Late comeback seals dramatic win for Sliabh Rua in Cork Intermediate camogie decider

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SE Systems Cork intermediate camogie championship final: Sliabh Rua 1-12 Newtownshandrum 0-12 

A 58th minute penalty dispatched by Emma McSweeney sparked a dramatic Sliabh Rua comeback to claim the Cork intermediate camogie championship title at Castle Road on Sunday.

With Newtownshandrum clinging onto a 0-10 to 0-9 advantage, referee Willie Wallace deemed captain Jillian O’Leary to be fouled and the resultant green flag gave them the lead.

It was a big decision and one that didn’t sit easy with Newtownshandrum.

Then, with the strong wind and rain to their backs, stoppage-time points from Hannah Deasy and the outstanding McSweeney put them four up.

Newtownshandrum kept fighting in extremely difficult conditions and when tireless teenager Orla Troy pointed, it was back to a one-score game.

McSweeney added a point to move her team four clear once more before the north Cork side were awarded a couple of close-in frees in the seven additional minutes, the last of which was a Bláithín Ní Chonchúir effort that skimmed over the bar.

It proved to be the final act.

To begin with, the two teams deserve massive credit for producing such a high-quality and close game, they were two teams that topped their respective groups.

Sliabh Rua, from the parish of Clontead, which covers Riverstick and Belgooly, had lost the two previous finals.

O’Leary won the toss and decided to play against the elements, and they would have been the happier at half time.

It couldn’t have been tighter 0-5 apiece, in what was a battle dominated by the weather.

Newtownshandrum’s Laura Walsh started the scoring in the first minute, only for free-taker McSweeney to level from a 45.

Sweeney and Orla Troy swapped points from frees.

A pattern was developing.

A Newtownshandrum goal chance fell to Troy but Kayleigh Murphy was equal to the challenge.

When Newtownshandum worked the ball in fast they looked dangerous and Walsh scored her second point.

Once again, the teams drew level, this time through Niamh Nash, 0-3 each.

With neither outfit willing to relent, they would be tied twice more before the change of ends.

Newtownshandrum goalkeeper Eve O’Donoghue reacted well to a Redmond goal effort at the start of the second half, and it spurred them on.

Between the 38th and 48th minute, they found another gear and two Troy frees and one from play by Beibhinn O’Neill extended their advantage to three points.

Sliabh Rua weren’t going to give in and reduced the arrears to a point courtesy of McSweeney and O’Leary, 0-9 to 0-8, and 10 minutes remaining.

Troy and McSweeney traded frees.

What had been an intense contest up to then, culminated in a gripping finale.

Scorers for Sliabh Rua: E McSweeney 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6 frees, 0-1 45), K Redmond, H Deasy, N Nash and J O’Leary (0-1 each).

Scorers for Newtownshandrum: O Troy (0-8, 0-7 frees), L Walsh (0-2), B Ní Chonchúir (free) and B O’Neill (0-1 each).

SLIABH RUA: K Murphy; O Cummins, A Sheehan, A Coleman; A Halpin, C Bernard, C O’Donnell; C O’Mahony, L Kelleher; C Horgan, H Deasy, K Redmond; N Nash, J O’Leary (Capt), E McSweeney.

Subs: A O’Brien for C Horgan (47).

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: E O’Donoghue; S Coughlan (Capt), B Ní Chonchúir, A McAuliffe; E O’Connor, C Ryan, A Walmsley; M Noonan, F Troy; L Ryan, C Collins, A Twohill; L Walsh, O Troy, A O’Neill.

Subs: E O’Shaughnessy for B O’Neill (52), A Young for A Twohill (55), A Twohill for O Troy (65 inj).

Referee: Willie Wallace (Aghada).