Champions Piltown power on to senior camogie semi-finals

Reigning county champions Piltown booked their place in the senior championship semi-finals, but only after overcoming stubborn resistance from a tricky Young Irelands (Gowran) side.

Conditions were perfect in Ballyhale on a very good match surface for this very competitive encounter. Piltown showed the composure of champions in breaking the resistance of the Gowran girls, particularly in the closing quarter.

Having lost heavily to Piltown in recent matches at this level, underdogs Young Irelands opened in determined fashion competing furiously for all balls and with the Fitzgerald girls, Steffanie and Tiffanie, in commanding form they more than held their own in the opening period.

Two frees from either side from the accurate Kellyann Doyle (Piltown) and Steffanie Fitzgerald (YI) saw the scores level after six minutes before Piltown broke through for their opening goal – a fine finish from close range by Sophie Holden.

Piltown enjoyed the benefits of the wind in this opening half but were struggling to extend this lead from here to half-time.

Young Irelands, inspired by fine points from play from Steffanie Fitzgerald and Ciara O’Keeffe, held the deficit to three points (1-6 to 0-6) approaching half-time.

However, a crucial goal right on half-time from captain Katie Power saw Piltown stretch the lead out to six points (2-7 to 0-7) at the break.

Young Irelands would certainly have felt the game was still there to be won in the second half with the wind elements in their favour, but Piltown had other ideas. Early points from Kellyann Doyle (0-2 frees) and Katie Power stretched the lead out to nine points within five minutes of the resumption.

Young Irelands did try hard to regain the initiative as both sides traded points in the following five minutes to leave the score at 2-12 to 0-10 after 40 minutes.

Piltown were now managing to create more space in their forwards and a fine move moments later saw Katie Power find the net to all but end the match as a contest.

They went on to largely dominate the remaining quarter of the match with a further goal from Ellen O’Keeffe after 53 minutes putting further daylight between the teams.

Young Irelands tried hard to get a consolation goal towards the end but Piltown’s backs refused to yield. Aoife Landers, deputising for the injured Laura Norris at centre-back, had a strong second half on Steffanie Fitzgerald for Young Irelands.

Piltown showed the composure to wear down the Gowran girls in this very competitive match and they showed they will be serious contenders for senior championship honours – and they now have a semi-final against St Brigid’s to look forward to next weekend.

Piltown - Aoife Norris, Lorraine Long, Alanna Gallagher, Jenni O’Dea, Karen Duggan, Aoife Landers, Danielle Carroll, Alice Talbot, Lorna O’Shea, Ellen O’Keeffe, Kellyann Doyle, Laoise McKenna, Heather Phelan, Katie Power (captain), Sophie Holden.

Subs: MB Kirby, Aoife Doyle, Patsy Kenny, Aoife O’Shea, Chloe Power, Grace Farrell, Aine Doyle, Leah Cooney, Rachel O’Shea, Lisa McCarthy, Ciara Dunne, Sarah Norris, Sarah Tobin, Aine Hahessy, Lisa Norris, Kaleigh O’Shea, Katelyn Moore, Antonia Power, Niamh Culleton (inj), Chloe Blackmore (inj), Hillary Power (inj), Laura Norris (inj).

Young Irelands - Hannah Brennan, Mia Murphy, Miriam Brennan, Amy Lennon, Aoife Farrell, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Eimear Brennan, Jayne Farrell, Ciara O’Keeffe, Ciara Byran, Steffanie Fitzgerald, Emma Farrell, Julie Lennon, Sarah O’Donnell, Nessa Farrell.

Subs: Ella Middleton, Aoife Naddy, Caoimhe Drennan, Niamh Walsh, Leah Brennan, Doireann Farrell, Eilish Keating, Sinead Naddy, Lauren Phelan, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Kate Drennan, Lucy Langton, Aisling Rudkins, Aine Delahanty, Caoimhe Fitzgerald, Katie Comerford, Clodagh Farrell, Eimear Naddy, Bronagh O’Neill, Maria O’Keeffe, Claire Phelan, Chloe Pitt, Katie Pitt.

Referee - Paul Cahill (Dunnamaggin).