Second Munster Title for Gailltir

Gaultier 2-10 Eire Óg 0-6

Gaultier (County Waterford) are Munster intermediate camogie champions following an impressive performance against Eire Óg, (County Cork) at Leahy Park, Cashel on November 11. They were well-deserving of their 2-10 to 0-6 victory and might have been further ahead at the final whistle.

A heavy shower before the game made the field difficult for skilful hurling but the winners served up an outstanding performance of individual brilliance and effective teamwork.

Playing with a slight breeze in the first half they dominated the game and led by 1-7 to 0-2 at the interval. Not only did they score 1-7 but they also hit seven wides.

In contrast Eire Óg scored 2 points and hit no wides, For most of the half they made few incursions into the Gaultier space until the final five minutes of the period. They did get the first score when Maedbh Ellen Desmond sent over after two minutes, but their second didn’t come until the twenty-fourth minute from Margaret O’Herlihy.

In contrast Gaultier scored five points in the first twenty-two minutes, three of them coming from a very impressive Annie Fitzgerald.

Then in the twenty-third minute the Waterford champions decided to make up for lost time. Following a great run by Aine Lyng from centrefield and a pass to Aoife Fitzgerald on the edge of the square, the Eire Óg goalkeeper was given no chance with the goal shot. This was followed up by two points from Lyng and Clodagh Carroll to send Gualtier to the dressing room in a commanding position on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-2.

Gaultier didn’t have it all their own way on the resumption. Eire Óg came out in a determined manner and upped the tempo of the game. But they found it very difficult to score against a resolute and skillful Gaultier back line.

Their best efforts were frustrated in the eighth minute when a Gaultier attack yielded a goal from Annie Fitzgerald.

They continued to try hard but the results were meagre, three points over the thirty minutes, all three coming from an excellent Margaret O’Herlihy.

It was Gaultier’s day and though their scoring wasn’t as prolific as it had been in the first half, they did add three points from Shauna Fitzgerald, Annie Fitzgerlad and Aine Lyng for a final tally of 2-10 and a winning margin of eleven points.

The winners had outstanding players all over the field but Aine Lyng, Ciara O’Sullivan and Annie Fitzgerald deserve special mention as an impressive half-forward line. Also impressive were Aoife Fitzgerald and the half-back line of Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche and Hannah Flynn.

Eire Óg were an  equally committed side but they didn’t have the skill level of the Waterford side. Three of their players deserve special mention, Meadbh Ellen Desmond, Margaret O’Herlihy and Isobel Sheehan

Gaultier: Ciara Jackman, Emily Mahony, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne (capt.), Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche, Hannagh Flynn, Kate Lynch, Shauna Fitzgerald (0-1), Aine Lyng (0-3), Ciara O’Sullivan, Annie Fitzgerald (1-5), Emer Walsh, Aoife Fitzgerald (1-1), Clodagh Carroll  (0-1).  Subs: Emma Flynn for Shauna Fitzgerald, Eilis Cullinane for Annie Fitzgerald,  Aine O’Keeffe forEmily Mahony, Hannah Hutchinson for Clodagh Carroll

Eire Óg: Rachel Murray, Katie McCarthy, Aileen Hennessy, Aine Barry, Emma Quigley, Marie Gleeson, Aoife O’Callaghan, Emma Crowley, Isobel Sheehan, Ruth Murphy, Siobhan Hutchinson (capt.), Meadbh Ellen Desmond, Grace Collins,  Margaret O’Herlihy (0-4), Gillian Murphy. Subs; Niamh Twomey for  Grace Collins, Orla Meaney for Emma Crowley, Aideen Buckley for  Katie McCarthy, Ciara Sheehan for Gillian Murphy.