Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-3 Camross 1-4
The Fennelly clan has led Ballyhale Shamrocks to many a hurling success and now it’s the turn of the female side of the house. All bar a goal and one point of their tally came from the stick of a Fennelly in this AIB Leinster Intermediate Camogie club final in Nowlan Park reports Gerry O'Sullivan. Keeva Fennelly (daughter of Ger, former Kilkenny legend) was the star of the first half notching 1-2 while player of the match Margaret Mary (a sister of current Kilkenny star Michael) bagged the decisive third goal 12 minutes into the second half.
Camross’ Soaring Star winner Sara-Ann Fitzgerald began the game in deadly form with two pointed placed balls from around the 45m mark. But the radar deserted the centre back from there-on and four opportunities that were well within her range missed the target. Ballyhale took full advantage, none more so than wing forward Keeva Fennelly whose 11th minute goal came from a long delivery from her first cousin, Margaret Mary which Keeva met on the hop to hit first time to the net.Camross had plenty of the play but with Jacqui Frisby commanding the centre back spot, chances were scarce although Therese Keenan fired home a neat point in the 17th minute to leave the scores Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-2 to Camross 0-3 at half-time.
Seven minutes after the restart a speculative shot from Kelly Ann Cottrell dipped under the bar and when Margaret Mary Fennelly’s superb overhead double hit the net for a third Ballyhale goal four minutes later, they were well on their way to victory.
Niamh Dollard scored a superb point for Camross in the 38th minute but the Shamrocks defence was outstanding throughout and Ciara Fennelly’s goal was never threatened in play. Sara-Ann Fitgerald grabbed a consolation goal from a free in the final minute.
Scorers
Ballyhale Shamrocks: Keeva Fennelly (1-2), Kelly Anne Cottrell (1-1), Margaret Mary Fennelly (1-0)
Camross: Sara-Ann Fitzgerald (1-2, 1-1f, 1 45) Therese Keenan and Niamh Dollard (0-1 each)
Ballyhale Shamrocks:
Ciara Fennelly, Clodagh Corcoran, Roisin Fennelly, Orna Fennelly, Emily O’Dwyer, Jacqui Frisby, Breena Fennelly, Catherine Connolly, Edel Frisby, Margaret Mary Fennelly, Kellyanne Cottrell, Keeva Fennelly, Eimear Fitzpatrick, Emilie Darmody, Lorna Ní Fhionnlaigh,
Camross:
Jennifer Moore, Fidelma Ní Chonraoi, Brigie Cuddy-Meade, Ashling Burke, Deirdre Moore, Sara-Ann Fitzgerald, Mairead Burke, Dawn Mortimer, Claire Fitzgerald, Michelle Holmes, Niamh Dollard, Lizzy Ryan, Sile Burke, Therese Keenan, Olga Parkinson
