Junior ACL Semi Final -7/7/23

John Lockes Camogie Club / Bennettsbridge Camogie Club 0-05

Piltown Camogie 1-15

by Jason O’Brien, Piltown PRO

Piltown march on to a Kilkenny River Court Hotel ACL final after we overcame the challenge of J Lockes/Bennettsbridge in a chilly Bennettsbridge.

Piltown Captain Emily McCarthy chose to play against the strong breeze, nearly a wind, in the first half and the home side took full advantage of the breeze as they scored three points in as many minutes from the hurley of Aoibhe Ryan , and two from Laura Phelan. The away side replied through the flying Ciara Dunne ,who had a fine game throughout on the left wing.

After the initial flurry of points from the home side, there then was a lull as both sides got to grip with the breeze, and how to utilise the spare player they both had at the back.

Heather Phelan brought the gap back to the minimum as she stood over a dead ball and place it confidently between the uprights in the 12minute.

Aoibhe Ryan then scored her second point of the half as she made no mistake from a central position in the 13th minute. That was to be their final score of the half as Piltown replied through Leah Cooney, equalised through Ciara Dunne and then went ahead in the 26th minute through Heather Phelan to leave the scores at half time :

John Lockes/Bennettsbridge 0-04. Piltown 0-05.

We were happy with that, leading at half time , and having the breeze in the second half is always a bonus. But Piltown had reason to be wary after been beaten by this opposition back in May.

Wary maybe, but not afraid. And we started well with Leah Cooney, Edel Long, and another two from Heather adding, and stretching, the lead by the 37th minute. Laura Phelan got her third of the game from a free in the 41st minute but the home side were struggling to create the chances as Emily McCarthy , Sarah’s Norris and Tobin were on top in defence and clearing ball out to a dominant Lorna O’Shea who was ably assisted by her two sisters Aoife and Rachel.

It was really a dominant display throughout, as Piltown dominated the puck outs from both ends and were able to set up attacks from the half backs through to the half forward line. The interplay from Cooney and Phelan was a highlight as both showed some great fielding and hand pass ability to set up attacks.

Heather Phelan kept the scoreboard moving with points from play and from frees, with Ciara Dunne and Leah Cooney also putting the ball over the bar.

Then the killer blow as Lorna O’Shea strode forward and struck a speculative shot, maybe she meant it ? Of course she did because it nestled in the top right corner of the net to raise a green flag. It was the score her performance deserved ,as she continues to get back to the form she was in before the dreaded knee injury struck her.

Overall a deserved victory , and worth a place in the League Final.

Final Score : John Lockes/Bennettsbridge 0-05 Piltown 1-15.

Scorers –  John Lockes/Bennettsbridge – Laura Phelan 0-03 (2 frees), Aoibhe Ryan 0-02

Piltown: Heather Phelan 0-6 (4f), Ciara Dunne, Leah Cooney 0-04 each, Edel Long 0-01, Lorna O’Shea 1-00