Kilmaley retain league crown

Kilmaley 0-7  Newmarket 0-5

Kilmaley retained their Senior Camogie League title on Saturday with a win over Newmarket at a wet and windy Clarecastle. Kilmaley 0-7 Newmarket 0-5

Kilmaley retained their Senior Camogie League title on Saturday with a win over Newmarket at a wet and windy Clarecastle.
With inclement weather conditions for both teams to contend with, this was never going to be a high-scoring game. Kilmaley got to grips with the slippery ground better and their first foray into the Newmarket end of the field resulted in Ashling Darcy getting the opening score in the 10th minute of play.
The resultant puckout saw Kilmaley winning a free, which Denise Lynch put over. Newmarket had the opportunity to open their account midway through the half but Áine O’Brien’s shot dropped into the square and was cleared by Kilmaley, who were defending in packs.
Edel Griffey in the Kilmaley goal kept her side on top when she batted away a Niki Kaiser shot for a 45, which Áine O’Brien duly converted.
Newmarket, who struggled for the opening 15 minutes of the half, came strong for the remainder of the half and had four unanswered points, two from play, by Jenny Kelly and Sharon McMahon, while Áine O’Brien also added two, one from play and one from a free.
With one minute remaining in play, Denise Lynch got around Jane O’Leary and had the opportunity to level matters with a goal but her shot went high and over the bar, leaving Newmarket three points in front at the break.
Kilmaley came out strong in the second half and Claire McMahon converted a 45 in the second minute to narrow the deficit to the minimum. Carol Toomey in the Newmarket goal was on the spot to save a shot from McMahon two minutes later but the clearance to midfield was well won by Emma O’Driscoll, who made no mistake and levelled the match.
Shonagh Enright put Kilmaley ahead in the 14th minute after a run down the wing and, neatly sidestepping around Clodagh Lawlor, saw her shot find its way over the bar.
Kilmaley’s move of Katie Cahill to midfield to act as a sweeper effectively saw them win the midfield battle. Newmarket’s move to counteract this left them vulnerable in the forward line and Sarah Reidy capitalised on this, making a number of good clearances.
O’Driscoll pointed again from play for Kilmaley in the 18th minute. This was to be the last score of the game as Reidy’s clearances denied the Newmarket forwards. Both sides ended the game with six wides, Newmarket with five in the first half and Kilmaley with the same number in the second.

Newmarket: Carol Toomey; Aoife Griffin, Jane O’Leary, Carol Kaiser; Clodagh Lawlor, Róisín McMahon, Carol O’Leary; Ruth Kaiser, Joanne Walsh; Áine O’Brien (0-3, 2f), Erica Minogue, Sharon McMahon (0-1); Jenny Kelly (0-1), Deirdre Cassidy, Niki Kaiser.
Subs: Laura McMahon for Jenny Kelly (50 min).
Kilmaley: Edel Griffey; Lorna Higgins, Sarah Reidy, Lisa Kennedy; Sinead O’Halloran, Katie Cahill, Helen McMahon; Ashling Darcy 0-1, Aida Griffey; Shonagh Enright 0-1, Emma O’Driscoll (0-2), Ashling O’Halloran; Claire McMahon (0-1, 45), Denise Lynch (0-2, 1f), Niamh Cahill.
Subs: Ailish Considine for Denise Lynch (55 mins).
Referee: Aidan Ryan.