Cork camogie round-up: Barrs, Sars, Blackrock and Courcey Rovers through to semis

Courcey Rovers were the first team to qualify for the SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship semi-finals after ousting last year’s runners-up St Catherine’s by a 13-point winning margin.

Linda Collins scored a magnificent 4-5 for Courcey Rovers in Castle Road on Saturday. Pic: Noel Sweeney.

Courcey Rovers 5-14 St Catherine’s 0-16

Linda Collins proved class is permanent when the former Cork captain and All-Ireland winner scored a magnificent 4-5 in a virtuoso performance for Courcey Rovers in Castle Road on Saturday.

Part of a lethal full-forward line alongside Jacinta Crowley and Fiona Keating, the 2020 champions were the first team to qualify for the SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship semi-finals after ousting last year’s runners-up St Catherine’s by a 13-point winning margin.

Shooting just three wides over the hour, this was a dominant display throughout, constantly making maximum use of possession.

They led by five points at half-time, 3-6 to 0-10, thanks also to Katie Crowley’s assurance between the posts.

And while there was no real indication of what was to come, when referee Cathal McAllister waved for advantage five minutes into the second half and substitute Caoimhe Foley found Collins, the number 14 pounced for her third green flag and the gap started to widen.

Yet, the result should come as no surprise, seeing as the south-east side was one of two clubs who achieved maximum points in the group stage.

Try as they might, St Catherine’s spearheaded by the unyielding Laura Hayes, were unable to claw their way back.

The outcome had already been settled by the time Collins nailed her fourth major in the 48th minute, this time set up by outstanding midfielder Saoirse McCarthy.

Collins will be the centre of attention - and rightly so - but this was an illustration of strong teamwork with all but three points coming from open play and all of the top-drawer variety.

The first half was more evenly contested, but St Catherine’s were left to regret too many missed opportunities, including two goal chances in stoppage time.

They got the worst possible start when conceding a goal in the second minute from Collins and one from Keating 10 minutes later, which was set up by her captain Edel Moloney, 2-1 to 0-2.

Still, through the relentless Orla Cotter, and their inside attacking unit of Ally Mulkerrins, Méabh Fitzgerald and Niamh O’Regan, they came within two points on four occasions.

Courcey’s third goal moments before the interval was a total sucker-punch.

Blackrock await in the last four following their 1-12 to 1-10 victory over Aghabullogue in Bishopstown.

Meanwhile, three-in-a-row seeking St Finbarr’s, who also won all their group matches, had too much firepower for Ballincollig (3-16 to 0-7) in Ovens and duly booked their semi-final place against Sarsfields after they overcame Cloughduv 0-17 to 0-9 in Ballinacurra.

Both semi-finals are pencilled in for Sunday September 27.

Elsewhere, Ballinora and Glen Rovers will battle to preserve their status in a relegation final.

Scorers for Courcey Rovers: L Collins (4-5), J Crowley (0-5, 0-2 frees), F Keating (1-0), S McCarthy (0-3, 0-1 free), A O’Donoghue (0-1).

Scorers for St Catherine’s: O Cotter (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 45), N O’Regan and M Fitzgerald (0-4 each), A Mulkerrins (0-2), L Hayes (0-1).

COURCEY ROVERS: K Crowley; J Helbrow, A O’Reilly, G O’Reilly; G Hannon, A Moloney, O O’Mahony; S McCarthy, E Moloney (Capt); E Maguire, A O’Donoghue, D O’Reilly; J Crowley, L Collins, F Keating.

Subs: C Foley for D O’Reilly (half-time), L Nield for A O’Donoghue (54).

ST CATHERINE’S: Y O’Neill; L Kenneally C Hayes, S-M Clancy; T Murphy, L Hayes, C Draper (Capt); E O’Brien, M O’Keeffe; A Hurley, O Cotter, F Neville; N O’Regan, M Fitzgerald, A Mulkerrins.

Subs: S Fitzgerald for A Mulkerrins (bs 17-20), S Fitzgerald for M O’Keeffe (51), C Dunning for S-M Clancy (52).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).