St Finbarr’s stay on course to defend camogie crown as three semi-finalists decided
St Finbarr's Eimear Hurley celebrates after scoring her team’s fourth goal in the Senior Camogie Championship quarter-final against Killeagh. Picture Chani Anderson
A day of high drama and plenty of excitement ended with reigning champions St Finbarr’s, Blackrock and St Catherine’s securing their spots in the semi-finals of the SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship.
Incidentally, all three teams come from Group B which saw St Finbarr's finish top, St Catherine's second, and Blackrock third.
St Catherine’s await the winners of Éire Óg and Glen Rovers which takes place on Sunday. Inspired by Laura Hayes, they caused an upset with a thrilling two-point win over favourites and last year’s beaten finalists Sarsfields at Castle Road, 2-10 to 1-11.
Although it must be said, this was a Sars team minus the services of sisters Orlaith and Clare Mullins - Clare (injured) was introduced but Orlaith is out of the country.
A come-from-behind victory too, having trailed early on to a Maeve McCarthy goal but St Catherine’s grew into the game and mainly through Orla Cotter white flags only trailed by two, 1-4 to 0-5, at the interval.
Former Cork star Cotter set up Ally Mulkerrins for a St Catherine’s goal and through an Aoife Hurley point they took the lead.
Kate Fennessy was the scorer-in-chief for Sars, who regained the lead.
The game swung in favour of St Catherine’s when Hayes converted a penalty for a foul on Méabh Fitzgerald to lead 2-7 to 1-9.
And they held out.
Champions St Finbarr’s are on course to defend their title after they had too much for a youthful Killeagh, emerging 4-20 to 0-13 victors at MTU.
They booked a last four place against Blackrock.
Killeagh threatened to make a game of it in the first half, after which they were behind by one score, 1-8 to 0-8.
The sides were level three times in the opening 23 minutes but a run of scores on the approach to half time settled the Barrs. And they came on strong after the restart striking 3-12.
Having raised one green flag from Orlaith Cahalane, they blitzed Killeagh with majors from the influential Sorcha McCartan (1-7) and sub Eimear Hurley (2-1) - the latter has returned to the club after a stint in Dublin.
In reality, the titleholders are strong across all positions and it will take a very good team to dethrone Brian O’Sullivan’s side.
Killeagh, despite the best efforts of Hannah Looney, Laura Treacy, Chloe Sigerson and Aoife O’Regan, couldn’t live with the Togher outfit as they upped another gear.
The second of the double-headers at MTU involved 2023 Premier intermediate champions Blackrock and 2024 intermediate champions Ballinora and it was a tit-for-tat affair with Blackrock edging out the mid Cork side 2-19 to 1-19 after extra-time.
This was closely contested all the way through but when it came to the crunch, the Rockies pushed for home in the first period of extra-time.
They almost won it in normal time but a Cliona O’Callaghan point was disallowed by referee John Horgan as he deemed a Blackrock player had thrown away the hurley of an opponent.
Hayley Ryan (1-11) and Rachel Murphy (0-12) were top scorers for their respective sides, but there was so much more to this contest, where Blackrock had to dig deep after the teams were tied 2-13 to 1-16 at the end of normal time.
Kate Dooley’s 12th-minute goal gave Ballinora the perfect start and they went on to lead 1-5 to 0-3 after quarter of an hour.
But Blackrock were the dominant team for the rest of the half. Superbly led by Ryan, who set up O’Callaghan for a 27th minute goal, they moved 1-9 to 1-6 in front at the change of ends.
Hayley Ryan grabbed a Blackrock goal after a swift move seven minutes into the second half but four Murphy points left it a two-point match.
Katelyn Hickey was also on target.
There were never more than two points separating them until a Ryan point in the 50th minute, 2-13 to 1-13.
A superb diving penalty save by Anna Kearney from Méabh Murphy was a big let off for Blackrock.
They didn’t register again as Murphy landed a trio of points to send it to extra-time.
Hickey and Juliet O’Keeffe did most of the heavy lifting in the first period of extra-time, 2-17 to 1-17.
That trend continued as Blackrock confirmed their last four placing.
Cork senior camogie championship semi-finals to be played next weekend:
St Finbarr’s v Blackrock, St Catherine’s v Éire Óg/Glen Rovers.
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