McGlone blasts Lismore to county glory

Caithriona McGlone netted at the end of either half as Lismore regained the county senior camogie title at a jam-packed WIT Arena on Saturday afternoon. After losing last year’s decider, this experienced group of players went to the well again and outfought their youthful opponents.

An action-packed final was in the balance until the renowned goal poacher for club and county stung the roof of the cobwebs a minute into added time. Gailltir closed within a point of the leaders on three occasions during the second half but Brendan Landers’ team dug deep over seven minutes of stoppages. The Lismore boss was also given a red card by referee Liz Dempsey before the hour elapsed.

Dead ball ace Aoife Hannon starred alongside McGlone in the full forward line. Her absence was keenly felt last year. On this occasion, Hannon appeared on the team sheet and stroked over seven points (five frees, a 45 and one from play). Midfielder Shona Curran thundered into the game for the second half and her whole-hearted efforts at both ends inspired the troops. Shauna Kiernan showed composure at centre back while Marie Russell gave a tigerish display. Captain Nicola Morrissey put in an unselfish stint on the wing and constantly showed out in front.

Gailltir’s brightest prospect Annie Fitzgerald illuminated the first half and marked her maiden senior final appearance with six points. She was busy without possession as well and harried the Lismore backs. A late knock lessened her impact in the closing stages. Emma Roche also exerted a considerable influence from number six. Patricia Jackman missed most of the campaign but was sprung from the line after 40 minutes. She couldn’t turn it around from full forward.

The sides were level five times across the first half before McGlone finally escaped the close attentions of the Gailltir defence to fire a shot across Ciara Jackman (1-5 to 0-7).

The free takers dominated the early stages of this final. Aoife Hannon twice traded points with Áine Lyng and Annie Fitzgerald. Against the breeze, Lismore piled on the pressure but couldn’t make headway against a dogged full back unit. With their inside forwards hemmed in, Nicola Morrissey and Grainne Kenneally nailed vital points further afield.

Fitzgerald sparkled throughout the opening thirty minutes and relished the tight exchanges. Emma Roche drilled two balls in her direction and the Déise dual star skated through the Lismore defence to nab two points. The first whizzed over Tanya Morrissey's crossbar. She also converted three frees. On the half hour mark, Hannon and Ruth Geoghegan linked up to release McGlone. Her unstoppable drive to the far corner proved a game changer.

Roche needed attention at the start of the second half but when play resumed McGlone set up Hannon for a point. After another injury delay to patch up Áine Lyng, Fitzgerald dispatched a free into the dressing room goal. On 40 minutes, Gailltir management sent on Patricia Jackman and Clodagh Carroll in a bid to keep hold of their crown. A chop on Sharon Williams allowed Hannon step forward again but Lyng responded immediately. Still only a point to separate them.

A foul on Caithriona McGlone led to another Hannon conversion before Shona Curran drove over an inspirational point on 51 minutes (1-9 to 0-9). A poorly struck free from Annie Fitzgerald veered wide. Lyng assumed dead ball duties after Emer Walsh was carried off and chalked up her third.

In a heated finale, Landers was ordered off the sideline. Gailltir put on four subs and Carroll made it a one-point game yet again. With the next attack, McGlone snuck in behind the cover and finished high and handsomely. Game over. Hannon’s seventh point deep into injury time clinched a fourth county championship in five years and a sixth since 2010.

Scorers for Lismore: Aoife Hannon 0-7 (5fs, 1 45’), Caithriona McGlone 2-0, Grainne Kenneally, Nicola Morrissey, Shona Curran 0-1 each.

Scorers for Gailltir: Annie Fitzgerald 0-6 (4fs), Áine Lyng 0-3 (3fs), Ciara O’Sullivan, Clodagh Carroll 0-1 each.

Lismore: Tanya Morrissey; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Ellen Curran; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Marie Russell; Shona Curran, Sharon Williams; Ruth Geoghegan, Grainne Kenneally, Nicola Morrissey; Aoife Hannon, Caithriona McGlone, Johanna Houlihan.

Sub: Emma Power for Johanna Houlihan.

Gailltir: Ciara Jackman; Eilis Cullinane, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne; Emily Mahony, Emma Roche, Jenny O’Grady; Shauna Fitzgerald, Ciara O’Sullivan; Kate Lynch, Annie Glavey, Áine Lyng; Emer Walsh, Roisin Flood, Annie Fitzgerald.

Subs: Patricia Jackman for Glavey, Clodagh Carroll for Flood, Leah Sheridan for Cullinane, Áine O’Keeffe for Walsh.

Referee: Liz Dempsey

Tramore Win Junior Final

After falling at the last hurdle in the last year final,  Tramore finally got their hands on junior silverware following a hard fought battle with Clonea at Carriganore. Second half goals by Sally Kelly and  Kate Marie Hearne proved significant in this contest. Player of the hour corner forward Sally Kelly worked her socks off.  Lively pair Abbie Dunphy and Clara Griffin also stood out on the winning side.

Clonea opted  to play with the breeze in the first half.  However it was Tramore who registered the first five points without reply.  Aoife Fleming then scored a goal from a 45metre free.  There some great passages of play with both defences on top. Aoife Fleming who was in flying form registered another point on the twentieth minute and twenty fifth minute.  Sally Kelly and Niamh Walsh scored two points from play just before the half time whistle leaving the half time score Clonea 1-02 Tramore 0-07.

In the second half both teams battled really hard.  Two evenly matched sides saw great passages of play. Clonea Aoife Fleming was on fire and scored another goal from a long range free.  Shortly after Orla Flynn scored a fantastic point from play.  Clonea were two points up at this stage.  Tramore were awarded a penalty on the twenty fifth minute and Emma Norris pulled off a fantastic save.  It looked at this stage that the game would end in a draw.  However Tramore had other plans and retaliated with three unanswered points from Sally Kelly, Saoirse English and Kate Marie Hearne.  In the final minutes Kate Marie Hearne scored a great goal to put the game out of sight for Clonea.  Outstanding Keely Barry Corbett tried really hard to bring her side back into with several bursts winning several balls in the midfield area.  Despite the best efforts of Clonea they failed to register any scores in the final five minutes. Best for Tramore on the day were Abbie Dunphy, Saoirse O’Brien, Clara Griffin, Niamh Walsh and Sally Kelly.  Best for Clonea were Aoife Fleming and Keeley Corbett Barry. Tramore will now play intermediate grade in 2018.  Joint Captains Majella Pollard and Niamh Walsh  collected the trophy for the worthy victors.

Tramore: Shannon Acheson; Sally Jacob, Leah Barry, Muireann Cuddihy, Abbie Dunphy; Catherine Power, Saoirse O’Brien, Clara Griffin, Kristen Farrell, Niamh Walsh 0-01; Donna Cowman, Tara Power 0-01, Kate Ohle, Kate Marie Hearne (1-01) Sally Kelly (1-07) Saoirse English 0-01. Jessica Dobbyn, Masha Power, Chloe Kinsella, Áine Mullins, Emma Barry, Eimear Gallagher, Sarah Power, Denise Davin.

Clonea:  Emma Norris, Emer Walsh, Emma Wall, Aoife Hahessey, Ciara Hahessey, Kate Hahessey, Eileen Fitzpatrick(Capt)Keeley Corbett Barry, Aisling Hahessey, Beth Norris, Heather Hayes, Orla Flynn 0-01, Aoife Fleming 2-02 , Ciara Dunphy, Niamh Cahill, Róisín Cahill, Emily Keane, Elaine O’Connell, Claddagh Power, Lauren Galvin, Michaela Houlihan, Marie Fogarty, Ruth Walsh, Sophie Ryan.

County Final Attendance:

A big thank you to all who attended our county finals. It was our biggest attendance ever with both stands full to capacity. The support for our game is growing and to you all thank you! Well done to all teams today on two fantastic games. Big Congratulations to Lismore and Tramore on winning their respective titles.

All Star Nomination and Soaring Star Nomination

Congratulations to Beth Carton and Kaiesha Tobin on been nominated for All Star and Soaring Star.  Beth Carton received Player of the league and was top scorer for Waterford in their senior Championship Campaign.  Kaiesha Tobin received her nomination on her performances in the Junior Championship. In the Wicklow game Kaiesha scored four goals.

Fixtures for next week

 Saturday 30^th of September

Under 18A County final

Gailltir vs.  De la Salle

Time and venue to be confirmed

Munster Junior Championship Semi Final- 

Sunday 15^th of October- 2.30PM

An Rinn vs. Clanmaurice (Kerry Champions)

Venue: An Rinn GAA

Waterford Camogie Office

Waterford Camogie Office is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 5pm.  Our office is located in Dungarvan Nissan.  If you have any queries or want to get in contact with us you can do so by contacting Ciara Langan or Joe Cleary on 086 8113531 or John Flood on 087 6684474.  You will also find us on Facebook and Twitter.