Monaghan Camogie
July 9th ‘13
Auto McK Senior Championship
The Senior Championship got under way on Friday evening last with Clontibret and Truagh emerging from the first round.
Truagh 3 – 12
Inniskeen 0 -4,
Conditions were perfect in O’Neill Park Clontibret where Truagh took the upper hand on Inniskeen who had been struggling for numbers in the lead up to the Championship and weren’t able to full fill their league fixtures earlier this year. However they took the stage in flying fashion on this occasion and had a great start when Linda Callan converted a free in the 7th minute. Alas Mc. Gahon added to their scoreboard with a point from play a few minutes later.
Truagh took longer to settle in before Siobhan Mc. Kenna supplied Yvonne Connell who sent it to the net on the 13th minute. Orla Mc. Meel stretched the lead when she sent two over from frees in as many minutes with Nicola Mc. Kenna following up with a point from play. Julie Anne Finnegan replied with a point for Inniskeen half way through the first half and Siobhan Mc. Kenna completed the first half score when she split the Inniskeen posts on the 20th minute to leave 4 points between them at the break.
Truagh took control from the throw in of the second half when O’Connell sent two over in the first 10 minutes with Mc. Meel and Brid Treanor adding another two to the tally. O’Connell and Mc. Kenna raised the green flag and Mc. Meel and Mc. Kenna were on target on numerous occasions before Inniskeen’s Sharon Mc. Gahon got through the Truagh defence for a late point at the whistle.
Truagh team: Aine Mc. Kee, , Lorraine Tierney, Eilish Treanor, Erin Mc Anespie, Brid Treanor(0-1), Sharon Mc. Caffrey, Eilish Mc. Carron, Shauna Mc. Aree, Yvonne Connell(2-2) Siobhan Mc. Kenna, (1-4)Mairead Mc. Carron, Meabh Mc. Carron, Orla Mc. Meel0-4) Joanne Meehan, Nicola Mc. Kenna,(0-1)Catherine Treanor, Anita Mc. Kenna
Inniskeen Team: Isobel Kieran,Louise Mc. Ardle, Marie Hogan, Sinead Lynch, Pauline Boylan, Edel Kieran, Alice Mc. Gahon(0-1) Sharon Mc. Gahon(0-1)Linda Callan(0-1)Carmel Mc. Skane, Julie Anne Finnegan(0-1)Emma Smith, Gillian Hamill, Mairead Mc. Gahon, Lorraine Lynch, Olivia Boylan Byrne
Clontibret 2 – 20
Castleblayney 0 – 4.
Over in Drumhowan G.A.A. grounds, the story was somewhat similar with Clontibret dominating the play in all areas as they took on the holders Castleblayney, who may have entered Friday evening’s opening round of the senior camogie championship wearing the mantle of Ulster Junior Champions but it was a moniker that was more of a hindrance than a help to them as they had simply no answers to a stern test from a Clontibret side who weren’t deferring to any champions.
The first quarter was played at a blistering pace on an impeccable pitch but Clontibret had already four points on the scoreboard (Ailbhe Boyle 0-1, Marie Greenan 0-2, Michelle Morgan 0-1) and registered 2 wides before Niamh Brennan broke their stranglehold with a well-taken point from play. Four minutes later she was to strike again but incredibly Clontibret had already registered 3 additional points courtesy of Marie Greenan, Nicola Morgan and Catherine Tomany – all from play. That was to be ‘Blayney’s last input of the half which saw Clontibret rack up a total of 1-11 as follows: Marie Greenan 0-5, Michelle Morgan, 0-3, Nicola Morgan 0-1, Ailbhe Boyle 1-1 and Catherine Tomany 0-1.
Despite great expectations that Castleblayney would re enter the fray firing on all cylinders the second half proved to be almost a replica of the first with Clontibret going on a scoring spree which included 2 points from the newly-introduced youngster, Sinead Mohan, Shauna Finnegan 0-1 and Marie Greenan, Michelle Morgan and Nicola Morgan all adding a point to their respective first half tallies. Emma Forde’s free in the 44th minute raised barely a cheer in the Castleblayney camp and it was to be 13 minutes later before she secured another point – Castleblayney’s final score of the game. From the puck out the talented Sinead Mohan found the corner of the net pushing her side even further ahead and Shauna Finnegan and Michelle Morgan tagged on further points for good measure.
Clontibret: Karen Boyle, Joanne McSkane, Orlaith Boyle, Aisling Greenan, Muireann Atkinson, Tara McElvaney, Shauna McElvaney, Aisling McElvaney, Michelle Morgan, Nicola Morgan, Marie Greenan, Shauna Finnegan, Catherine Tomany, Karen Kieran, Ailbhe Boyle, Sinead Mohan, Laura McGinn, Amy Moen, Cliona McDonald, Shauna McKeever, Donna Moen and Eleanor McQuaid.
Scorers: : Ailbhe Boyle 1-1, Sinead Mohan 1-2, Michelle Morgan 0-5, Marie Greenan 0-5, Nicola Morgan 0-3, Catherine Tomany 0-1, Shauna Finnegan 0-3.
Castleblayney: Roisin McKenna, Kelsey Lam, Orla McCarthy, Mary McElroy, Reegan Lynch, Siobhan McBennett, Orla Wills, Emma McKenna, Niamh Brennan, Noeleen McBride, Lisa O Connell, Louise O Connell, Kelly Fisher, Emma Forde, Kate Deasy, Rebecca Treanor, Karen Markey, Zoe Brady, Rachael Markey and Emma Heavin.
Scorers : Niamh Brennan 0-2, Emma Forde 0-2
Referee: Frank McDonald, Armagh.
The next round of the Championship, which is played on a round robin series takes place on Friday 19th July when Truagh take on Castleblayney and Inniskeen going head to head with Clontibret
