FBD Insurance Senior Championship

Burgess Duharra 2-16

Thurles Sarsfields 0-08

In 2018 Burgess Duharra captured their 7^th county title in a row. The following year Drom-Inch defeated them in the final and in 2019 Clonoulty Rossmore bet them in the semi-final. Last year they failed to reached the semi-final so one can be forgiven for not naming them among the early conversations of potential champions for 2022. On Saturday they made sure to remind everyone that they are serious championship contenders with an impressive 14 point victory against Thurles Sarsfields. A foul on Amy Kennedy in the first few minutes allowed Jenny Grace to slot over her opening free for the games first score. A minute later Jenny raised a second white flag from a free. Even at this early stage Burgess Duharra’s link up play out of defence was looking very sharp with Jenny Grace and Caoimhe Maher looking so comfortable on the ball and feeding Kaitlin O’Halloran and Amy Kennedy inside who were drawing the fouls. Ciardha Maher was also looking very sharp in the half forward line and was out in front to score Burgess’s 3^rd point in succession as Thurles were struggling to settle into the pace of the game. Karen Kennedy and Laura Loughnane were getting on to some possession and delivering it inside but the Duharra defence was well on top especially Aisling Cremin and soon the play was at the opposite end again. Ciardha Maher was causing her marker all sorts of problems winning 2 frees in succession which Jenny Grace happily pointed to extend her side’s lead to 5 points to no score. A monster free from 65 yards from Kennedy finally got Thurles Sarsfields off the mark but almost immediately Burgess responded with a well taken score from Caoimhe Maher who looked to be really enjoying her partnership with Jenny Grace in midfield. A jenny Grace free followed by a Ciardha Maher point from play to make it 8 points to 1 and Thurles looked to be in real trouble. Aoife Dwyer pointed a free while good work from Lucy Purcell set up Andrea Loughnane with a score to make it 8 points to 3. Kaitlin O’Halloran then pointed to make it 9 points to 3 before a lovely passing movement involving Sarah Satekelum and Andrea Loughnane finished with a Sarah Stakelum point to leave the half time score 9 points to 4.

Thurles who performed poorly for most of the opening half needed a good start to the second. But instead it was Jenny Grace who won the throw in and immediately drove at the Sars defence winning a free and pointing it to extend their lead to 6 points. There was more trouble for Sars as Jenny Grace won possession again and struck in a high ball that wasn’t dealt with leaving Laura Reid on hand to finish to the back of the net with a lovely ground strike 1-10 to 4 points and Burgess Duharra firmly in control. A great free from Roisin Corbett added to Thurles’s tally. Karen Kennedy who was brilliant throughout drove forward and picked out Lucy Purcell with a lovely pass to put her through one on one with the keeper. The young Tipperary U16 player looked to burry a goal but her shot went barely over to make it 1-10 to 6 points.

As the half wore on the Thurles Sarsfields forward line continued to struggle against the Burgess Duharra defence where Fiona Kirwan and Aisling Cremin were excellent. Laura Loughnane and Karen Kennedy grew more and more into the game as the second half developed clearing plenty of balls but but poor decision making and some bad wides at the opposite end meant Duharra continued to dominate on the scoreboard. Another Rosin Corbett free was cancelled out by 3 Jenny Grace points from frees (2) and play. Caoimhe Maher then won possession in her half backline, found Ciara McKeogh who struck a long ball into Amy Kennedy. She gathered possession lost her marker and struck a lovely shot into the back of the net for Burgess Duharra’s second goal. From here on in it was all the homeside as Jenny Grace continued to display her fantastic skill as a dead ball specialist. There was further dismay for Thurles when Emma Carey was given a straight red card for a clumsy tackle late in the game. Thurles will be disgusted with their performance which was well below the standard they have set themselves in recent years and will need a much bigger improvement the next day out. For Burgess Duharra it was a very satisfying win. They look well organised, showed slick intelligent passing and gave a great team performance and won’t fear anyone in the knockout stages.

Burgess Duharra: Ciara Holohan, Grace O’Dwyer, Fiona Kirwan, Una Quigley, Iris Grace, Aisling Cremin Eimear Dwan, Caoimhe Maher (0:01), Jenny Grace (0:12, 0:11 from frees), Kaitlin O'Halloran (0:01), Ciara McKeogh, Ciardha Maher (0:02), Laura Reid (1:00), Amy Kennedy (1:00) Caoilfhinn Maher

Subs used: Danielle Nealon for Caoilfhionn Maher, Katie Grace for Laura Reid, Clara Bourke for Kaitlin O’Halloran, Fiona McGauley for Danielle Nealon.

Thurles Sarsfields: Katie McCormack , Aoife Butler , Niamh McCormack , Rebecca O Mara , Laura Loughnane , Karen Kennedy(0-01, free), Emma Carey (c) , Nicola Loughnane, Ciara Cummins, Emer Kennedy, Andrea Loughnane (0-01), Aoife Dwyer (0-01, free), Róisín Corbett (0-02 frees), Sarah Stakelum (0-01) , Lucy Purcell.

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams   0-13

Silvermines 1-08

Silvermines opted with some positional changes at the start of their game against Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in attempt to kick start their championship after 2 defeats in their opening 2 games. Ciara Ryan started at wing forward where she was her usually hard working determined self. Ellen Cunneen relished the extra space in the the full forward line and was a handful for the Kickhams defence throughout the hour finishing with a personal tally of 1-06. There was little between the sides in the opening half with Knockavilla enjoying a 2 point lead at the break 7 points to 5. For Kickhams Eimear Heffernan was excellent at centre back while Doireann Hales and Ereena Fryday were to the fore up front. Anna Stapleton had a superb game for the Mines in midfield but despite her best efforts and Ellen Cuneen’s second half goal it was Kickhams who held on for a 2 point victory 13 points to 1-08. The only downside was the sending off of Jessie Collins in the second half.  

Knockavilla DK: Sheena Ryan, Jessie Collins, Megan McCormack, Sinead Furlong, Emma O’Mara, Eimear Heffernan, Sarah Ryan, Beth Ryan, Sinead Hayes, Doireann Hales, Ereena Fryday, Averyl Fryday, Ellen Browne, Emma Ryan, Mary Anne Hayes. Subs used: Jade Collins for Emma Ryan

Silvermines: Aisling Carey(0-01), Nessa Murray, Miriam Murphy, Maria Moroney , Katie Murphy, Eimear Murphy, Anna Stapleton,  Ciara Grace,  Louise McLoughlin, Ciara Ryan, Sarah Madden, Emer Tuohy, Elaine Murphy, Ellen Cunneen (1-06,4 frees),  Nicola Butler (0-01) Subs used:Laura Cunneen for  Elaine Murphy, Joanne Nolan for Maria Moroney

Intermediate Championship Round Up

Newport Ballinahinch and Borris-Ileigh served up a cracking game between two very evenly matched teams in the FBD Insurance Intermediate Championship with Borris-Ileigh running our narrow winners 1-11 to 2-10. At half-time Newport led 1-04 to 0-07 with the Newport goal coming from Keely Lenihan just before the half-time whistle to draw level. Goals from Dani Ryan and Emma Maher as well as two points from Aedin Hogan gave Borris-Ileigh a seven point lead by the 14th minute of second half. Newport came back with 5 unanswered points thanks to Saoirse McGrath and Grace O’Toole. A superb point on the 60^th minute by Aoife Fitzgerald picking up the ball just inside her own half and driving at the defence before shooting over the bar. A point for Newport Ballinahinch 4 minutes into injury time reduced the deficit to two points when Borris-Ileigh keeper Kellie Healy deflected a goal bound effort over the bar. Newport did get another chance to try and clinch a winner but the Borris defence defended the 21 yard free. Katie Fitzgerald was outstanding in midfield for Borris while Teresa Ryan was also brilliant throughout. Their defence was was also excellent especially when the pressure came on in the second half.

Kilruane MacDonagh’s travelled to Ballinderry on Saturday  where the homeside ran out winners 3:11 to 2:08. Kilruane started really brightly with 3 excellent points from Amy Quinlisk,  Laura Shinners and Lianne O'Kelly but it was Rovers who then took control of the game scoring 2:2 without response. The excellent Laura Leenane with both Shannon Rovers goals. Kilruane responded with points from Amy Quinlisk and Lianne O'Kelly in the first half but Shannon Rovers finished strongly with another goal this time from Anna Harding just before half time gave them a commanding 10 point lead at the break 3:06 - 5 points. The 2nd half saw a much improved performance from Kilruane MacDonagh’s who really took the match to the home team. Goals from Laura Shinners and Lianne O'Kelly and frees from Amy Quinlisk (2) and Laura Shinners (1) reduced the deficit to 6 points at the final whistle. For Shannon Rovers Celine Guinean played very well, winning and catching balls in all parts of the forward line. Management will also no doubt be delighted with all 6 backs who defended brilliantly throughout.

Toomevara Intermediate team lost out to a strong Cahir team on Saturday evening.   Toomevara were down by 9 points at half time but came out fighting in the second half with goals from Aisling McCormack and Margaret Quigley. A good team performance saw Toome close the gap to 3 points with Cahir deserving winners on a scoreline of 2-12 to 2-09. For Cahir Roisin Howard and Carol Casey got the goals  while their backs battled hard, especially Emma Buckley, Sara Finnane & Emily Kirby. Up front Leah Flannery was in good scoring form while Lauren Fitz played well at midfield.

Junior A Round Up

Moneygall continued their winning ways at the weekend with an impressive 1-19 to 1-06 victory over St Rita’s Fethard. Moneygall started strongly and were well on top at half time where they held a 10 point lead 1-12 to 1-02 the goal coming from Niamh Larkin who finished with a personal tally of 1-04. Moneygall were boosted by the return of Mairead Teehan who marked her return from injury with 4 points from play. Brid Ryan, Caitlyn Treacy, Catriona Doughan, Rachel Donovan and Bronagh Kenneally all got on the scoreboard to ensure Moneygall ran out winners on a final scoreline of 1-19 to 1-06. In the 2 other fixtures Kiladangan had a good win over newly promoted Lorrha 2-14 to 2-04 while Holycross Ballycahill and Drom-Inch played out a very exciting battle with Holycross claimimg victory by the narrowest of margins 2-11 to 2-10. Joanne Ryan was excellent for Drom-Inch scoring 2 goals and 4 points while Caitriona Kennedy, Michelle Woodlock and Tara Hoare also impressed.

Holycross Ballycahill got off to a great start with scores from Julie Brennan, Claire Stakelum and Meabh Ryan and it was 9 mins before Drom-Inch opened up their scoring. Roisin Comerford, Linda Fanning, Julie Brennan and Claire Stakelum added to the Holycross Ballycahill scoreline. The teams went in at half time 1-7 Holycross Ballycahill, 1-6 Drom-Inch. Sarah Gleeson opened the second half scoring for Holycross Ballycahill. A penalty saved by Siobhan Ryan kept Holycross Ballycahill in the game. Scores from Claire Stakelum, Roisin Comerford and Elaine Brennan saw Holycross Ballycahill come out winners in a fast paced, entertaining game. Final score Holycross Ballycahill 2-11, Drom-Inch 2-10. Drom-Inch’s Hazel Ryan also impressed coming off the bench to score 2 points from play.

Junior B Round Up

Moycarkey Borris had a narrow 2 point lead against Portroe at half time of their Junior B game on Sunday evening 5 points to 3. Unbeaten so far in this year’s championship Ray Ralph’s side pulled away in the second half with some well worked scores from Catriona Walsh, Kate Ralph and Emma O’ Sullivan to run out 1-11 to 0-05 points. There was also wins for Carrick Swans and Silvermines over Gortnahoe and Moyle Rovers respectively while St Cronan’s and Ballingarry played out a draw finishing 2-10 apiece.

Junior B2 Round Up

Toomevara’s Junior B2 camogie team had six points to spare against a fine Clonoulty Rossmore team on Sunday morning. In a low scoring contest, Fiona Young’s goal played a huge part in securing the victory for Toome. Anna Woods & Louise Young were others to chip in with important scores for Toomevara in what was a very good team performance. The final score was Toomevara 1-07 Clonoulty Rossmore 4 points. On Friday evening Eir Og Annacarty were too strong for Ballybacon Grange and ran out comfortable winners on a final scoreline of 4-14 to 1-03

Results

Senior 

Burgess Duharra 2-16

Thurles Sarsfields 0-08

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams 0-13

Silvermines 1-08

Intermediate

Newport Ballinahinch 1-11

Borris-Ileigh  2-10

Shannon Rovers 3-11

Kilruane MacDonagh’s 2-08

Toomevara 2-09

Cahir   2-12

Junior A 

Holycross Ballycahill   2-11

Drom-Inch    2-10

Moneygall     1-19

St Rita’s Fethard 1-06

Lorrha    2-04

Kiladangan  2-14

Junior B

Carrick Swans                  3-07

Gortnahoe Glengoole   1-11

St Cronan’s Roscrea 2-10

Ballingarry  2-10

Moyle Rovers  1-12

Silvermines   4-09

Moycarkey Borris 1-11

Portroe 0-05

Junior B2

Clonoulty 0-04

Toomevara 1-07

Eire Og Annacarty 4-14

Ballybacon Grange 1-03