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COACHFORD ANNEX TITLE OVER VALIANT MIDLETON
Coachford College added to their recent provincial Junior win by virtue of their four point victory over a tenacious St. Mary’s, Midleton outfit at a windswept Coachford last Monday in the Munster Colleges Camogie Intermediate A Final. Jessica O’ Shea opened the Imokilly account with a point from an acute angle which was followed by another from the tireless Hannah Looney. The well drilled Coachford rearguard proved impenetrable throughout the opening exchanges and, when Ciara O’ Leary released Full Forward Aoife Hennessy, she had little problem dispatching a powerful shot past the hapless Sophie Kearney.
Midleton pressed on again, aided by a strong breeze, with Laura Treacy and Yvonne Murphy attempting on numerous occasions to break through Edel O’ Sullivan, Maeve Corkery and Erinn O’ Connell. Emily O’ Donovan, the Coachford keeper, was kept busy but made a string of good saves. However, on the twentieth minute, she was unable to prevent captain Yvonne Murphy from handpassing a goal to put Midleton in front again. Their lead was short lived however, when Liz Buckley hit a cross field pass which found Aine O’ Connor in space. O’ Connor drew the defender and the final pass to Rachel McCarthy was inch perfect, with the ball in the net the immediate result. Two further points from Ciara O’ Leary put the Muskerry school ahead at the interval 2-2 to 1-2.
Midleton started the second half full of vigour and were rewarded when taylor Kruschel finished a shot to the net, a slight deflection evading keeper Donovan. The introduction of Marie Corkery, Aisling Donovan, Eileen Lyons and Jennifer Healy by the home side had the desired effect. Ailsing Donovan began to torment Niamh O’ Farrell at full back and scored an impressive point after beating three players on her solo run. Nicola Doherty fired over another and, with Susan Buckley, Grace O’ Sullivan and Laura McCarthy performing competently on the forty, few were surprised when the clinical Aoife Hennessy bagged her second goal. The younger Midleton side did score a point via Jessica Treacy but the experience of the Coachford girls, some of whom have accumulated over twelve County or provincial titles in their tenure at school, absorbed the pressure to end victorious on a scoreline 3-4 to 2-3. Dearbhla Ahern, Grace o’ Sullivan, Emily O’ Donovan and in midfield powerhouse Laura Burke impressed for Coachford whilst Hannah Looney, Jessica Treacy and Yvonne Murphy played well for Midleton.
Midleton won the title in 1994, with Mary O’ Connor and Francis Flavin powering them to victory over Coachford 2-9 to 1-4. Coachford last won this title in 1995 defeating St. Aidan’s comfortably in the Glen field.
Coachford: Emily Donovan, Edel o’ Sullivan, Maeve corkery, Erinn O’ Connell, Susan Buckley, Grace O’ Sullivan, Laura McCarthy, Laura Burke, Dearbhla Ahern, Ciara O’ Leary [0-2], Rachel McCarthy [1-0], Aine O’ Connor [C], Nicola Doherty [0-1], Aoife Hennessy [2-0], Liz Buckley. Subs: Aisling Donovan, Edel Tarrant, Eileen Lyons, Eimear McCarthy, Emma Clifford, Jennifer Healy, Jill Kiely, Marie Corkery, Maeve Hennessy, Trish Horgan, Orlaith O’ Driscoll.
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