Late blitz seals minor shield honours for Kilmaley

Kilmaley 3-4
Feakle 1-1

CONDITIONS were ideal for the minor A shield final and both teams produced some exciting camogie at the Éire Óg grounds last weekend.

Kilmaley were first on the scoreboard with two early points. Feakle, who were slow to settle, were forced to defend for much of the first half.
Their threat on goal was minimal, mainly due to the performance of Kilmaley’s Niamh O’Dea, who was outstanding at centre-back.
Feakle’s only score of the first half came in the 20th minute. This was a well-taken goal from Sonia Hanrahan following a good save from Kilmaley goalie Alana Barry. Kilmaley went in ahead at half-time on a scoreline of 1-3 to 1-0.
The first-half goal appeared to settle Feakle and their performance in the second half was stronger and more determined, while Kilmaley’s dominance was less evident throughout the field.
Vera Loughnane pointed from a free to leave only two points between the teams and the scene was set for an exciting finish. With 10 minutes to go disaster struck for Feakle.
Sonia Hanrahan was forced from the field due to injury. Feakle, with no substitute bench, were forced to finish out the match with just 12 players.
Kilmaley capitalised on the situation and quickly added three goals to their tally. The final score is not reflective of the game as a whole.

Kilmaley: Alana Barry; Amy Kennedy, Laoise Talty; Orla Hennessey, Katie Cahill, Kathleen O’Keefe; Sinéad O’Keefe, Niamh Cahill; Leighanne McMahon, Niamh O’Dea, Jane Pyne; Aishling Downes, Aishling Cahill.
Feakle: Collette Purcell; Ciara Minogue, Siobhán Tuohy; Áine Duggan, Mary Kate Moloney, Lisa McGrath; Clodagh Gray, Vera Loughnane; Lauren Guilfoyle, Amy McMahon, Sonia Hanrahan; Clara Malone, Rebecca Purcell.
Referee: Anne Marie McGann, St Joseph’s.

Éire Óg 2-10
Whitegate 3-5

ÉIRE Óg supporters breathed a sigh of relief when the final whistle sounded after six minutes of injury time in their thrilling encounter in the minor C final.
The Ennis girls claimed the title in what was a tough, physical battle played in scenic Ogonnelloe on a beautiful spring-like afternoon.
Orla Devitt opened the scoring with a superb point from play, with Lisa Donoghue levelling up matters in the next minute. Two Shaunagh O’Brien points gave Éire Óg the lead before a powerful strike from Susan Fahy flew over the bar. Éire Óg threw everything they had at Whitegate and were rewarded with a goal each from Orla Devitt and Alana O’Brien and points from Devitt and Lisa Greene. Two pointed frees from Susan Fahy left the half-time score at 2-5 to 0-4. Éire Óg dominated the opening 10 minutes and although they were unlucky not to score a goal, three Orla Devitt points stretched their lead further.
Whitegate, seeing the match slipping away, stepped up a gear and Susan Fahy’s goals brought the margin back to four points. Two more points from Devitt stretched the lead to six.
However, Fahy wasn’t finished and struck again with a goal and a point, leaving Éire Óg with a two-point lead. The Ennis girls kept a vice-like grip on that lead for the last tension-filled 10 minutes, helped by some outstanding defending.
After the game Éire Óg captain, Claire McMahon accepted the trophy from Eileen Gleeson and dedicated the victory to the memory of the late Francie McMahon.
Rae Wall, Aoife Sheehan, Alana O’Brien, Claire McMahon and Orla Devitt excelled for Éire Óg, while Rachel Donoghue, Lisa Donaghue and Susan Fahy stood out for Whitegate.

Éire Óg: Katie Malone; Rae Wall, Sophie Hanna; Aoife Sheehan, Claire McMahon (captain), Tara Sheehan; Orla Devitt (1-7, 1f), Alana O’Brien (1-0); Karen Roche, Aoife O’Neill, Caroline Walsh; Shaunagh O’Brien (0-2), Lisa Greene (0-1).
Subs: Deirbhile Ryan for Caroline Walsh (42 mins) and Laura Maloney for Karen Roche (60 mins).
Whitegate: Aideen Burke; Chloe Bugler, Sinéad Coen; Melissa Forde, Rachel Bleach, Orla Burke; Rachel Donoghue, Susan Fahy (3-4, 2f); Shauna Donnellan, Lisa Donoghue (0-1), Karen Bugler; Carol Minogue, Emma Quirke.
Referee: Joe O’Donnell.