donoghue (free) pointed early in the second-half to give narrow the gap to two points, but with the experience that the Durrow girls have, they refused to panic.
The superb Louise Mahony pointed three frees in the 38th, 41st and 42nd minutes respectively as Harps now held a decisive cushion in a low scoring contest. 0-9 to 0-4. Aisling O'Grady squandered a goal chance when her first-time attempt hit the post in the 44th minute, and they were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute that provided the chance to close the gap.
However, Niamh O'Donoghue blazed her chance over the crossbar. Angela Hanlon pointed in the 52nd minute to conclude the scoring as weather conditions deteriorated.
Dicksboro kept plugging away gallantly to the bitter end, but despite their best attempts, they were denied by a strong tenacious Harps defence in which centre-back Catriona Phelan stood out in a colossal second-half display.
The full-back line of team captain Joan Dollard, Denise Quigley and Patricia Dunphy was a towering presence, while the Mahony's in midfield Louise and Elaine contributed 7 points between them, and that scoring return was a highly significant factor in securing victory.
Player of the Match: Catriona Phelan (Harps)
A whole host of contenders. Helen Byrne and Aine Maher were superb for Dicksboro, while Denise Quigley, team captain Joan Dollard, and Louise Mahony excellent for the Harps. However, centre-back Catriona Phelan played a leading role in Harps second-half display, and she was at the forefront of their defence driving the sliotar away from danger.
Scorers - Harps Durrow - Louise Mahony 0-6(0-5 frees), Angela Hanlon 0-2, Elaine Mahony, + Teresa Bennet 0-1 each,
Dicksboro - Niamh O'Donoghue 0-4(0-3 frees), Orla Hanrick 0-1
Teams
Dicksboro - Sarah Bawle, Helen Byrne, Niamh Kelly, Sarah Kennedy, Emer Tynan(captain), Sorcha Fennelly, Aine Maher, Sonia Buggy, Sinead Maher, Niamh O'Donoghue, Lisa Hanrick, Anne-Marie Hoyne, Jenny Dillon, Orla Hanrick, Aisling O'Grady,
Sub - Rachel Lynch
Harps Durrow - Grace Murphy, Joan Dollard (captain), Denise Quigley, Patricia Dunphy, Michelle Fitzpatrick, Catriona Phelan, Claire Walsh, Louise Mahony, Elaine Mahony, Laura Mahony, Angela Hanlon, Aine Mahony, Rosemarie Phelan, Teresa Bennett, Aisling Phelan,
Sub: Shauna Monahan
Referee: Aidan O'Brien (Wexford)
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