The Éire Óg junior A Camogie team led from start to finish in an entertaining battle with Kildangan at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday evening.
County Junior A Camogie Championship
Nenagh Éire Óg 1-11 Kildangan 1-6
The aptitude for hard work and a terrific intensity in the tackle was a real highlight of this performance. Indeed, Éire Óg won a turnover ball as early as the second minute. Holly O’Brien was then fouled and O’Brien converted to present the Blues with an early advantage.
Three minutes later Louise Hickey won a free which Holly O’Brien converted before Kildangan responded with a free of their own in the 11th minute (0-2 to 0-1).
Zoe Gratton landed a great point off her right in the 12th minute before a Holly O’Brien free following a foul on Louise Hickey helped Éire Óg into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.
In the 16th minute the Kildangan ‘keeper made a great save to deny Aileen Duggan a certain goal. Undeterred Éire Óg pressed forward with Danielle Harrington setting up Holly O’Brien for a fifth Nenagh point in the 18th minute (0-5 to 0-1).
Éire Óg’s dominance deserved a goal and that three-pointer materialised in the 20th minute when Danielle Harrington set up Aislinn O’Brien for a crucial score (1-5 to 0-1).
Éire Óg ‘keeper Ali Darcy made a fine save in the 26th minute and the sides retired with seven between them at the break (1-5 to 0-1).
SECOND HALF
Kildangan made a determined stand during the opening ten minutes of the second half with three points (two frees) reducing the Blues’ lead to four by the 39th minute (1-5 to 0-4).
In the 41st minute Louise Hickey won a vital free which Holly O’Brien converted and two minutes later Alanna Morris fired over a terrific left-handed effort to leave six between them. Aileen Duggan added an eighth Éire Óg point in the 45th minute and now Nenagh led 1-8 to 0-4.
Kildangan responded with a free in the 50th minute, but Éire Óg hit back with two Holly O’Brien frees following fouls on Louise Hickey and Alanna Morris to lead 1-10 to 0-5 with time fast running out.
A Kildangan free cut the Éire Óg lead to seven with four minutes to play, but the Blues hit back once more with an Alanna Morris point from play.
Ali Darcy made a fine save to deny Kildangan a goal on the hour mark, but Kildangan did sneak in for a consolation goal in the 61st minute.
The Blues have beaten Templemore and Kildangan and now face two remaining group games in the county junior A Camogie championship against Newport and Holycross-Ballycahill in the coming weeks.
MATCH DETAILS
Nenagh Éire Óg: Ali Darcy, Amy Heffernan, Rachel Maher, Kara Mulqueen, Michelle Collins, Ciara McGrath, Rachel Spillane, Zoe Gratton (0-1), Alanna Morris (0-2), Aislinn O’Brien (1-0), Louise Hickey, Holly O’Brien (0-7, 0-6 frees), Julie Moylan, Aileen Duggan (0-1), Danielle Harrington. Subs: (43rd) Elaine Slattery for Julie Moylan.
Referee: Joe Cahill (Kilruane MacDonagh’s).
CLUB LOTTO
The Nenagh Éire Óg Club Lotto represents the club’s key fundraising initiative.
Please consider supporting the Blues by playing our club lotto online: click here!
Just watch how far we can stretch your €2!
Alternatively you can also support Nenagh Éire Óg by paying your club membership. Membership for 2014 is now due and can be paid to any club officer or online. The cost of membership is priced at €25.
Help us to make the dreams of our players come true!
If you need to contact Éire Óg please do so via our Contact page. You can also keep in touch by accessing our Facebook page or by following @nenagheireog on Twitter.
