Lismore 0-9 Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-6

Lismore have finished strongly in all their games this season and they had to do so again just to earn a replay in a hugely exciting AIB All-Ireland intermediate club camogie final at CrokePark .

Ironically, Seamus Prendergast’s crew started very well, with their running game causing Ballyhale Shamrocks numerous problems, particularly in the form of Ruth Geoghegan.

They should have led by more than 0-6 to 0-3 at half time however, as Aoife Hannon missed a couple of straightforward frees and on more than one occasion, an overlap was eschewed when a goal chance might have been fashioned.

Ballyhale made the best of being still in the game by bursting out of the traps at the start of the second half to turn the game on its head. Kellyanne Cottrell converted a free before MagsFennelly – one of nine members of the famous dynasty on the panel – took advantage of some slack defending to find the Lismore net in the 33rd minute.

She had another chance later on, when there were three Ballyhale players bearing down on Aisling O’Brien but the Lismore goalkeeper made the save and the her defence got back to scramble clear.

As dangerous as they were in the first half though, Lismore’s attack was completely nullified in the second, with Ballyhale full-back RóisínFennellyan heroic figure.

Shona Curran refused to give up though and the Lismore captain, who was named player of the match, launched the second of two mighty frees to bring the sides level.

It seemed as if Ballyhale had made the critical move though when Cottrell slotted her fourth free in the 51st minute and KeevaFennelly drove over her second point from play soon after.

And that’s how it was entering the 58th minute. The speedy Johanna Houlihan had added some much needed energy to the Lismore attack and after a blistering run, and a hook by RóisínFennelly on Geoghegan, Nicola Morrissey reduced the margin to the minimum with her third point from play.

A minute later, Hannon showed her ability with a sensational point from 50m out under the Hogan Stand and the sliotar landed right on top of the net to bring the sides level.

Both teams had chances to snatch it in the closing moments but some bodies-on-the-line defending ensured a replay on March 16th

SCORERS – LISMORE: N Morrissey 0-3; R Geoghegan, S Curran (2fs), A Hannon (1f) 0-2 each

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: K Cottrell 0-4; M Fennelly 1-0; K Fennelly 0-2

LISMORE: A O’Brien, S Coughlan, S Prendergast, M Russell, A Houlihan, S Kiernan, S Fenton, N Morrissey, S Curran, L Buckley, G Kenneally, A Hannon, C McGlone, J Hannon, R Geoghegan. Sub: J Houlihan for J Hannon (41)

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: C Fennelly, H Dermody, R Fennelly, O Fennelly, E O’Dwyer, J Frisby, C Corcoran, C Connolly, E Frisby, E Fitzpatrick, K Cottrell, K Fennelly, L Elvidge, M Fennelly, E Darmody. Sub: G Fennelly for Elvidge (24)

REFEREE: C Egan (Cork)

As there was no venue fixed for the replay which is to be played on March 16th, please keep an eye on the Lismore Camogie Facebook page or listen to WLR for details

 

Lismore 3-8 Ballyhale Shamrocks 0-7

CaithrionaMcGlone was the hat trick hero as Lismore lifted the AIB All-Ireland intermediate club camogie title in fine style in ClonmelSportsfields on Sunday afternoon. Lismore left it late to snatch a dramatic leveller in the original drawn game in Croke Park but McGlone’s heroics in front of goal meant that this was altogether more comfortable affair for them. 

The game swung on McGlone’s first goal in the final minute of the first half. It came at a time that Lismore were beginning to get on top after Ballyhale Shamrocks had led for most of the opening 30 minutes. 

Kellyanne Cottrell’s accurate free taking moved her team into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead in the closing stages of the first period before McGlone struck. Johanna Houlihan won possession for Lismore following a Ciara Fennelly puck out before driving towards goal. She drew the Ballyhale defence out of position before slipping a pass into McGlone and she didn’t need a second invitation to fire home. 

That left Lismore ahead by 1-3 to 0-5 at the break and they went on to completely shut the Shamrocks out of the game after the restart. Aoife Hannon and Shona Curran kept the scoreboard ticking over for Lismore but it was the pressure that they were putting Ballyhale under all over the field that really made the difference. Every time Ballyhale won possession, there was a Lismore player there beside them to win it back and the fact that the Shamrocks scored just two second half point bore testament to that.McGlone’s second goal was all her own work in the 38th minute and again there was little that Ciara Fennelly could do to prevent her well struck shot from hitting the net. 

The icing was put on the cake for Lismore in the final couple of minutes when McGlone completed her hat trick after winning possession herself. It was a fantastic way to finish off the game for her personally and also her team. McGlone’s performance certainly stated her case to be nominated player of the match but she was closely followed by Aoife Hannon and Shona Curran who were also superb on the day.

Ballyhale Shamrocks will rue the fact that only Kellyanne Cottrell got on the scoresheet for them, and all but one of her seven points came from frees, and overall there was no disputing Lismore were the better team on the day. 

LISMORE: A O’Brien, S Coughlan, S Prendergast, M Russell, A Houlihan, S Kiernan, S Fenton, N Morrissey, S Curran 0-2fs, L Buckley, G Kenneally, A Hannon 0-6 (4fs), C McGlone 3-0, J Houhlihan, R Geoghegan. 

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: C Fennelly, C Cororan, R Fennelly, O Fennelly, E O’Dwyer, J Frisby, B Fennelly, C Connolly, E Frisby, E Fitzpatrick, K Cottrell 0-7 (6fs), K Fennelly, L Elvidge, M Fennelly, E Darmody. 

Referee: John Dolan (Clare).

Home Coming

It was back to Lismore for seven o'clock on Sunday evening for the "Homecoming" the girls dismounted the bus at Ballyrafter after being escorted by Lismore Firebrigade from over the Cappoquin road and ran over the bridge with the Agnes Farrelly Cup chanting "Champiories". The girls took the long uphill run up towards the town turning the corner at the castle avenue to be greeted by a huge crowd cheering the girls on the awaiting stage with "Simply the best" being blared out over the loud speakers. What a greeting!!! for the All Ireland Champions a sight which was never seen in the Cathedral town.