Sponsored by
Crowley inspires Mooncoin to league glory
A TENSE and wholehearted junior B camogie league final played in warm sunshine at Ballyhale saw Mooncoin overcome O'Loughlin-Gaels in a hard-fought clash in which the brilliant Sarah Crowley inspires the Suirsiders to a deserved success.
Mooncoin 0-11 O'Loughlin Gaels 0-7
Mooncoin's margin of victory should have been greater. Their forwards were wastefulness and they shot nine wides. Too often they went for goals when points were there for the taking.
However, it was a strong display by the Suirsiders. Their immaculate defence, led by Crowley, carried them through. Sarah Crowley, who was on the under-16 county team, was simply sensational.
A class act, she played a captain's part and led by example. She constantly drove the team forward, sending long balls to her attacking colleagues. Her work-rate and sense of positioning were first class.
Crowley inspired the back line, where the other wing-back Roisin Delahunty was superb while Kay Quinn, Sarah Kearns, Hananh Ryan, Aisling Walsh kept denying the O'Loughlin's time and space on the ball.
O'Loughlin's got off to a bright start. After 10 minutes they led by 0-4 to 0-1 with Sarah Buckley (two frees), Rebecca and Karen Cleere on target.
Mooncoin took over completly and hit a purple patch, scoring eight unanswered points between the 14th and 28th minutes. The lively Siobhan Delahunty started and finished the scoring sequence as Deirdre Connolly (four, two frees) also got in on the act, while Emma Heneby with a superb point and Deirdre Walsh also added to the victors account.
Sarah Buckley added a pointed free to close the first-half scoring as Mooncoin led by 0-9 to 0-5..
The second-half may have been low scoring (two points each), but it didn't detract from the enjoyment and tense nature of the contest. Sarah Buckley added pointed frees in the 31st and 46th minutes to halve the deficit before Geena Henebry settled the winners nerves with a great point in the 49th minute after great work involving her namesake Emma.
Mooncoin were winning the majority of the 50/50 balls. They were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute after Siobhan Delahunty was fouled. She was subsequently replaced and Deirdre Connolly wisely took the sensible option and tapped the penalty over the cross-bar.
Significantly a four point cushion had opened up. Try as O'Loughlin's might, and despite the best attempts of full-back Stephine Buckley, Sarah Buckley and the hard-working Annie Dunne, they were denied.
Scorers: Mooncoin – Deirdre Connolly (0-6, three frees, one penalty); Siobhan Delahunty (0-2); Geena Hennebry, Emma Hennebry, Deirdre Walsh (0-1 each). O'Loughlin-Gaels - Sarah Buckley (0-5, frees); Rebecca Cleere, Karen Cleere (0-1 each).
Mooncoin - Ellen Crowley, Sarah Kearns, Hannah Ryan, Aisling Walsh, Sarah Crowley (capt), Kay Quinn, Roisin Delahunty, Deirdre Connolly, Geena Hennebry, Eleanor Walsh, Niamh Madden, Deirdre Walsh, Laura Wall, Emma Hennebry, Siobhan Delahunty. Subs - Eveleen Rowe, Margaret Grace.
O'Loughlin-Gaels - Elizabeth Kavanagh, Laura Butler, Stephine Buckley, Kate Nolan, Samantha McGuni, Aisling Butler, Ena Kearns, Annie Dunne, Sarah Burke, Shauna Brennan, Rebecca Cleere, Aoife Nolan (capt), Karen Cleere, Sarah Buckley, Karen Galvin. Subs - Jean Delaney, Amy Bryan.
Referee - Gavin Quilty (Slieverue).
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Kilkenny
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
