Piltown prove too strong for St Martins in Senior Camogie Quarter-Final

Piltown proved to be too strong for St Martin’s as they advanced to a semi-final against Young Irelands.

The ground was yielding in Ballyhale after the severe rainfall from the previous evening, but a warm and sunny morning with a slight breeze made for great conditions.

A good start is always what you want and Piltown got it with Heather Phelan putting over the first free of the day in the third minute. This was followed by the first goal of the day, Sophie Holden raising the green flag.

It took St Martin’s 11 minutes to score their first and only point from play as Shona Ruane put the ball over Aoife Norris’s crossbar. Niamh Culleton replied for Piltown with a point of her own in the 12th minute before Martin’s Katie Nolan opened her scoring account with her first free of the day soon after.

The free count was rising as the St Martin’s defence fouled the fast-flying Piltown forwards. Heather Phelan took advantage of another foul as she scored another point from another free in the 15th minute.

The game was turning into a battle for possession as both sides were tackling hard, while space was at a premium.

Katie Nolan pointed two more frees in the 20th and 25th minutes to cut the Piltown lead to three points, but then tenacious half-back Aoife Landers surged forward and split the posts with a shot from distance. This was then followed by two Kellyann Doyle frees to finish the first half scoring (1-6 to 0-4).

The second half was two minutes old when Katie Power got possession on the 21 and burst towards goal. She got inside the 14 when she was pulled down by a Martin’s defender - referee Paul Hunston had no hesitation in giving the penalty. Aoife Norris came forward to take the penalty, but Martin’s ’keeper Rachel Moloney got her hurley up in time and batted the sliotar out.

Katie Power reacted quicker than everyone else and, diving bravely towards the ball, got it across the line despite the best efforts of the Martin’s defence.

The goal was a great start for Piltown - not so for St Martin’s, who were struggling to create chances from open play as the Piltown back six proved resilient. Kellyann Doyle took advantage of more indiscipline as she put three more frees over the bar, pushing the lead out to 11 points.

St Martin’s took until the 47th minute to raise a white flag through Katie Nolan from a free, before she did it again in the 48th minute. Kellyann Doyle got her sixth point of the game in the 52nd minute. While Katie Nolan got her sixth of the game late on Sophie Holden finished the Piltown scoring in the 60th minute to leave Piltown comfortably ahead.

Piltown will play Young Irelands in the senior semi-final this weekend.

Piltown – Aoife Norris; Lorraine Long, Emily McCarthy, Alice Talbot; Lorna O’Shea, Laura Norris, Aoife Landers; Ellen O’Keeffe, Niamh Culleton; Leah Cooney, Kellyann Doyle, Sophie Holden; Aine Doyle, Heather Phelan, Katie Power.

St Martin’s – Rachel Moloney; Orla Moore, Eilis Regan, Amy Ring; Clodagh Hanlon, Rebecca Roche, Chloe Ryan; Carlise Comerford, Ellen Lawlor; Tara Roche, Shona Ruane, May Cummins; Hazel Moore, Edel Coonan, Katie Nolan.