Heartbreak for Loreto girls in shootout with Athenry

There was heartbreak for Loreto Kilkenny in the All-Ireland senior A colleges camogie semi-final on Saturday in Ballinderreen, as they went down to Presentation Athenry in a contest which couldn’t have been any closer.

Sixty minutes and twenty-minutes of extra time couldn’t separate the sides on the day, with the semi-final eventually being decided with a ’45 taking contest. The Galway school prevailed 4-3 in the shoot-out to qualify for the All-Ireland final. Loreto displayed exceptional character throughout the match and were very unlucky to come away with a loss, in what was ultimately a very harsh way to decide a contest involving young players.     

The Kilkenny school travelled to South Galway on a day when conditions were extremely difficult for camogie. A gale force wind and driving rain prevailed throughout the afternoon. Nevertheless, the sides served up a cracking contest over eighty minutes.

Loreto, playing with the aid of the wind in the first half, opened the scoring with a pointed free from Asha McHardy. Within a minute, the Kilkenny school had their first goal. Claire Doheny impressively rattled the net from a tight angle, to put Loreto in the driving seat.

Athenry’s Sabina Rabbitte soon pointed a free at the other end, before McHardy sent over her second score five minutes later. The Galway school reduced the margin with a point from Emma Joyce, before Loreto replied with a good score from Caoimhe Keher-Murtagh.

Anna Doheny extended Loreto’s advantage to five with another point, before McHardy sent over her third free to leave the half time score at 1-5 to 0-2. The opening minute of the second half saw Athenry reduce the margin with a pointed free from Rabbitte.

Loreto replied by scoring their second goal of the game. Anna Doheny blasted a shot which was saved by Athenry ‘keeper Laura Freeney before the rebound fell to Claire Doheny. The Graigue-Ballycallan forward made no mistake to fire home her second goal.

Rabbitte pointed another free for Athenry shortly after, before the full forward reacted quickest after a dropping ball came down off the upright, pulling first time to find the net for the Galway school.

With the wind behind them, Pres Athenry were on top and Rabbitte added a further 0-4 (three frees and a penalty) to send the contest to extra time. McHardy pointed two ‘45’s, either side of another free from Rabbitte, to leave Loreto ahead by 2-7 to 1-9 after the first period.

Rabbitte levelled the semi-final yet again with her ninth point, forcing the contest to be decided on ‘45s. McHardy, Rachel Dowling and Rose Kelly all converted successfully, before sudden death saw McHardy miss her second ’45. It was very unfortunate for the Dicksboro player, who was outstanding throughout the game and certainly didn’t let her side down in any manner.

On the day, Loreto had excellent performances from Ali Kennedy, Rachel Brennan, Emma Manogue, Kate McCluskey, Anna Doheny, Asha McHardy, Caoimhe Keher-Murtagh and Claire Doheny.

Pres. Athenry: L. Freeney; G. Murphy, N. Feeney, G. Molloy; K. Coleman, E. Burke, G. Leen; A. Carr, K. Madden; C. Kelly, M. Gannon, O. Rabbitte; T. Maher, S. Rabbitte (1-9, 0-8 frees, 0-1 pen), E. Joyce (0-1).

Subs: A. Cronnelly for Kelly (37), S. Carr for Maher (60), Kelly for Gannon (Inj. 68), Gannon for Joyce (75), Maher for O. Rabbitte (Inj. 78).

Loreto: A. Kennedy; R. Leahy, H. Larkin, M. O’Brien; R. Brennan, E. Manogue, A. Shefflin; K. McCluskey, R. Kelly; A. Doheny (0-1), A. McHardy (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-2 ‘45s), E. Mulhall; C. Doheny (2-0), C. Keher-Murtagh (0-1), L. East.

Subs: A. Clifford for East (48), R. Dowling for Mulhall (58), N. Holohan for Kelly (63), C. Dunne for Shefflin (Inj. 76).

Referee: Colm O’Maolain (Cork).