St Catherine’s win first Cork senior title

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First title for St. Catherines

St. Catherines 1-12 Milford   0-12

A goal separated the sides at the full time whistle as St Catherines for the first time in their club’s history were crowned Evening Echo Cork County Senior Camogie champions after a superb game from two committed teams in Pairc Ui Rinn.

The huge crowd in attendance one of the biggest for a county final in recent years were threated to a nail biting contest where a goal from full forward Evelyn Ronayne with seven minutes remaining finally decided the outcome of a thrilling contest as both sides gave it everything to secure their first crown.

Two Orla Cotter frees and a point from Marie Watson inside the opening seven minutes got the game under way, Rebecca Finn had to be at her best to denied St Catherines a goal as driven on by Orla Cotter at mid field St Catherines settle into their stride. Finola Neville won a penalty with eleven minutes played and Orla Cotter had to be content with a point after she seemed to lose control of the sliotar but with two points between the sides at the midway stage St Catherines were content.

With Orla Cotter covering  a lot of ground at centerfield st Catherines held control around the middle but with  fifteen minutes on the clock Milford almost grabbed a goal as St Catherines scramble to safety the resulting ’45 was converted by Emer Watson.

With their defence superb St Catherines dealt with anything Milford threw at them but Mairead Geary had the side’s level on nineteen minutes and Maria Watson pointed to edge Milford ahead with twenty minute on the clock. Denise Twomey responded to levelled matters before Evelyn Ronayne blasted over the bar form close range with a goal at her mercy.  As the sides swapped points it was St. Catherines who led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Anna Geary cut the deficit on the restart but two Orla Cotter pointes frees had the gap to three.  Again Anna Geary responded but two from the lively Deirdre Twomey helped St. Catherine’s stretched it to four points and Milford looked to be in trouble.

 They responded superbly and hitting four points on the trot from Louise O Flynn, Emer Watson, and Anna Geary they were back on level.  With the game now there for the taking the next score was vital. With seven minutes of normal time remaining Orla Cotter won possession and parted to Deirdre Twomey who directed a superb shot to full forward Evelyn Ronayne who made no mistake from close range.

Milford applied pressure as they searched for the equaliser but a Denise Twomey point gave St Catherines a four point cushion. Louise O’ Flynn pointed three minutes into injury time to leave a goal between the sides but referee Collette O’Mahony full time whistle on the puck signalled huge celebrations as ST Catherines were crowned champions for a historic first time.  

St Catherines mid fielded Orla Cotter was named Evening Echo player of the Match and presented with her trophy by Joan O Flynn President of the Cam¾gie Association who was in attendance at what was a superb final which was a great advertisement for Camogie in Cork.   

Scorers for St. Catherines: O Cotter 0-6 (0-5 f, 0-1 p), E Ronayne 1-1, Denise Twomey 0-3, Deirdre Twomey 0-2.

Milford: A Geary 0-4, E Watson 0-3 (0-1 f 0-1 45), M Geary 0-1, M Watson 0-2, L O’ Flynn 0-2.

ST CATHERINES: D Leahy; F Noonan, N Mulcahy, Y O’Neill;  O Neville, L Power, C Motherway; O Cotter, M O’Keeffe; A M Hayes, F Neville, F Cotter; Denise Twomey, E Ronayne, Deirdre Twomey.

Subs: L Higgins for A M Hayes (41).  

MILFORD: R Finn; O O’Mahony, N O’Brien, L Healy; C Galvin, E O’ Riordan, A Watson; D O’Reilly, A Thompson; M Watson, A Geary, M Geary; L O’ Flynn, E Watson, S O’ Flynn.

Subs: C O’Gorman for S O’ Flynn (38), S Sexton for C Galvin (41), A O’ Flynn for M Geary (55).

Ref: Colette O’Mahony (St. Finbarrs).

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