Straffan (2-05) V Rathcoffey (2-06)
(Round 2 Adult Camogie League 2023 Div3)
This match was played at home in Straffan GAA on Sunday 2nd April. It was a first outing for the Rathcoffey Junior Camogie team while it was Straffan’s first home game of the league. The pitch was in good condition considering all the rainfall in recent days and the game was refereed by Alan Lagrue. Rathcoffey fielded an experienced team with many of the Straffan players already familiar with the team as a result of the previous year's amalgamation. It was clear that both sides were looking forward to the game and the Straffan ladies were keen to take on the challenge.
First Half
From the throw in, Rathcoffey went on the attack with Ann Marie Travers getting the ball to Aisling Gaffney, she pushed forward and under pressure from Tabitha Thompson sent the ball wide. The puckout was claimed by Rathcoffey and another ball was delivered to Aisling Gaffney, again Thompson kept maximum pressure on the Rathcoffey half forward and again she struck wide. Two minutes later Rathcoffey were again on the attack, this time from the other wing where Ella Dwyer managed to gain possession from a fiercely contested ruck of players. Her shot went over the bar for Rathcoffey’s first score on 3 minutes. Immediately, the Straffan goalkeeper Ellen Donnovan wound up for a huge puck deep into Rathcoffey’s defence where Orla Mc Neill was first to grab the ball, as she raced through, the defender Shauna Mulligan committed the foul. Aideen Walsh stepped over the ball, she struck high and over the bar, getting Straffan’s account up and running. From the restart, Straffan midfielder Shona Maguire collected ball and delivered to Orla Mc Neill who was buzzing about the middle, she was again fouled about 50 meters out. Walsh stepped over the ball struck well but the breezed pulled the shot, at the last minute and the ball went narrowly wide. In the middle both Nessa Stagg and Shona Maguire were battling against an experienced Rathcoffey duo of Ann Marie Travers and Jessica Murphy. Stagg managed to get the ball to Aideen Walsh who fired over an excellent point in the 5th minute. Midfield was by this time a cauldron with players running in to assist. Maeve Mc Neill tidied up some loose ball, gaining possession and delivering to the lively Orla Mc Neill. Again, she raced through and again the panicking defence committed the foul, with Walsh delivering a point from the ensuing free on 10 minutes. In the Straffan defence Nicole Jacob was busy cutting out attacks from Rathcoffey forwards and she was well supported by Eimear Fallon in the corner, who stuck rigidly to her player and cleared many times to repel the attacks. Rathcoffey were desperately trying to get more ball into their forwards and were successful in finding Holly Tyrell in the centre, she raced through to score a cracking goal into the top corner on 11 minutes. The game restarted and Rathcoffey’s Sorcha Dolan managed to gain possession in her half back line, she found Ella Dwyer inside, but this time Dwyer, under severe pressure from Straffan’s Roisin Timmons, sent wide in the 15th Minute. Next up was Straffan’s right corner forward Lucy Keville who collected from Shona Maguire on the 40-meter line, she showed her marker a clean pair of heels and headed goalward, her shot was struck low to the corner, it hit the base of the post and went just wide. Ailbhe Collins at Full forward was having a fine tussle with Rathcoffey full back Leah Deane. Their next encounter resulted in a ’45 for Straffan but the shot went wide from Walsh. Rathcoffey came forward again with Molly Berns piling a shot goalward, but keeper Donnovan stood firm and the ball was forced out for a ’45 which was converted by Shauna Mulligan in the 24th Minute. The puckout was won in the middle by Nessa Stagg and she found corner forward Sarah Behan who struck a ground shot goalward. Fullback Dean, under severe pressure from Collins, could only manage a clearance to the in-rushing Tara Keegan who lashed the ball to the back of the net for a Straffan goal. Two minutes later the tireless Shona Maguire struck over a fine point and continued asking questions of this experienced Rathcoffey team. But like all good teams, Rathcoffey were soon able to reply, tagging back a point from Holly Tyrell on the 28th minute. All through the first half Rathcoffey continued to play a third midfielder with Straffan corner back Abbie Keegan picking up and nullifying the challenge of Eimear Gaffney in the middle. In the 29th minute Keegan gained possession and was immediately fouled, but Aideen Walsh’s long-distance strike tailed wide. One minute later Aisling Gaffney struck wide for Rathcoffey, and they were to have the final say of the first half following a foul on Ella Dwyer who scored from the ensuing free. The half ended with a scoreline reading Straffan 1-4, Rathcoffey 1-4.
Second Half
The restart saw the introduction of Sophia O Shea at corner forward for Straffan while Rathcoffey also brought on two subs. The game was into the 40th minute when Aisling Gaffney fired a shot goalwards, keeper Donnovan managed to block the shot, but the ball spun over the line for Rathcoffey’s second goal. Straffan replied on 42nd minute with a free from Aideen Walsh, following a foul on Sophia O Shea. Laura Smullen was introduced to the Straffan backline for the injured Roisin Timmons. Robyn Donoghue had earlier been introduced at corner forward, Saoirse Mullen was introduced in the other corner and Grace Donoghue was also introduced on the full forward line. The refreshed Straffan attack were working hard inside and following a goalmouth scramble, Lucy Keville came in to strike Straffan’s second goal, leaving the sides once again level at 2-5 each in the 50th minute. On the next opportunity Rathcoffey had a wide from Aisling Gaffney. Straffan went straight back down the field and worked the ball to Lucy Keville who was causing her opponent lots of problems, a foul ensued. This time Walsh’s free went wide. Holly Tyrell scored Rathcoffey’s final point on 55 minutes. For the last 5 minutes of this game, it was to be all Straffan, looking for that elusive equaliser. Rathcoffey goalkeeper Rebecca Mc Carthy put the ball out on 56 minutes for another ’45 but Walsh struck wide. There was one final effort far out on the left-hand wing when Walsh herself was fouled at the side line. From a difficult angle she took on the free but it was not to be and went inches wide. On the puck out referee blew full time, where the attending crowd clapped both teams for serving up a great contest. Final score: Straffan 2-5 Rathcoffey 2-6. A draw might have been a fair result with Camogie being the real winner, but credit to Rathcoffey as the hung in there to see the game out. Both sides are learning and will move forward to their next league contest knowing they are working to improve all the time.
Straffan: Ellen Donnovan, Eimear Fallon, Nicole Jacob, Abbie Keegan, Roisin Timmons, Maeve Mc Neill, Tabitha Thompson, Orla Mc Neill, Ailbhe Collins, Sarah Behan, Grace Donoghue, Laura Smullen, Robyn Donoghue, Saoirse Smullen, Sophia O’ Shea, Nessa Stagg, Shona Maguire, Lucy Keville, Aideen Walsh, Tara Keegan.
Rathcoffey: Rebecca Mc Carthy, Meabh Mc Crystal, Leah Deane, Sinead Lee, Laura Mulqueen, Shauna Mulligan, Sorcha Dolan, Jessica Murphy, Annmarie Travers, Ella Dwyer, Aisling Gaffney, Molly Berns, Katelyn Mc Intyre, Holly Tyrell, Eimear Gaffney. Chloe Acton, Suzanne Acton, Ella Behan, Emma Conway, Abbie Dowd, Nadine Dowd, Brid Keely, Tiarna Kinahan, Aine Mc Nally, Eadaoin Mulligan, Sarah O’Brien,
Referee: Alan Lagrue
Comments