Dicksboro celebrate summer camogie league victory over Piltown

A goal in either half helped Dicksboro see off old rival Piltown and claim the first piece of senior camogie silverware of the season.

The city side had the upper hand in both halves as they saw off the South Kilkenny team in the Lyng Motors Summer League final in Palmerstown on Friday evening.

They had their work cut out, however, as a fast start saw Piltown roar into an early lead. Ruby Norris opened the scoring for Piltown inside the opening minute, before more scores from Sophie Holden and Grace Farrell (45) made it 0-3 to 0-0 with three minutes on the clock.

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Amy Clifford got Dicksboro off the mark with a fifth minute point. Rachel Dowling added another, converting a free to leave the bare minimum between the teams.

Aoife Doyle stretched Piltown’s lead back to two, but four unanswered points from Amy Clifford, Jenny Clifford (2) and Rachel Dowling (free) saw the Boro take the lead for the first time.

While Doyle scored another point for Piltown (0-6 to 0-5) to end the first quarter, Amy Clifford fired the city side into a commanding position on 17 minutes when she broke through the Piltown defence and hit an unstoppable shot into the net.

The sides settled into the game, trading scores after that. Piltown picked off a brace from play through Sophie Holden and Ruby Norris, with Rachel Dowling hitting back with two points for the ’Boro (1-8 to 0-7).

Piltown weren’t about to ease up and, with the half nearing its end, they made another charge. Sophie Holden got them moving with a point, before they were awarded a free on the 65m line. Aoife Landers sent the sliotar towards the posts, where Katie Power got a flick on the sliotar to send it flying into the net, leaving the sides locked at 1-8 apiece at the interval.

It didn’t take Dicksboro long to restore their lead after the break. The game had barely resumed before Rose Kelly drilled an unstoppable shot to the top right corner of the Piltown net. Sophie Holden pulled a point back for the Southern side, but two Amy Clifford points saw the city side extend their lead.

The game took on a see-saw nature as Grace Farrell (free) and Leah Cooney picked off points for Piltown, but sub Asha McHardy and Amy Clifford (45) replied in kind for Dicksboro.

While Grace Farrell converted two frees for Piltown, Dicksboro scored the last four points of the match. Rachel Dowling, Asha McHardy and substitute Orla Hanrick (2) all found the target, that run of scores enough to see Dicksboro claim the spoils.

With the league now over, the senior clubs will turn their attention to the championship. The action begins on Sunday, August 16 with the first round of games. Dicksboro will face St Martin’s, while Piltown are pitted against O’Loughlin Gaels. Round two games will be played the following week.

Teams and scorers

Dicksboro: Amy Clifford (1-5, 0-3 frees); Rachel Dowling (0-5, 0-2 frees); Rose Kelly (1-0); Jenny Clifford, Asha McHardy, Orla Hanrick (0-2 each).

Piltown: Sophie Holden (0-4); Grace Farrell (0-4, frees); Katie Power (1-0); Ruby Norris, Aoife Doyle (0-2 each); Leah Cooney (0-1).

Dicksboro: Cara Duggan; Sarah O’Gorman, Tara Clifford, Eva Tynan; Niamh Phelan, Tara McGrath, Katie Byrne; Aobha O’Gorman (captain), Ciara Phelan; Izzy Roberts, Jenny Clifford, Rachel Dowling; Emma Hogan, Amy Clifford, Rose Kelly.

Subs: Asha McHardy for Izzy Roberts, Angela Carroll for Katie Byrne, Aisling Browne for Emma Hogan, Orla Hanrick for Rose Kelly.

Piltown: Rachel Tennyson; Lorraine Long, Patsy Kenny, Danielle Carroll; Karen Duggan, Aoife Landers, Jenni O’Dea; Ellen O’Keeffe, Alice Talbot; Ruby Norris, Katie Power (captain), Aoife Doyle; Leah Cooney, Grace Farrell, Sophie Holden.

Subs: Lorna O’Shea for Alice Talbot, Heather Phelan for Leah Cooney, Aoife O’Shea for Patsy Kenny (inj).

Referee: Eamon Larkin (James Stephens).