Michael Lyng Motors Senior Camogie Championship Round 1

Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Senior Camogie Championship Round 1

Piltown 1-10

Dicksboro 1-15

by Jason O’Brien, Piltown PRO

A much anticipated clash in a rain soaked game as the Boro kept their winning streak going against Piltown. It was a closer game than the last meeting in the Championship semi final last year, but the victors were the same.

Dicksboro were quick out of the blocks as they got the first four points of the game through Rachel Dowling , Aoife Prendergast and Orla Hanrick as they appeared to settle into their plan of flowing movement , hand pass to the player in space and take your score.

Katie Power got Piltown first point in the 13th minute, and this was followed up by an amazing piece of skill from full forward Heather Phelan when a ball into the danger area from Aine Doyle was volleyed up into the air and then struck over her shoulder into the net in the 15th minute to level the game.

A great boost to the slight underdogs, but a team such as Dicksboro took it in their stride and simply worked it up the field straight away, the ball came to flying forward Rachel Dowling and she gave Aoife Norris no chance as she struck it low to the bottom right corner. 1-01 to 1-04 after 15 minutes.

The weather conditions in the first half didn’t help the players as the cross field wind and rain resulted in a lot of fumbles and dropped passes but little frees awarded and Jenny Clifford got her first of the day in the 18th minute to stretch the lead to 4 points , and Aoife Prendergast put a free over the bar in the 20th minute to leave Piltown struggling for a reply.

Ellen O’Keeffe started a reply though as she got a point , then Aine Doyle did similar and that was matched by Katie Power to bring it back to a two point difference. Dowling finished the scoring for the half in the 27th minute to leave the scores at half time Piltown 1-04 Dicksboro 1-07.

Aoife Doyle opened the scoring in the second half for Piltown , as the sun made an appearance for the first time in the game. The game then went 10 minutes without a score as there was a couple of injuries and the momentum suffered. The half back line of Alice, Emer and Emily was under savage pressure as the running game of the Boro and the movement of the two Clifford’s and the presence of Prendergast at centre forward was gaining the upper hand. Amy Clifford ended the scoring drought when she raised the white flag in the 41st minute after a free from distance struck the upright bounced out into play and was put over by the Boro number 13. Piltown hadn’t scored since Aoife Doyle scored in the 32nd minute and she did it again in the 42nd.

It was a two point lead now, but two needless frees on the 45 handed Orla Hanrick the opportunities she relishes, and she made no mistake with both. Aine Doyle replied with a free of her own in the 53rd minute , Jenny Clifford added one for the Boro in reply, despite Boros advantage possession wise the game wasn’t out of sight yet. Piltown just couldn’t get a couple of points in a row to get near enough.

Aoife Doyle scored  another two points , with Katie finishing off our scoring deep into injury time. Full time Piltown 1-10 Dicksboro 1-15.