Disappointment for Newmarket

Lismore 5-5
Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-11

THERE was disappointment for Clare champions Newmarket in the Munster Intermediate Camogie Championship final on Saturday. The tie was played at Buttevant after heavy rain on Friday ruled Cashel unavailable for the game.

Waterford champions Lismore threatened early in this game but saw a 45 attempt drift wide inside the opening minute. It was youngster Niki Kaiser of Newmarket who opened the scoring after a deft hand pass from sister and captain Ruth put her through.
Niki was settling well into her role and causing trouble in the inside forward line and a foul on the young St Flannan’s pupil as she broke onto the ball gave Newmarket their second opportunity and Áine O’Brien duly slotted over.
Newmarket looked to be in control in many areas but long, high balls into their rear line of defence started to cause trouble and one of these, from player of the game Shona Curran, drifted in over Carol Toomey’s head and gave Lismore the lead after eight minutes. Aoife Hannon converted a free after Kate Henegan was fouled.
Áine O’Brien and Niki Kaiser pointed again for the Banner champions as the sides drew level. Hannon was on hand for Lismore to go ahead again but they were level two minutes later when Deirdre Cassidy pointed from the right wing. Lismore were threatening more and Newmarket goalkeeper Toomey pulled off a point-blank save from Caithriona McGlone.
Hannon converted a free and 16-year-old Ruth Geoghan was on hand to score Lismore’s second goal when, after collecting and rounding her marker, she crashed to the net, giving Toomey no chance.
Áine O’Brien converted a free for what was Newmarket’s last score of the half but Lismore went on to finish strongly. Hannon had another point and then McGlone struck for the Waterford side’s third goal. The winners went in with a 3-4 to 0-6 lead.
The opening score of the second half took nearly 10 minutes to materialise as defences controlled the game.
It was Lismore who eventually broke the deadlock as Cathriona Ormonde goaled after the third attempt. Ruth Geoghan followed swiftly with a point.
Newmarket pushed forward at every attempt and points followed from the Kaiser sisters, two from Niki and one each from Ruth and Iris, to close Lismore’s lead to six points.
That was as close as the Banner side got as Lismore defended well. From here on, Newmarket seemed to concentrate on going for goal and, as a result, a number of point chances were lost. The Lismore defence held firm and the Clare side had few opportunities.
Ruth Geoghan again got the chance to break onto a long clearance and grabbed her second goal of the game and made sure of Lismore’s win.
Lismore: Aisling O’Brien; Jennifer Hannon, Niamh Ryan, Laura Buckley; Marie Russell, Gráinne Kenneally, Sarah Fenton; Shona Curran (1-0), Rachel Whelan; Cathriona Ormonde(1-0), Shauna Kiernan, Aoife Hannon(0-4); Kate Heneghan (1-0), Caithriona McGlone, Ruth Geoghan (2-1).
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Carol Toomey; Aoife Griffin, Jane O’Leary, Aimee McInerney; Carol O’Leary, Róisin McMahon, Carol Kaiser; Ruth Kaiser (0-2), Joanne Walsh; Deirdre Cassidy (0-1), Erica Minogue, Áine  O’Brien (0-3); Sharon McMahon, Iris Kaiser (0-1), Niki Kaiser (0-4).
Referee: John O’Leary, Cork