Abbott Intermediate Camogie League Final
Mooncoin 1-10
Danesfort 0-10
By Nicole Kirk, PR Og
A special occasion was held in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday September 21st as Danesfort took on Mooncoin in the 2024 Abbott league final. With absolutely immaculate conditions in Nowlan Park, the stage was set for what was going to be an absolute cracker of a game.
The match threw in at a slightly later time than originally planned at 3pm. Straight away Danesfort were on the attack as they put the ball down to the town end of UPMC Nowlan Park. The sliotar was won by Danesfort’s Niamh Davis who was closed down by the Mooncoin’s defense. The sliotar was then retrieved from a rook by Shauna Mahony who took on the shot but was just slightly off target. Danesfort showed their determination again by winning the mooncoin puckout. The sliotar was put into the same corner and the sliotar was put across the face of the goal. Mooncoin’s goalkeeper, Ellen Crowley, dealt with the cross ball and Mooncoin were on the attack. A pass from Niamh Crowley to Jessica Roche resulted in Roche scoring the first point of the match.
Danesfort weren’t long in getting a response as they worked the sliotar down the field for a score. A long ball from goalkeeper Bronagh Davis was pinacol to attack as it landed into the hands of Aoife Farrell. Farrell let a low ball into the corner. The sliotar was picked and put between the uprights.
Mooncoin’s puckout was batted down by Deirdre Walsh but she was not backed up by her teammates as Danesfort’s Eve Dunne collected the sliotar. Dunne was dispossessed and the sliotar was on the ground in a rook. The sliotar came off a Danesfort player and headed out over the line as Mooncoin were awarded a sideline cut. Deirdre Walsh’s sideline was intercepted by Danesfort and Danesfort’s clearance fell into the possession of Mooncoin Centre forward, Laura Dillon Dunphy. She lays the ball out to Sarah “Spud” Crowley. Spud was blocked down but was supported by her captain Laura Wall. Wall recovered the lost sliotar and scored her first point of the day.
Once again Mooncoin were on the attack as the Crowley’s linked up with each other. A free taken by Marianne Walsh was passed to Sarah Crowley who passed the ball into Niamh Crowley in the full forward line. Niamh Crowley only had one thing on her mind as she beared down on goal. She was dispossessed by Danesfort’s Maria Comerford from which Mooncoin won a sideline. This didn’t dampen Danesfort’s spirits as they overturned the ball and went on the attack. The sliotar landed between Deirdre Phelan and Mooncoin’s Niamh Madden. Madden’s hurl ended up on the ground and she was practically defenceless. Phelan won the sliotar and headed for goal. She was being held back and advantage was played. Phelan showed off her football skills in an attempt to kick the ball over the bar. The failed attempt resulted in a free from advantage. Olivia Mahony was offered her first chance at a score of the day and she grabbed it with two hands as she struck the sliotar over the bar
The Mooncoin puckout travelled down the pitch and landed between the Danesfort 65 and 45 yard line. A free was awarded to Danesfort over 75 yards away from the goal. Once again Olivia Mahony stood over the placed ball and struck the ball with no error and again the ball was between the uprights.
The next attack was on the opposite side of the pitch as Muireann Gannon stood over a free for Mooncoin after Niamh Davis over carried the ball. Gannon passed the ball into Niamh Crowley and Crowley turned her marker and headed for goal. A number of Danesfort defenders stood between her and the goal so she made the sensible decision to pop the ball over the bar on the 13 yard line.
Aoife Farrell won the puckout and took on a long distance shot. The shot dropped short and was dealt with by Ellen Crowley in the goal. Crowley’s clearance was won by Niamh Davis and Danesfort were back on the attack again. Davis was fouled and awarded a free. Mahony stood over the free and made no mistake in pointing another free.
Mooncoin’s puckout was directed towards Ava Sutton who passed the sliotar to Niamh Crowley. Danesfort ensured this time Crowley wasn’t going to get away from her player as she was marked 2 to 1. Danesfort cleared the sliotar up the pitch to create a goal opportunity. Advantage was awarded to Danesfort and an excellent interception from Niamh Madden resulted in advantage being brought back for a free. Mahony stood over the placed ball and widened the gap to 2 points.
This game was really a game of the free takers as Mooncoin’s next point also came from a placed ball as Deirdre Walsh pointed another free.
The next 3 points were all into the town end as Danesfort scored 3 unanswered points, 2 of these coming from placed balls. The third point scored by captain Deirdre Phelan was an excellent display of skill as she picked the ball first time and turned her marker. Using pure strength Phelan took on the next player got around her and threw the ball over the bar like nobody was watching.
Immediately after Mooncoin were on the attack and from nothing the sliotar was in the back of the net. A long ball put in from the puckout landed in front of Deirdre Walsh. Walsh used her head and allowed the sliotar to beat both her and her marker. She turned herself, picked the sliotar and was bearing down on goal. One on one with Bronagh Davis, Walsh made no mistake and the ball was in the back of the net.
Referee blew for Half Time with score Danesfort:0-08 Mooncoin:1-04
At half time there was only a point between the 2 teams. It was all still to play for in UPMC Nowlan Park.
The ball was thrown in for the second half and immediately Mooncoin were awarded the opportunity to level the match through a free. The free was taken by Deirdre Walsh and Walsh achieved her goal and put the ball over the bar. All was square once again
The Danesfort puckout was won by a super catch from Olivia Mahony. Mahony attempted to pass out the ball but Mooncoin’s Mairead Corcoran blocked it down for a line ball. The line ball was won by Danesfort in Midfield and they were on the attack again. Danesfort took a shot which bounced deceivingly in front of Ellen Crowley as she barely got a flick on it out to the side. Danesfort’s offense quickly scrambled to the ball, as did Mooncoin’s defense. In the blink of an eye the ball had rattled the back of the Mooncoin net but referee Eamon Larkin had got other ideas as he saw the sliotar be picked up off the ground by the Danesfort attacker. The free was taken by Marianne Walsh and work down the field to a point on the other end from Hannah Cooney.
The next 2 points would also come from Mooncoin but not only Mooncoin but midfielder Ava Sutton. Sutton’s 2 points would mean that Mooncoin had now scored 4 unanswered points at the beginning of the second half.
Danesfort’s puckout was won by their captain Deirdre Phelan. Phelan played the sliotar in as far as Eve Dunne in the corner forward position. In an attempt to support her teammate Louisa Gilmore ran towards Dunne but ended up clashing with her. Dunne dropped the ball and there was a tussle on the ground for the ball. A hand of a Mooncoin player on the back of Eve Dunne resulted in a Danesfort free. Olivia Mahony pointed the free.
Mooncoin used the short puckout but pressure from Louisa Gilmore forced the Mooncoin defence to fumble the ball. Gilmore overturned the rook and took on her shot which was saved by Ellen Crowley. Gilmore was determined to get her hands back on the sliotar as she fought again to get it back and that’s exactly what she did. Gilmore was held back by the Mooncoin defenders and she was awarded a 21 yard free. Olivia Mahony pointed the free and again there was only a point between the teams.
As the second half continued Mooncoin kept their lead by adding another 2 points to the tally. The first of these coming from a 45 which was placed over the bar by Deirdre Walsh who had been on excellent form all day. The second score to seal the deal and put Mooncoin 3 points ahead came from their captain, Laura Wall. No better woman for the job, from a tight angle in the bottom corner of UPMC Nowlan Park, Wall pucked the ball over the bar.
Despite being behind at half time, Mooncoin really had a never say die attitude and they dug deep to bring the cup home to Mooncoin. Well done to both teams for putting on an excellent display of camogie.
Full time score – Danesfort:0-10 Mooncoin:1-10
Championship Quarter Finals are next weekend where Mooncoin play Glenmore, Danesfort play Ballyhale, Conahy play O’Loughlin Gaels & St Lachtain’s play Mullinavat
Scorers – Mooncoin – Deirdre Walsh 1-3 (2f, 1 45), Laura Wall, Ava Sutton 0-2 each, Niamh Crowley, Jessica Roche, Hannah Cooney 0-1 each
Danesfort – Olivia Mahony 0-6 (6f), Shauna Mahony, Aoife Farrell, Niamh Davis, Deirdre Phelan 0-1 each
Mooncoin – Ellen Crowley, Marianne Walsh, Niamh Madden, Mairead Corcoran, Eimear Quilty, Sarah Crowley, Emily Crowley, Muireann Gannon, Ava Sutton, Deirdre Walsh, Laura Dillon Dunphy, Jessica Roche, Niamh Crowley, Laura Wall (Capt), Hannah Cooney
Subs – Keelin Henebery for Mairead Corcoran inj
Danesfort – Bronagh Davis, Clodagh Davis, Caroline Booth, Maria Comerford, Laura Dunne, Muireann Kelly, Aileen Gleeson, Eve Dunne, Ciara Gleeson, Aoife Farrell, Deirdre Phelan, Niamh Davis, Leah Ireland Wall, Olivia Mahony, Shauna Mahony
Subs – Louisa Gilmore for Leah Ireland Wall, Jill O’Brien for Clodagh Davis, Jenny Brennan for Aileen Gleeson, Emily Hughes for Aoife Farrell
