Last-minute goal gifts another title to Kilmaley

Kilmaley 2-8  Newmarket 1-9

An injury-time goal gave Kilmaley the silverware in this highly entertaining match played in Clarecastle on Sunday.

Kilmaley’s victory means that they have completed the senior-minor double for 2009.
Kilmaley were first on the scoreboard with a point in the first minute. Newmarket piled on the pressure but were unable to convert this possession until Róisín McMahon scored a goal from a free in the 10th minute.
Kilmaley’s Shonagh Enright added to her tally with a point from a free three minutes later.
Points were swapped between Newmarket’s Gemma McInerney and Enright as the Blues maintained a slight lead.
Katie Cahill’s shot on goal brought off a great save from Laura McMahon.
The scoring rate increased in the closing five minutes of the half when Nikki Kaiser, Zelika Brown and Jenny Kelly pointed for Newmarket while Enright replied for Kilmaley to leave a goal between the teams at the break, with Newmarket ahead.
Newmarket stretched their lead in the opening minute of the second half before Enright replied for Kilmaley. Nikki Kaiser pointed for Newmarket in the third minute but an Ashling Darcy goal for Kilmaley in the 10th minute of the half brought them right back into contention.
As the end of the third quarter approached, Enright pointed for Kilmaley to level the game.
A foul on Gemma ­McInerney saw Niki Kaiser edge Newmarket ahead with a point from a free at the turn of the final quarter but a ­Katie Cahill effort a minute later levelled the encounter yet again.
Two pointed frees by Kaiser edged Newmarket ahead again but Kilmaley fought back and they were awarded a penalty with five minutes to play after a foul on Enright, whose effort on goal was stopped.
However, she closed the margin to the minimum with a point three minutes from time. As the game headed into injury time Newmarket looked set to lift the title but, in the 61st minute Ashling D’Arcy struck for the goal, which sparked off great celebrations in Kilmaley.
After the game Clare camogie chairperson Orla Considine presented the cup to the winning captain, Sarah Reidy.

Kilmaley: Ailish Considine; Deirdre Kelleher, Sarah Reidy (capt), Lisa Kennedy; Lorna Higgins, Eimear Considine, Niamh Cahill; Eimear O’Connor, Katie Cahill (0-1); Aishling O’Halloran, Shonagh Enright (0-7), Sinéad O’Keeffe; Rebecca McNamara, Aisling D’Arcy (2-0), Emma Culligan.
Subs: Kathleen O’Keeffe for Emma Culligan; Niamh Pilkington, Jane Pyne, Laoise Talty, Sinéad McCarthy, Marie Ryan, Aishling Downes, Eithne Hickey, Charlotte Ryan, Carina McCarthy, Nicola Griffey, Leanne McMahon, Dympna Moloney, Alannah Barry, Aisling Cahill
Newmarket: Laura McMahon; Joanne Hartigan, Carol O’Leray, Katie Hayes; Sarah McInerney, Joanne Walsh, Clodagh Lawlor; Caroline Feehily, Róisín McMahon (1-0); Jenny Kelly (0-1), Gemma McInerney (0-1), Niki Kaiser (0-6); Carol Kaiser, Zelika Brown (0-1), Kate O’Neill.
Subs: Caitriona Dowry, Aisling Browne, Brid Enright, Stephanie Coughlan, Mary Hayes, Shaina Fahy, Aislinn Keogh, Sinéad McInerney, Annmarie Hayes.