Sixmilebridge capture minor crown

Sixmilebridge   4-14
Newmarket   2-4
Neighbours Sixmilebridge and Newmarket brought the domestic camogie season to a conclusion at Clarecastle on Saturday when they clashed in a minor A final.

A week after the same clubs had clashed in the minor A hurling final, which Newmarket won, the driving rain did little to upset ground conditions for this contest.
Sixmilebridge had three wides tallied up before the first meaningful attack from Newmarket-on-Fergus ended with an overhead flick to the Sixmilebridge net from Stephanie Coughlan, giving the underdogs a great start.
Six minutes elapsed before Sixmilebridge finally got on the scoreboard courtesy of a Chloe Morey free.
One of the stars of the Newmarket side was youthful Rachel Kelleher, the team’s goalkeeper, who made six fine saves and was most unlucky with two of the goals that eluded her as she got her hurl to close range shots.
With the new age rules coming into force next year she will not be able to play minor in 2011.
Naomi Carroll forced a great save from Kelleher as Sixmilebridge were beginning to attack with more regularity. Carroll (2) and Niamh Corry had the sides level after nine minutes before the classy Carroll showed amazing touch and pace to race clear for Sixmilebridge’s first goal after 11 minutes. Carroll set up Sinéad Touhy for a smart score before Kate O’Neill responded for Newmarket after 21 minutes of keenly contested fare.
The rain that haunted Clarecastle kept away from this encounter until the final 10 minutes. A contribution of 1-2 from Carroll and Touhy between the 25th and 28th minutes surged Sixmilebridge 2-7 to 1-1 ahead at the half-time whistle, with Sixmilebridge in total control for the final 10 minutes of the first half.
The odds on Newmarket winning lengthened considerably when Rachel O’Halloran first-timed a great effort to the corner of the Newmarket net a minute into the new half and the Blues were now 12 points adrift. Chloe Morey, Laura McMahon, Nikki Kaiser, Niamh Corry and Morey once more were on target by the end of the third quarter as the eventual champions led 3-11 to 1-3, with Newmarket hurling well but unable to finish.
Fifteen-year-old Nikki Kaiser hit 1-2 from frees in a three-minute spell as her side’s tally was doubled.
The rain arrived for the final 10 minutes as Sixmilebridge defended well despite honest attacking from Newmarket. Ciara Whelan blasted her side’s fourth goal as Ali Quinlan and Naomi Carroll rounded off the scoring for a memorable win for the ’Bridge.
The champions had solid displays from Marie McGrath, Ciara Whelan, Chloe Morey, the determined Niamh Corry, Rachel O’Halloran, Sinéad Touhy, Ali Quinlan and the magnificent Naomi Carroll.
Newmarket-on-Fergus did not deserve to be on the end of a 16-point defeat but did not have the scoring threat that Sixmilebridge could lean on. Their stars were Rachel Kelleher in goal, Joanne Hartigan, Joanne Walsh, Laura McMahon, Kate O’Neill, Jenny Kelly, Kate Hayes and the impressive Nikki Kaiser.
Sixmilebridge: Eimear Murray; Sinéad Hyland, Maire McGrath, Rachel Scanlon; Ciara Whelan (1-0), Chloe Morey (0-4), Ellen Roche; Niamh Corry (0-2), Fiona Murphy; Rachel O’Halloran (1-0), Sinead Touhy (0-2), Niamh Whyte; Naomi Carroll (2-4), Ali Quinlan (0-2), Mairéad Hyland.
Subs: Laura Murray for Roche; Laura Whelan for Whyte; Emma Robbins for Hyland; Ciara Quinlivan, Niamh Murray.
Newmarket: Rachel Kelleher; Clodagh Lawlor, Joanne Hartigan, Sinead McInerney; Katie Hayes, Joanne Walsh, Bríd Enright; Zelicka Browne, Nikki Kaiser (1-2); Kate O’Neill (0-1), Laura McMahon (0-1), Jenny Kelly; Anne Marie Hayes, Caroline Feehily, Stephanie Coughlin (1-0).
Subs: Saoirse Gleeson for Hayes; Laura Commane for O’Neill.
Referee: Aidan Lynch