REPORTS: Senior camogie championship down to last four after brilliant quarter-final ties

FBD Insurance County Senior Camogie Quarter-Final

Drom Inch 2-15 

Shannon Rovers 0-8

By Liam Hogan 

Holders Drom Inch scored 1-6 without reply in the last quarter to earn a place in the last four when defeating Shannon Rovers in the FBD Insurance Senior Camogie Quarter-Final at The Ragg GAA pitch last Saturday evening. 

In a game of champions, the 2023 senior champs against the 2023 County Intermediate winners twelve months ago, and the experienced senior club held all the aces as evidenced by how they turned the game into a one-sided battle in the last ten minutes. 

The winners had leaders in very line of defence as Christina Brennan, Aine Greed, Anne Eviston, and Mairead Eviston played well in front of the experienced Caoimhe Bourke in goal.   

Up front Ciara Cahill, Siobhan McGrath and Niamh Treacy were prominent with Treacy producing a player of the game performance. Eimear McGrath had led the way in the first half before she had to be replaced before half-time due to injury.

For Rovers, Rita Burke turned back the years with a great performance in goals while Paula Hannigan, Gillian McKenna, Emma Costello, and Celine Guinan did very well in the role as a sweeper in the company of Niamh Franks and Eimear Fogarty. Anna Harding covered many blades of grass in partnership with Clodagh Cahalan in midfield, Aoife McLoughney and Laura Leenane tried their best in attack. 

Rovers lined out with nine of the victorious fifteen that won last year’s inter-final with Rita Bourke, Paula Hannigan, Emma Costello, Anna Harding, Clodagh Cahalan, and Bethany Slattery the new replacements. 

Both sides had their share of possession in the opening minutes before Miriam Campion had the opening goal after eight minutes. The goal kept the champions in front and they led 1-7 to 0-4 at half time with Campion adding two points while Ciara Cahill and Siobhan McGrath added a point each. The latter replaced Eimear McGrath who had scored three points before her departure.

Meanwhile, Aoife McLoughney had scored 0-3 including a free and a 45 for Rovers with Laura Leenane adding a point. 

Rovers pressed hard in the opening nine minutes of the second half and cut the lead to three as Aoife McLoughney scored two frees either side of an Anna Harding point from play. Miriam Campion had Drom back on the board with a 42nd-minute free followed by a score from play a minute later. Rovers responded with another McLoughney free leaving the champions with a fight on their hands. 

But like champions, they regrouped but Rita Burke denied Miriam Campion with a good save before the champions made amends over the next five minutes with three unanswered points through Siobhan McGrath and back-to-back scores by Ciara Cahill. Rovers continued to fight back but the Drom defence were getting stronger by the minute. 

With that hold on the game, their front eight took over and brought the game to the challengers and the decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Siobhan McGrath evaded the Rovers' cover to direct a high ball by Niamh Treacy to the net past Burke. 

Ten points up and Drom were now in the driving seat to complete the win they added three late points through Michelle Woodlock followed by a point from the evergreen Joanne Ryan before  Mary Burke brought an end to the day with the last score of the day.  

Drom & Inch: Caoimhe Bourke; Maria Connolly, Christina Brennan, Eimear Cahill; Aine Greed, Anne Eviston, Mairead Eviston; Niamh Treacy, Caroline Shanahan; Ciara Cahill, Maureen Ryan, Mary Burke; Eimear McGrath, Miriam Campion, Aoife McGrath. 

Subs used: Siobhan McGrath for E McGrath (20, inj); Niamh Long for Greed (51); Joanne Ryan for Campion (51); Grainne Long for Greed (51). 

Shannon Rovers:  Rita Burke; Paula Hannigan, Gillian McKenna, Aine Cleary; Emma Costello, Niamh Franks, Eimear Fogarty; Anna Harding, Clodagh Cahalan; Celine Guinan, Nicola Kelly, Aine Slattery; Aoife McLoughney, Laura Leenane, Bethany Slattery. 

Subs used: Emma Darcy for B Slattery (37); Ava Young for Kelly (41); Rachel Hannigan for P Hannigan (47); Paula Hannigan for R Hannigan (56, inj). 

Referee: Philip Shanahan (Nenagh Éire Óg)