Three from three and top spot for St Finbarr's as they overcome St Catherine's

TOP OF THE TABLE: St Finbarr’s Hannah O’Leary holds off the challenge of St Catherine’s, creating space for teammate Aoife O’Neill to break forward. Pic: Chani Anderson

Cork senior camogie championship round 3: St Finbarr’s 3-14 St Catherine’s 2-12

St Finbarr’s and St Catherine’s were guaranteed a quarter-final place in advance of this SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship round 3 at Castle Road on Thursday night.

The motivation was top spot in Group B.

Defending champions St Finbarr’s secured it with three wins from three, they will be seeded along with the other group winners for the last eight draw.

A busy weekend of action follows, after which the three quarter-final and two preliminary quarter-final pairings will be known.

St Catherine’s narrowed the gap to two points with five minutes remaining, but the Barrs finished with points from Keeva McCarthy (2) and Eimear Hurley.

McCarthy was in brilliant form with a personal tally of 2-7.

Injuries hit both camps with St Finbarr’s without Sorcha McCartan, while St Catherine’s were short Finola Neville and Máire Murphy but they did have seven times All-Ireland winner Orla Cotter on their side.

Both teams had their moments of class in this highly entertaining encounter.

With the wind, St Finbarr’s got the better start.

In the seventh minute McCarthy linked with Emma Olden for the game’s opening goal.

McCarthy’s accurate free-taking, and Hannah O’Leary and Kate Wall points, kept them on the front foot.

On the quarter hour mark, McCarthy struck for goal from an angled 20-metre free, 2-5 to 0-3.

Cotter was the sole reply for St Catherine’s.

The east Cork side dominated the rest of the half, raising green flags in quick succession from Niamh O’Regan and Aoife Hurley, to trail 2-8 to 2-5 at the interval.

A third goal for the Barrs by Orlaith Cahalane in the 42nd minute appeared to give them the momentum, but St Catherine’s found another lease of life.

Trailing 3-11 to 2-7, but driven on by Laura Hayes and Eimear O’Brien, they hit the next five points.

That was as close as they could get.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: K McCarthy (2-7, 1-5 frees), O Cahalane (1-1), K Wall (0-2), E Olden, H O’Leary, N Olden and E Hurley (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Catherine’s: O Cotter (0-5, 0-2 45s, 0-2 frees), N O’Regan (1-1), A Hurley (1-0), L Hayes (0-3), E O’Brien (0-2), M Fitzgerald (0-1).

ST FINBARR’S: C Hurley; S Punch (Capt), S Daly, A Egan; A O’Neill, M Cahalane, C Golden; E Olden, A Shannon; H O’Leary, K Wall, K McCarthy; O Cahalane, N Olden, E Wigginton Barrett.

Subs: E Hurley for H O’Leary (30 inj), G Cahalane for N Olden (temp 36-37), N Olden for S Daly (38), L O’Donovan for O Cahalane (temp 38-39), L O’Donovan for C Golden (47).

ST CATHERINE’S: Y O’Neill; L Kenneally, C Motherway, C Hayes; F Sheehan, L Hayes, S M Clancy; E O’Brien, M O’Keeffe; T Murphy, O Cotter, A Hurley; N O’Regan, A Mulkerrins, M Fitzgerald.

Subs: C Galvin for A Hurley (44).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).