Marian Doyle proved the heroine of the hour once more as Myshall kept their hopes of a remarkable All-Ireland junior club camogie two-in-a-row alive by beating their victims in last year’s final, Four Roads at McDonagh Park in Nenagh in another tight encounter by 2-3 to 0-6 writes Daragh Ó Conchúir.
The champions will play Scariff/Ogonnoloe in the decider on Sunday week, after the Munster representatives proved too strong for St John’s in Ashbourne, by 1-17 to 0-8.
Doyle struck for an injury-time goal to snatch the Division 4 league title for Carlow earlier this year. On this occasion, despite playing a free role that brought her all over the pitch, Doyle bagged the two majors that ensured her side’s success and put an end the aspirations of the 2010 title-holders.
With the Nolan trio at half-back of Kate, Michelle and Breege dominating, and Doyle providing plenty of support in that sector, Myshall edged into a 1-2 to 0-3 lead, though Four Roads will have rued the five wides they shot in that opening period.
They continued to be profligate with their shooting after the resumption but points from Lizzie Glennon-Tully (free) and Niamh Coyle reduced the deficit and then Glennon-Tully brought the sides level when opting to point from a penalty. That was to be their last score though, whereas Doyle managed to deflect Ciara Quirke’s sideline puck to the Four Roads net to book Myshall’s place in the final.
It was much more straightforward for Scariff/Ogonnoloe as former Clare forward, Mairéad Scanlon put on a show by scoring nine points for the Banner outfit, with seven of those arriving in the second half.
The winners raced into a four-point lead thanks to Susan Vaughan, Róisín O’Brien (two) and the excellent Danielle Sheedy and never ceded the upper hand. Méadhbh Laverty got St John’s off the mark but when O’Brien touched the sliotar to the Ulster team’s net, their task looked very difficult indeed.
Aisling Jackson, who finished with five points, did her best for St John’s and Scarriff/Ogonnoloe goalkeeper, Aisling Corbett denied them a goal with a brilliant save, but they trailed by 1-9 top 0-5 at the break and Scanlon scored the first four points of the latter period to banish any hopes of a comeback.
