‘Boro are bettered as ‘Town topple champs from throne

Marble City Travel Kilkenny Senior Camogie Championship Quarter Final – Sunday, 30^th August 2020

Thomastown 3-9 Dicksboro 1-11

Dicksboro’s reign as Kilkenny’s senior camogie queens is over after Thomastown prevailed in the meeting of the last two county champions

Played at a sun drenched Paulstown, Sunday’s clash in the Marble City Travel senior championship quarter finals was an entertaining affair, but the ‘Town’s ability to rack up the scores proved vital

Both teams wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. Eva Hynes pointed for Thomastown while Amy Clifford replied for Dicksboro in the very first minute. The girls in blue picked off the next two points through Sarah Walsh and Eva Hynes, but ‘Boro raised their game and got on top after nine minutes

The city side found good form when they fired over the next five points. Orla Hanrick led the way with 2 frees. Ciara Phelan and Lucinda Gahan added scores from play before Aoife Prendergast converted a pointed free to give her side a three-point lead (0-6 to 0-3) by the end of the first quarter

Thomastown were behind but started to lift their game. Eimear Donnelly and Orla Hanrick exchanged points but on the 20 minute mark Thomastown turned the tables when they shot 1-3 without reply. Blathnaid Galway grabbed a goal and 2 points from frees and Eimear Donnelly adding a point from play

On the half hour mark, the city team were awarded a 45m free and Orla Hanrick put it over the bar, leaving the half time score at 1-7 to 0-8 in favour of Thomastown

After the restart, Roisin O’Keeffe extended Thomastown’s lead with a point early on, only for the ‘Boro to hit back with a goal. Amy Clifford raised the green flag when she met a rebound from a fine save by the Thomastown ‘keeper to level the scores at 1-8 a piece after 33 minutes

Two minutes later Eimear Donnelly shot to the net after a fine movement between herself and her namesake Therese. It proved to be a decisive score as, over the next 10 minutes, play moved from end to end without either side registering a score

The barren spell was broken when Orla Hanrick notched a point from a free for the ‘Boro in the 45^th minute, but they couldn’t add to it as the game entered another scoring lull. Substitute Katie Byrne pointed for the girls in maroon to leave a point between the sides with 7 minutes left on the clock

Meighan Farrell widened the gap for Thomastown with a point on the 55^th minute mark, but they took a step towards the semi-finals when Therese Donnelly hand passed to the net with a minute remaining

Orla Hanrick had the last score of the game when she fired over from play, but it wasn’t enough to stop the girls in blue from ending her side’s reign as champions

Thomastown – Eimear Donnelly (1-2), Blathnaid Galway (1-2, 1-2f), Therese Donnelly (1-0), Eva Hynes (0-2), Sarah Walsh, Roisin O’Keeffe (0-1 each), Meighan Farrell (0-1, f)

Dicksboro – Orla Hanrick (0-6, 5f), Amy Clifford (1-1), Ciara Phelan, Lucinda Gahan, Katie Byrne (0-1 each), Aoife Prendergast (0-1, f)

Thomastown – Kate McDonald, Eimear Corr, Ailish Butler, Sally Teehan, Sinead O’Keeffe, Meighan Farrell, Joanne Fitzpatrick, Anna Farrell, Lisa Donnelly, Blathnaid Galway, Sarah Walsh, Eva Hynes, Eimear Donnelly, Therese Donnelly, Roisin O’Keeffe

Subs – Eimear Farrell for Blathnaid Galway, Sarah Barcoe for Roisin O’Keeffe, Niamh Donnelly for Eimear Donnelly

Dicksboro – Kirsty Maher, Jane Cass, Ciara O’Shea, Orlaith Moore, Tara Clifford, Aoife Prendergast, Niamh Phelan, Ciara Phelan, Aobha O’Gorman, Asha McHardy, Lucinda Gahan, Caoimhe Dowling, Amy Clifford, Orla Hanrick, Jenny Clifford

Subs – Katie Byrne for Orlaith Moore, Kate Dempsey for Katie Byrne, Sonja Buggy, Sue Kennedy, Lisa Hanrick, Sarah O’Gorman, Issey Shine, Aisling Morrissey, Ellie Peters