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(i) Leinster Junior Camogie Championship – Smyco Cup first round
Kildare 1-10 Meath 1-16
The spring April weather gave way to wintry conditions last Saturday night (19th April) in Cappagh for this encounter between the Lilywhites and the Royals. The conditions were not conducive to either competitiveness or excitement so both sides deserve tremendous credit for producing a high scoring match in the opening round of the Leinster championship. With a total of 28 scores in the game – a score every two minutes on average – and the sides tied five times – this game demonstrated championship fervour at its best.
While Kildare will have been disappointed with the result they will be happy to have made significant progress over the past couple of months. Both sides already met in the National League in February and Meath had an easy victory from which they went on to be crowned National League Division 4 champions. This time round, Kildare produced a very spirited performance and were genuine challengers to the final whistle.
Kildare led in the opening minutes from a pointed Susie O’Carroll free. This was followed by excellent combination play involving Orla Bambury, Clare Doran and Mel Treacy from which the latter slotted over a second Kildare point. The Royals’ Lizzie Lynch got a chance to test the Kildare defence with a solo run that was unchallenged. This led to Meath’s opening score and only goal in the tenth minute followed by another pointed 40m free by O’Carroll to draw the match for the first time.
Both sides exchanged points on two occasions in the next phase. Kildare then edged ahead with an Orla Bambury point and a goal from a lobbying ball on the wing 25m out from a Susie O’Carroll free. Meath full forward Jane Dolan pulled one back with a point and O’Carroll and Royals’ midfielder Lizzie Oakes exchanged points again to leave Kildare with a half time lead of 1-7 to 1-4.
The very strong icy wind benefited the Lilywhites in the first half and, on the turnover, Meath gained from it in the second 30 minutes. Regina O’Gorman, on her return to inter county camogie after a period of overseas travel, got her name on the scoresheet from the throw-in with a point. Kildare were now four points up but a period of Meath dominance resulted in four unanswered scores from play. This levelled the game for the fourth time. Kildare nosed ahead again with another pointed free from O’Carroll. Meath captain Aileen Donnelly, who gave an exemplary performance of long range free taking, replied to level matters for the final time at 1-9 each coming up to the end of the third quarter.
Then Meath, with the wind at their backs and with the confidence and sharpness of National League champions had their best period of the game. In the last quarter, they put together eight points, including five from frees. The Lilywhite’s only reply was O’Carroll’s seventh and Kildare’s final point in the 20th minute. During the period the Kildare defence was working hard. Netminder Saolog O’ Keeffee, on her intercounty debut, was excellent with two great block downs of dropping balls and a number of other good saves under pressure.
While Kildare’s efforts were insufficient to overturn Meath’s winning margin at the final whistle, they welcomed back Regina O’Gorman, dual player Hazel Mulligan and Niamh Concannon. The team management will have been pleased that the team never gave up the Lilywhite’s cause and stalwarts Orla Bambury, Niamh Breen, Siobhan Hurley, Susie O’Carroll and debutant Saolog O’Keefee were excellent. Meath were very well served by a committed, skilled and well drilled team led by inspirational captain Aileen Donnelly, Jane Dolan, Lizzie Lynch and Ann Marie Dennehy. They will now face Laois in the next round.
Referee: Tommy Hackett (Westmeath)
Kildare: Saolog O’Keeffe, Emer Hurley, Lizzie Finnegan, Niamh Concannon, Nimah Breen, Hazel Mulligan, Reiltin Treacy, Siobhan Hurley, Caroline Forde, Clodagh Farrell, Orla Bambury (0-1), Regina O’Gorman (0-1), Clare Doran, Mel Treacy(0-1), Susie O’Carroll (1-7f). Subs used: Carol Nolan for Reiltin Treacy. Paula Keatley for Emer Hurley, Aoife Trant for Clare Doran.
Team mascot: Louise Nicolson (Cappagh).
Meath: Emily Mangan, Maura Keogh, Aoife Thompson, Karen Ward, Mags Stevens, Aileen Donnelly (0-8 (0-1 45m)(0-5f) , Louise Donoghue, Laura Flynn, Lizzy Oakes (0-1), Ann Marie Fagan (0-1), Frances Lynch, Sinead Hackett, Aine Keogh, Jane Dolan (0-5 (0-2f), Lizzie Lynch (1-1). Subs used: Edel Guy for Laura Flynn (injured), Emma Doherty for Jane Dolan (injured), Stephanie Horan for Aine Keogh, Ann Marie Dennehy (0-1) for Sinead Hackett.
(ii) Kildare 2-1 Laois 2-11 Leinster u14 championship
The strong wind was a key factor in the result of this game. In the first half Kildare had the wind advantage but failed to put up a sufficient score.
Played in Raheen, Laois’ home territory, the young midlanders reaped a much higher return on the scoreboard when they had the wind advantage in the second half and ran out ten point winners at the final whistle. There is still a long way to go in this competition and Kildare will be hoping to put this result behind them and build on the two points gained in their recent win over Wicklow.
(iii) Camogie Feile 2008
The Annual Feile (All Ireland under 14) competition will be held in Laois/Offaly this year on 20/21st June. In 2008, Kildare Camogie Board has changed the format for the county competition to decide who will represent the county on the national stage. This year two æFeile blitzes’ will be held on Sunday 27th April. Eight teams will compete for Feile county honours.
The winners of both blitzes will compete in the county final on 4th May and carry the county’s hopes to the All Ireland stages. Details of the blitzes are as follows:
Sunday 27th April in Eire Og at 12.30pm.
PITCH 1 PITCH 2
12.30 Clane v Maynooth St.Laurances v Naas
12.55 Naas v Maynooth Clane v St. Laurances
1.20 Naas v Clane Maynooth v St.Laurances
Sunday 27th April in Celbridge GAA at 10.30 a.m.
PITCH 1 PITCH 2
10.30 St.Annes v Cappagh Celbridge v Nurney
10.55 Nurney v Cappagh Celbridge v St. Annes
11.20 St.Annes v Nurney Celbridge v Cappagh
Competition rules are if teams are level on points after all games are played, they play a 15minute game to decide the winners.
FEILE FINAL 4TH May 3.30pm
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