Senior camogie relegation final
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-9 Sixmilebridge 1-10
There was heartbreak for Sixmilebridge and jubilation for St Joseph’s in equal measure in Clooney on Saturday afternoon. Relegation to Intermediate camogie for the Bridge who in a bygone era won multiple championships as St Joseph’ chasing their first maintained their status and once more are the only Clare club to possess four senior GAA, Camogie and LGFA sides.
With the LGFA county final on the horizon for St Joseph’s they did not want a low note to be played in the run up with relegation from senior camogie and set out their stall early with (2-2) in the opening half with Ciara Duggan and Siobhan Flynn scoring (1-1 each). Chloe Morey hit back between the 14th and 18th minutes with (1-2) to keep Sixmilebridge in contact as Olivia Phelan had initiated the scoring for Sixmilebridge after four minutes. Determined tackling by both sets of defenders ensured a low scoring contest as Eabha O’Driscoll who will be the focal point of the St Joseph’s in the football final was also even though named in the half back line played upfield added two further St Joseph’s points with Finia O’Brien rounding off the first half scoring with Sixmilebridge every bit as capable of winning the tie at the interval. Half-time St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield (2-4) Sixmilebridge (1-6).
No goal was created and realistically no real chances of same emerged in the second-half as once more the fear of mistakes costing one’s status forced a cagey second-half. Eabha O’Driscoll hit over the first Barefield score in the 34th minute as Aoibhinn McNamara matched this effort three minutes later. Amazingly, no other Sixmilebridge scorer took centre stage in the second half as McNamara added three more points between the 39th and 59th minute. Siohan Flynn bagged a brace of scores in the 41st and 43rd minutes respectively to lead (2-7) to (1-8). Eabha O’Driscoll sent over her fourth free in the 50th minute with the final two scores from McNamara had just the minimum in the game before a long period of injury time ended with Aisling Hannan scoring the insurance point to end the saga with Sixmilebridge replacing Tulla in division 2 camogie action for 2025. Best for St Joseph’s included Karen McMahon, Sinead O’Connor, Aisling McMahon, Siofra Ni Chonaill, Aisling Reidy, Siobhan Flynn and Ciara Duggan. Chloe Morey, Aoibhinn McNamara, Sinead Hogan, Olivia Phelan, Roisin O’Grady and Rachel Kelly worked hard for Sixmilebridge.
St Joseph’s Doora Barefield: Karen McMahon, Hannah Doyle, Sinead O’Connor, Orla Moloney, Eabha O’Driscoll, Aisling McMahon, Siofra Ni Chonaill, Aisling Reidy, Aisling Hannan, Maeve O’Connor, Shauna Moloney, Fiona Touhy, Siobhan Torpey, Siobhan Flynn, Ciara Duggan. Subs: Amy Lenihan for Maeve O’Connor
St Joseph’s Doora Barefield scorers: Siobhan Flynn (1-3), Ciara Duggan (1-1), Eabha O’ Driscoll (0-4), Aisling Hannan (0-1)
Sixmilebridge: Sinead Hogan, Aoife Hurley, Rachel Kelly, Kate Mellett, Niamh Lyons, Chloe Morey, Eloise O’Brien, Molly Purcell, Roisin O’Grady, Charlotte Chaplin, Emma Stanley, Donna O’Sullivan, Finia O’Brien, Olivia Phelan, Aoibhinn McNamara. Subs: Orla Cahill for O’Sullivan, Grace Stafford for O’Brien.
Sixmilebridge scorers: Aoibhinn McNamara (0-6), Chloe Morey (1-2), Olivia Phelan, Finia O’ Brien (0-1 each),
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)