This article is from page 58 of the 2011-10-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 58 JPG
Newmarket-on-Fergus 3-08 – Kilmaley 1-10 at Clarecastle
NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS rubberstamped their authority over Clare camogie when fending off their fiercest rivals Kilmaley for the second year running on Sunday.
With the blustery conditions to the fore, the defending champions blitzed their opponents with two Erica Minogue goals against the gale early in the second half and in the end, it was the sufficient lift they required to get them over the line.
In fact, those goals were crucial to Newmarket’s cause after not taking full advantage when the breeze was at their backs in the opening half. Some dogged defending from Kilmaley ensured that the holders would only carry a four point advantage at the break which didn’t seem enough, a view that was further emphasised when substitute Ashling Darcy split the posts in the opening minute of the restart.
However, Newmarket were able to do what Kilmaley simply failed to in the opening half – score a goal against the breeze. And in fact, they would grab two in close succession with Roisin McMahon supplying Erica Minogue on both occasions, each one a dagger to Kilmaley’s hopes.
Kilmaley fought back admirably and five successive points cut the deficit to four by the turn of the final quarter but a missed penalty was magnified only 11 minutes later when Iris Kaiser sealed their fate.
That ruthlessness in front of goal in contrast to Kilmaley’s missed opportunities was the difference in a game between Clare’s flagship sides that was always going to be decided by goals. In fact, the accuracy on both sides has to be commended as both sides only hit two wides each over the hour. However, below the crossbar, Kilmaley will point to a mishit shot by Ashling O’Halloran that drifted wide after an incisive run through the heart of the Newmarket defence while Denise Lynch’s 43rd minute penalty was expertly stopped following a foul on O’Halloran.
The opening half went along expected lines after Kilmaley won the toss and decided to play into the conditions. With the ball rarely passing half-way, the defending champions grabbed the first six points of the game through Erica Minogue (2), Niki Kaiser (2), Iris Kaiser and Deirdre Cassidy by the 19th minute. And they might have also grabbed a goal in the 11th minute when Iris Kaiser cut in from the right, only to see her stinging shot saved by goalkeeper Edel Griffey.
Kilmaley’s defence were under immense pressure but hunted in packs to ensure that they would not concede further and true to form, they held out until the break while also pouncing on the counter-attack.
Ashling O’Halloran’s chance came in the 22nd minute and they finally opened their account two minutes later when Claire McMahon converted a ’45. Again Newmarket piled on the pressure in search of a crucial goal that would give them a significant half-time cushion but full-back Sarah Reidy cleared a shot off the line in the 29th minute before Claire McMahon doubled her advantage with another placed ball to cut the deficit to only four at the break at 0-6 to 0-2.
So when Ashling Darcy cut the advantage to only a goal directly after the resumption, Kilmaley supporters could sense that the tide was turning. They didn’t account for Erica Minogue however who twice in the space of as many minutes gathered Roisin McMahon deliveries and successfully headed for goal to open up a nine point lead.
Kilmaley brushed off that set-back and after a Claire McMahon 20 metre free was deflected clear, they would hit the next five points, three from the stick of All-Star nominee McMahon.
They were frustrated with that penalty stop, even more so soon afterwards when Iris Kaiser bore down on goal and handpassed to the net in the 54th minute to restore her side’s eight point advantage.
To their credit, Kilmaley never threw in the towel and even grabbed a 60th minute goal through the hardworking Emma O’Driscoll but it was a mere consolation as time was not on their side and they had to yield to their perennial rivals for the second year in a row.
Newmarket- on- Fergus
Carol Toomey (Capt.) (7),Aoife Griffin (7), Jane O’Leary (7), Carol O’Leary (7),Aimee McInerney (8), Roisin McMahon (7), Carol Kaiser (8), Ruth Kaiser (7) (0-1), JoanneWalsh (7), Deirdre Cassidy (7) (0-1), Erica Minogue (8) (2-2), Niki Kaiser (7) (0-3 2f), Sharon McMahon (7), Iris Kaiser (7) (1-1), Jenny Kelly (6)
Sub
Aine O’Brien (7) for Kelly (HT)
Kilmaley
Edel Griffey (7), Niamh Cahill (7), Sarah Reidy (7), Sinead O’Halloran (7), Helen McMahon (7) (0-1), Katie Cahill (7), Eimear Considine (7),Aida Griffey (7), Eimear O’Connor (6), Shonagh Enright (7) (0-2), Emma O’Driscoll (8) (1-0), Claire McMahon (8) (0-6 2f, 3’45), Ailish Considine (6), Denise Lynch (6),Ashling O’Halloran (6)
Subs
Ashling Darcy (7) (0-1) for O’Connor (30 mins), Sinead O’Keeffe for O’Halloran (57 mins)
Player of the Game
Erica Minogue (Newmarket- on- Fergus) Referee Fintan McNamara (Killanena)