Clanmaurice complete three in row Munster Intermediate camogie titles with win over Ballinora
CHAMPIONS: The Clanmaurice team who defeated Ballinora in the AIB Munster Club Championship Intermediate final at Littleton, Co Tipperary. Picture: Dan Linehan
Clanmaurice won their third Munster Intermediate club camogie title in row as they defeated Cork champions Ballinora at Littleton on Saturday afternoon.
And in truth, it was fully deserved as the All-Ireland champions had too much nous for the young Cork side and they were also superior in the physicality stakes.
Defensively strong, they appeared to get their match up right with Kate Lynch curbing the threat of Cork's Meabh Murphy while Sara Murphy kept tabs on Kate Dooley and Niamh Leen and Rachel Murphy had a ferocious battle throughout.
Kerry All Ireland Ladies football winner Danielle O’Leary blunted the influence of the excellent Rose Murphy while Clanmaurice’s inside duo of Amy O’Sullivan and Jackie Horgan were always troubling the Ballinora fullback line.
Clanmaurice laid the foundations for the win in the opening half with Patrice Diggin and Aoife Behan outstanding in the middle third.
The Kerry side raced 1-6 to 0-1 clear inside the opening twenty minutes. Player-of-the-match Amy O’Sullivan whipped over the opening score as Ballinora were not functioning up front. Kate Lynch added another before Patrice Diggin converted three long-range frees before Rachel Murphy replied with a free for Ballinora.
But they had three wides and hit a couple more short while Michelle Costello denied Louise O’Neill a certain goal with a great block.
The crucial score of the half came in the 15th minute when a long delivery by Niamh Leen was collected by Amy O’Sullivan, who ghosted by her marker and finished clinically to the Ballinora net.
Jack Horgan pushed Clanmaurice 1-6 to 0-1 clear before Ballinora finally found their range and Rachel Murphy fired over three points before the interval.
But Patrice Diggin, with a brace of points, and a sublime effort from the sideline by Jackie Horgan saw Clanmaurice take a 1-9 to 0-4 lead into the dressing rooms.
Ballinora needed to up the tempo in the second half and, to their credit, they started the fightback with points from Louise O’Neill and Rose Murphy but points from Kate Lynch, Patrice and the danger woman Amy O’Sullivan saw the Kerry side lead 1-12 to 0-6 by the 40th minute.
But Ballinora were soon back in the contest as Amy O’Riordan sent Rachel Murphy through for a goal in 41st minute and she added a free and suddenly the lead was just five. Meabh and Rose Murphy along with Cliona Dooley and Sarah O’Keeffe were now hurling well but in the 48th minute, they conceded a goal that ended the game as a contest.
Patrice Diggin floated in a long free from 70 metres that went all the way into the Ballinora net and when the same player converted another free, Clanmaurice were never going to give up a nine-point lead.
Ballinora kept fighting until the end and Rachel Murphy added three points, while Cliona Dooley and Rose Murphy claimed one each.
But Clanmaurice defended in numbers during the five minutes of added time to deservedly claim their third Munster Intermediate titles in row and progress to a meeting with Leinster opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final.
P Diggin (1-8, 1-7 fs), A O’Sullivan (1-2), K Lynch and J Horgan (0-2 each).
R Murphy (1-8, 6fs), Rose Murphy (0-2), L O’Neill and C Dooley (0-1 each).
A Fitzgerald; R McCarthy, S Murphy, M Costello; K Lynch, N Leen, Á O’Connor; A Behan, P Diggin; L Collins, D O’Leary, A M Leen; C Spillane, Jackie Horgan, Amy O’Sullivan.
J O’Keeffe for A M Leen (53), E Ryall for J Horgan (58).
T O’Donoghue; E McAuliffe, S O’Keeffe, B Holmes ; A O’Riordan, M Murphy, A Quirke; Rose Murphy, J Murphy; S O’Regan, Rachel Murphy, A Murphy; K Dooley, C Dooley, L O’Neill.
K O’Shea for A Murphy (ht), N Kingston for S O’Regan (51).
P Dee (Limerick).
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