This article is from page 74 of the 2011-08-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 74 JPG
Newmarket-on-Fergus 4-16 – Crusheen 2-13 (after extra-time) at Clareabbey
CLAREABBEY was the venue on Saturday for this crunch winnertakes-all clash between NewmarketOn-Fergus and Crusheen when a stiff breeze seemed to dictate the flow of the game. It took extra time to decide the winner but against the run of play and against the wind, it took Newmarket just five extra minutes to dismantle the Crusheen championship machine for 2011 and put the Blues into a Senior B Championship Final appointment with Miltown Malbay.
It was all Newmarket in the first half when playing into the Clarecastle end, registering 2-7 before Crusheen made their presence felt. The Newmarket defence which included sisters Iris and Carol Kaiser, Roisin McMahon and Aoife Griffin nipped several Crusheen attacks in the bud but some great attacking passages from Chloe Morey (0-3) in the centre, Jenny Kelly (1-3, 2f), captain Carol O’Leary (1-0), Laura McMahon (01) and two more Kaiser sisters Ruth and Niki (0-2) racked up the scores. However, a massive performance from Crusheen’s Emma Kearney kept Crusheen in touch as she pointed three frees and passed a quick free to Norah Murphy who pointed the fourth. Despite being under severe pressure, Niamh McCoy, Leona McMahon, Marian Meaney and Marie and Clair O’Grady worked very hard for Crusheen as they trailed by 2-9 to 0-4 at the break.
A remarkable resurgence by Crusheen held the Blues to one solitary point in the second half while putting away 2-6 themselves. Jacinta O’Grady, sister of captain Marie and corner-back Clair, goaled for Crusheen almost immediately and Michelle O’Donnell pointed soon after. Jacinta O’Grady then pointed at the end of a rapid passage of play which started with Ann Fitzgibbon in the backs and came via Norah Murphy. A brilliant Emma Kearney was then to take the game to the opposition as she stalked the Newmarket halfback line looking for an opportunity. Kearney was to receive two kickouts into her waiting arms which she duly returned between the posts, one above the bar and one below and she also converted a free, a sign of the effort being put in by Norah Murphy, Michelle O’Donnell and Elaine O’Mahony, Marian and Tina Meaney who scored a well taken point herself. Newmarket patched some good plays together via Iris, Carol and Ruth Kaiser, Captain Carol O’Leary, Aine O’Brien and Jenny Kelly which fizzled out but Kelly did point from a free to keep Newmarket in the game. In a frantic last two minutes of normal time, Kearney equalised for Crusheen while Newmarket’s Niki Kaiser effort came off the upright at the other end and was then fouled near the 20 metre line. Kicking into a strong breeze, the Blues failed to nail the lid shut and the game went into extra-time at 2-10 apiece, a fair result from a neutral view.
Theories about wind assisted advantage went out the window when Newmarket playing against the wind, had 2-2 scored in the first three minutes of extra-time thanks to Ruth Kaiser (a point), Niki Kaiser (1-1) and Jenny Kelly (a goal). Crusheen scored only two points in response, thanks to Emma Kearney again.
Niki Kaiser had her stamp all over the final period of play as she pointed again and set up Laura McMahon for a point and also earned the free which was also converted. Norah Murphy took Crusheen’s only point of the last period and Newmarket captain sealed the game with a well taken point to book their place in the decider.
Newmarket- on- Fergus
Aine Lawlor, Jane O’Leary, Iris Kaiser, Maria Kennelly, Carol Kaiser, Roisin McMahon,Aoife Griffin, Ruth Kaiser,Aine O’Brien, Jenny Kelly (2-5 5f), Chloe Morey (0-3), Carol O’Leary (Capt) (1-1), Claire Arthur, Niki Kaiser (1-4), Ruth Kaiser (0-1), Laura McMahon (02), Maria McMahon,Aimee McInerney,Ali Quinlan, Caroline Feelihy, Lynne McMahon McInerney, Brid Enright, Shauna Halpin, Mary Hayes,Aislinn Keogh, Stephanie Coughlan, Eleanor O’Dea, Lisa Devanney, Gemma McInerney, Stephanie Halpin
Management
Neil Ryan, Kevin Corbett, Johnny Ryan. Physio: Marie Louise Kaiser
Crusheen
Noelle McGuane, Clair O’Grady, Marie O’Grady (capt), Niamh McCoy,Ann Fitzgibbon, Mary Rosingrave, Edel McGuane, Emma Kearney (1-8 5f) , Regina Fennessey, Michelle O’Donnell (0-1),Tina Meaney (0-1), Marian Meaney, Nora Murphy (0-2), Elaine O’Mahony, Jacinta O’Grady (1-1),Triona McGrath, Leona McMahon, Catherine Nugent, Joanne Meaney, Teresa Rosengrave, Joanne O’Donnell, Rachel Lenihan,Aisling Callinan, Dori,Teodora,Annemarie McMahon, Maria O’Donnell, Sharon Fitzgibbon, Martha Liddy
Management
Patrick Meaney, Damien Murphy, Martin Murphy