Dicksboro, Kilkenny Vs St. Martins, Wexford 3-11-19
Dicksboro 1-12 St Martin’s 3-12
A gallant Dicksboro Camogie Team fought bravely in a Leinster Senior Club Camogie Semi-Final against St Martins of Wexford, and despite fighting right to the finish the ‘Boro girls ultimately came up short against a very impressive St Martins outfit.
The match was held in St Martins home venue in Piercestown in great conditions given the very heavy rain over the previous days Both sets of players did justice to the venue with great commitment and skill displayed throughout.
The Wexford girls enjoyed a perfect start with an opportunist goal taken by Lisa Firman after 2 minutes. The ‘Boro traded points with St Martins with a pointed free from Orla Hanrick and a score from play from Asha McHardy cancelling the scores from Lisa Bolger and Chloe Foxe before the ‘Boro’s Lisa Hanrick scored a vital goal to put the Kilkenny team level, 1-02 a-piece.
The ‘Boro then gained a two-point advantage with two converted frees from Orla Hanrick and St Martins keeper Mags D’Arcy pulled off a great save from a Ciara Phelan shot that seemed destined for the top corner.
The next few minutes saw further pressure on both goals but with one ‘Boro point and two St Martins points the Kilkenny team held the lead by a single point, 1-05 to 1-04, but two quick goals for St Martins left them with a lead that they did not relinquish for the remainder of the match. The bright sun had cruelly played a role in the first of these St Martins goals, blinding the defence and keeper at crucial moment under a long Ciara O’Connor free.
The rest of the first half say the teams trade points again with the half time score line reading St Martins 3-06 Dicksboro 1-07.
Both teams had periods of dominance in the first half and the ‘Boro defence had been stretched by a roaming St Martin’s forward line, but had played well throughout with Ciara O’Shea, Jane Cass and Ciara Mullan impressing. Ciara Phelan and Aobha O’Gorman fought tirelessly in midfield, while the ‘Boro forwards were unlucky to not have converted more in this opening half. Lucinda Gahan, Jenny Clifford and Asha McHardy causing many moments of worry for the St Martins defence and Orla Hanrick was clinical on frees throughout.
The second half appeared to be a much tighter affair than the first and scores were at a premium as both sets of defenders put the shackles on their respective opposition forward lines. Sonia Buggy, who came on for Niamh O’Donoghue at half time was a steadying presence, but Chloe Foxe was a constant thorn in the side of the Kilkenny team with three points from play and two frees in the second half.
The ‘Boro forwards put in huge effort but luck was not on their side and scores in the second half were at a premium. While Orla Hanrick continued her good form on frees, the Kilkenny girls could not narrow the gap on the scoreboard and St Martins held the lead right to the final whistle.
Further changes were made to the Dicksboro line-up, with Aisling Morrissey coming on for Lisa Hanrick, Hannah Clifford for Caoimhe Dunne-Dowling and Orlaith Moore replacing Tara Clifford. (Tara had shown great courage playing over both the County Final and this Leinster Semi Final with a broken finger.)
In the end St Martins were deserving winners on a score line of 3:12 to 1:12, but a different hop of the ball on a number of occasions, particularly in the first half, could well have led to a very different result. This Dicksboro team can be rightly proud of creating history for their club with a first Senior County Final victory and have done their club and county proud with a hard-fought battle right to the end.
Scorers – Dicksboro – Orla Hanrick (0-10, 9f), Lisa Hanrick 1-0, Ciara Phelan, Asha McHardy (0-1 each)
Dicksboro – Kirsty Maher, Jane Cass, Ciara O’Shea, Ciara Mullen, Tara Clifford, Aoife Prendergast, Niamh O’Donoghue, Aobha O’Gorman, Ciara Phelan, Caoimhe Dunne Dowling, Lucinda Gahan (Captain), Lisa Hanrick, Asha McHardy, Orla Hanrick, Jenny Clifford
Subs – Sonia Buggy for Niamh O’Donoghue, Aisling Morrissey for Lisa Hanrick, Hannah Clifford for Caoimhe Dunne Dowling, Orlaith Moore for Tara Clifford, Kate Dempsey, Niamh Phelan, Bronagh Doheny, Danielle Kenny, Ciara McPhillips, Emer Phelan, Leah Raggett, Emer Stynes, Sarah O’Gorman, Rachel Egan, Ellie Peters, Dee Murphy, Issey Carroll, Issey Shine, Grainne Hennessy
St Martin’s – Mags Darcy, Aisling O’Connor, Marie Claire Morrissey (Captain), Mary Barrett, Anna Hennessy, Ciara O’Connor, Katie O’Connor, Ella O’Connor, Amy Cardiff, Sarah O’Connor, Chloe Foxe, Linda Bolger, Emma Codd, Lisa Bolger, Lisa Firman
Subs – Amy Ryan, Aisling Cronin, Lettie Whelan, Aoife O’Connor, Amy O’Leary, Alannah Davis, Aoife Dempsey, Fiona Esmonde, Sarah Hobbert, Clare Barrett, Aoife Bridges, Aine Ennis, Lauren Carty
By kristinagunn Thu 7th Nov
