July 19th ‘11
Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup.
Kildare 2-6 Monaghan 1-7
Wicklow 2-10 Meath 1-2
Lilywhites dent Monaghan’s Championship campaign.
Underdogs Kildare provided Monaghan with a timely ‘wake-up’ call in Naas on Sunday when they defeated them by 2 points, thus securing their first win of the competition. A solitary first-half point for Monaghan was indicative of the apathy that the Oriel girls showed for most of the game and in fact it wasn’t until the final quarter that the reality of potential defeat hit home and Monaghan went on a scoring spree which netted them 1-5 in an eight minute period! However, this late burst simply wasn’t enough to see them across the line and Kildare ran out eventual winners.
While the first half belonged to Kildare, on the scoreboard at least, Monaghan had opportunities aplenty in the first 15 minutes, but sloppy finishing saw them drive wide – 5 times – or drop the sliotar harmlessly into Kildare goalkeeper, Niamh Burke’s hand. Kildare on the other hand opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Tracey Johnston pointed a 45’ m free. Shauna Finnegan, who was one of the few inspirational players Monaghan had on Sunday, cancelled this out with a point from play 2 minutes later. However from the puck-out Kildare went on the attack and Aisling O Halloran capitalised on a moment of indecisiveness in the Monaghan defence to lash the ball to the back of the net. This gave Kildare the springboard from which to maintain a constant offensive until half time while Monaghan, on the other hand struggled, particularly in the middle of the park, to come to terms with the opposition. Kildare’s Gráinne Temple notched up 0-3 from play while mid-fielder, Karen Lynch tagged on a further point to leave the half time score:
Kildare 1-5 Monaghan 0-1.
Monaghan initiated a number of half-time switches which saw attackers, Shauna Finnegan and Carmel McSkeane drafted into mid-field as direct switches for Eleanor McQuaid and Mary McElroy. Edel Kieran replaced Aideen Greene in defence, taking up the centre half-back position while Joanne McSkane dropped to corner back. Almost immediately the impact of these changes was positively felt when Marie Greenan picked off her first point of the game. However, disaster struck for Monaghan a minute later when a goalmouth melee resulted in a Monaghan ‘own goal’ and the chasm between the 2 teams seemed ever-widening. To their credit though Monaghan, assisted by a strong breeze, fought back and Eleanor McQuaid opened her tally with a point from play. This was cancelled out a minute later when Gráinne Temple struck again for Kildare adding a further point to her side’s total. Monaghan introduced regular goalkeeper, Roisin McKenna, who was recovering from injury, and moved net-minder Bernie McGahon into attack to replace Kellie Fisher. From then on Monaghan enjoyed their most productive period of the game with Shauna Finnegan, who covered every inch of the park, scoring 0-1 followed a minute later by a pointed free from Marie Greenan. Then came the high-point when Emma McKenna got her hurl to the end of a Niamh Burke clearance whipping the ball to the net. With only 7 minutes remaining the tension was palpable and it looked as though Monaghan might just claim the points especially when Eleanor McQuaid and Marie Greenan whittled the deficit to 2 points with only 4 minutes remaining. However, they say that goals win matches and Monaghan knew what they needed at this stage of the game. Kildare, in fairness, held their nerve and swarmed their defence. Despite this, Monaghan were awarded a free with 30secs remaining and Marie Greenan took the only option open to her and drilled low and hard but it was a case of ‘too little too late’ for Monaghan as the long whistle sounded and Kildare players and supporters alike savoured their win.
Despite being gutted by this defeat the post-match analysis would suggest that Monaghan will be totally prepared and focused for their encounter on Sunday next against Wicklow, with whom they drew in the opening round. Indeed Sunday’s game will be crucial to Monaghan’s survival in the competition and nothing less than a victory will suffice. It is hoped as well to have team captain, Siobhan McKenna, her club mates Mary Meehan and Mairéad McCarron, Clontibret’s Michelle and Nicola Morgan, Hannah Tedore, Aisling Greenan and Inniskeen’s Isobel Kieran available for selection on Sunday and this would both psychologically and physically enhance Monaghan’s chances.
| Wicklow V Monaghan in Avondale Co Wicklow. Throw in 2.20pm. |
Monaghan Panel: Bernie McGahon, Roisin McKenna, Louise O Connell, Donna McKenna, Aideen Greene, Michaela McGinn, Joanne McSkane, Edel Kieran, Karen Boyle, Eleanor McQuaid (0-2), Mary McElroy, Carmel McSkeane, Marie Greenan (0-3), Catherine Tomany, Kellie Fisher, Emma McKenna (1-0), and Shauna Finnegan (0-2).
Westenra Hotel Championship
Castleblayney 3 – 7
Truagh 1 – 7
Last Tuesday saw the final round of Championship fixtures evolve when Castleblayney and Clontibret warded off Truagh and Inniskeen respectively to book a place in this years Championship Final which takes place on Sunday 21st. August .
Two early goals for ‘Blayney, the first coming from Niamh Brennan and the other a rebounded ball from Regan Lynch left Truagh chasing for the entire game. Siobhan Mc. Kenna got Truagh on the scoreboard when she sent two points over in the first quarter. Sharon Mc Quillan and Eileen Mc. Elroy swapped points in the closing stages before Truagh’s Siobhan Mc. Kenna got her 3rd point minutes before the half time whistle.
‘Blayney got off to a good second half start when Eileen Mc. Elroy stamped her name on 2 more points, the first from the throw in and the other in the 9th minute before Truagh’s Deirdre Mc. Carron got a great pass from Siobhan Mc. Kenna to send one to the net a minute later. Eileen Mc. Elroy responded with a goal and a point for ‘Blayney
Truagh hit a high note half way through the second period when Orla Mc. Meel converted three points on the trot from frees but ‘Blayney had the last shout when they responded with a further 3 points from Amber Lam, Eileen Mc. Elroy and Niamh Brennan to run out eventual winners
Clontibret advance to the final.
Clontibret 0 -10
Inniskeen 1 – 5
Clontibret fought off a spirited attack by Inniskeen, on Tuesday last, in the final round of matches in the Westenra Arms Senior Camogie championship, to book their place in their 8th consecutive senior championship final since 2005.
The game was keenly contested from the start but Marie Greenan got the eventual winners off to a good start when she pointed from play. However 2 minutes later Inniskeen registered their first hit on the scoreboard when Sharon McGahon converted a free for Inniskeen. Catherine Tomany and Greenan added to Clontibret’s tally before Sharon McGahon converted another free to the good for Inniskeen. Again Marie Greenan responded with a point from play before Sharon McGahon narrowed the gap yet again when she converted a 45’. Although Clontibret enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the last quarter of the first half, Inniskeen’s tenacious defending resulted in them having to make do with a well-taken Marie Greenan point from play. At the other end of the pitch Inniskeen’s Isobel Kieran pointed from play leaving the half-time score:
Clontibret 0-5 Inniskeen 0-4
The scene was set for a mouth-watering showdown in the second half though Shauna Finnegan set out Clontibret’s intentions quite promptly when she secured a point 3 minutes from the re-start. A feisty Inniskeen replied 4 minutes later when Sharon McGahon scored her 4th point of the game. Michelle Morgan, who was increasingly causing problems for the Inniskeen defence, burst through only to have her shot deflected across the bar but for good measure she replicated the score 3 minutes later widening the gap for Clontibret to 3 points. However Inniskeen were far from out of this game and, to the delight of their sizeable crowd of supporters, Mairéad McGahon found a chink in the Clontibret defence and whipped home the first goal of the match putting the teams on parity with 11 minutes remaining. In fairness to Clontibret they maintained their composure refusing to yield to the intense pressure from Inniskeen. In fact their response was to firmly ‘batten down the hatches’ and contain the play for the remainder of the game in the Inniskeen defensive area. This ploy yielded 2 further points for Clontibret – a free by Marie Greenan and a Donna Moen point from play and secured the O Neill’s girls a place in their 8th consecutive senior championship final.
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Jack’s Bar League
The Jack’ Bar League continues on Tuesday next 26th July when Truagh take on Castleblayney and Clontibret take on Inniskeen..
Club News
Inniskeen
Training continues during the week for upcoming games. All players to check teamer.net for updates etc. NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY: Inniskeen will meet Clontibret in the next round of the league on Tuesday 26th July. (Time and venue to be confirmed). We would like to congratulate team mate Sinead Lynch-Hillard and trainer Trevor Hillard on the birth of their new baby girl. Best wishes to all the family on the new arrival.
Clontibret
Our seniors booked their ticket for the Westenra Arms Senior Camogie Championship final when they defeated Inniskeen on Tuesday evening last in what proved to be a tough, physical encounter. The final score-line was Clontibret 0-10, Inniskeen 1-5. Castleblayney will be the opposition in the final which will be played on Sunday, August 21st.
On Sunday, 8 of our seniors made the relatively long journey to Naas for the Máire Ní Chinnéide Junior Championship encounter between Monaghan and Kildare (see full match report). This proved to be a surprisingly tough clash, with Kildare emerging victorious in the end. Well done to Shauna, Joanne, Marie, Catherine, Karen, Aideen, Michaela and Eleanor on their performance. This Sunday Monaghan play Wicklow, in Wicklow, and the outcome of this encounter will be crucial to Monaghan’s hopes of retaining their title. Best wishes to all the team but especially Shauna Finnegan (vice-captain), Aisling Greenan, Aideen Greene, Michaela McGinn, Karen Boyle, Catherine Tomany, Joanne McSkane, Eleanor McQuaid, Marie Greenan, Michelle Morgan and Nicola Morgan.
This Wednesday, July 20th Clontibret play Derrynoose in the second round of the Armagh League, Premier Division, while on Tuesday, July 26th Clontibret host Inniskeen as ‘Jack’s Bar’ Senior League re-commences in Monaghan. Good wishes to our players.
Training for our U-14 panel continues but as yet we have heard nothing further from the Louth Board regarding the date for the U-14 final.
Congratulations to Tara McElvaney who graduated with an honours degree in Law, last week, from Liverpool University. Tara hopes to continue her studies in the legal profession and we wish her further success. Congratulations also to Michaela McGinn who completed a Tutors course in CPR recently. In fact, less than 2 hours after completing her course, and while the rest of the tutors were celebrating their achievements, Michaela lined out for the Monaghan team in their clash with Meath! This typifies the sense of duty Michaela brings to everything she does.
Finally, birthday greetings from Clontibret Camogie club to ‘Granny Greenan’ as she is so .fondly known, grandmother to Marie and Aisling, and many more besides, who celebrated her 99th birthday last Sunday! What a wonderful lady.
Truagh
Seniors: Training continues tomorrow at 7.30pm and on Monday at 7.30pm. We lost out to blayney in the final round of the championship last Tuesday. We still have the league to go so could everyone please make the effort to attend training. Our next league game is on the 26th of July when again we will meet Blayney, this is a home game for us.
Juveniles: Juvenile training on Saturday at 11am. Lorraine, Siobhan and Carol are on duty next week. New players are very welcome.
Lucky Square: Congratulations to Sharon Mc Quillan who was last weeks winner of the lucky square. Could anyone that owes for the lucky square please see Majella. Thank you to all who support.
