SENIOR CAMOGIE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
sponsored by Michael Lyng Motors.
Friday 4 September
By Jason O’Brien
Danesfort 0 -08 Piltown 2 -20
Piltown travelled to Danesfort on a chilly early September evening to be greeted by a stiff breeze blowing towards the fabulous Clubhouse end of the back pitch.
Piltown were out of the blocks quickly, a goal chance in the first minute for Sophie Holden that was bravely saved by Bronagh Davis in the Fort goal, the ball was kept alive by Piltown, it was worked to Kellyann Doyle and Doyle put it over the bar. A sign of Piltown’s intent, attack quickly and directly.
It was paying off, with Alice Talbot, Katie Power, Leah Cooney and Doyle again all scoring before the home side opened their account in the 18th minute with a free from centre back Olivia Mahony.
The breeze was helping Piltown, Fort were going long with their puckouts, Piltown were winning them and counter attacking, with Davis in the Danesfort goal having to bravely deny Ruby Norris with another goal bound shot, it was becoming one way traffic.
Olivia Mahony would tag on another two frees before Shauna Mahony scored a fine point from the left side in the 28th minute to bring the deficit to six points. That would change after a penalty was awarded in the 30th minute. Piltown won another puckout through Laura Norris, she delivered the ball to Katie Power on the 21, she released the flying Sophie Holden, clean through on goal and as she was about to shoot, she was upended unceremoniously by a defender and it had to be a penalty.
Aoife Norris made the long run up and she despatched the sliotar low and hard to the net. Grace Farrell had time to score a point from close range when it looked like a certain goal, to finish the half
HALF TIME – Danesfort 0 -04 Piltown 1 -11
The teams switched ends and the breeze had died down a bit, but Piltown would score into it, through another free from Doyle, Danesfort replied with another free of their own from Shauna Mahony, followed with a great score from out on the right wing from Aoife Farrell. Danesfort were combative in the tackle, but just couldn’t match the pace, movement and quickness of thought of their opponents. Ruby Norris got another from out on the left, matched by one from Niamh Davis as she burst through after Muireann Kelly found her.
As we entered the final 10 minutes Piltown were still going for it. Danesfort were still working hard, and were putting on a good display for a team making the big step up from Intermediate, and they will improve with the experience. That type of experience was paying off for Piltown as a pass from Alice Talbot was caught cleanly by Heather Phelan, she turned looked for a team mate and found the inrushing Kellyann Doyle and Doyle blasted the sliotar to the net. The scoreline was harsh on the home side, Piltown were clinical and efficient. Another goal chance came to the southerners when Heather Phelan had possession and aimed for the bottom right corner and with the keeper beaten, it was full back Ciara Gleeson that batted the ball away for a 45. Doyle put it over the bar to end the game.
Yes, the scoreline was harsh on the home side, but plenty of positives, with things learned from each game they play in the Senior Grade.
Full Time Score – DANESFORT 0 -08 PILTOWN 2 -20
Danesfort – Bronagh Davis, Clodagh Doyle, Ciara Gleeson, Jill OBrien, Laura Dunne, Olivia Mahony, Muireann Kelly, Aileen Gleeson, Louisa Gilmore, Shauna Mahony, Eva Dunne, Rachel Phelan, Aoife Farrell, Bobbie Brennan, Niamh Davis
Piltown – Aoife Norris, Karen Duggan, Jenni O’Dea, Lorraine Long, Laura Norris, Aoife Landers, Danielle Carroll, Patsy Kenny, Leah Cooney, Alice Talbot, Kellyann Doyle, Ruby Norris, Grace Farrell, Sophie Holden, Katie Power
By PRO Fri 11th Sep
