Clonoulty Rossmore down West rivals Kickhams in first round clash

Clonoulty Rossmore 0-19

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams 0-8

In dreadful weather conditions, Clonoulty Rossmore proved too strong for Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in the opening game of the FBD Insurance Senior Championship running out 11-point winners in Clonoulty GAA.

Courtney Ryan operating at centre forward got Clonoulty off the mark after just 30 seconds on the clock. Knockavilla’s best player on the night Caoimhe Mccarthy responded two minutes later but it was all Clonoulty for the next 15 minutes as they hit five points in a row all from play in an impressive display from their forward unit.

Courtney, Sophie Maher, Casey Hennessey (2) and Kate Ferncombe all showed great accuracy to make it 0-6 to 0-1. Another Caoimhe McCarthy free was cancelled out by a Cait Devane free before McCarthy struck a super point on 19 minutes to make it seven points to three as Kickhams began to settle and grow more into the game.

But Devane then switched out to the half-forward line and led an onslaught of Clonoulty scores again with 6 in a row to give them a commanding halftime lead 0-13 to 0-3.

Devane had 0-4, 0-3 from play with Courtney Ryan pointing two and Kate Ryan also raising a white flag. Kickhams needed a big start to the second half and with the advantage of a strong wind they scored the first three scores of the half two from Eimear Heffernan and a well worked score from Mary Anne Hayes cutting in from the corner.

The Kickhams work rate was very good with Beth Ryan and Ereena Fryday leading the fightback in defence while Caoimhe McCarthy and Eimear Heffernan linked up well around the middle of the field.

But they lacked real firepower up front and with the Clonoulty defence in fine form especially Eimear Loughman they only managed two more points in the half a free from Eimear Heffernan and a point from Ereena Fryday.

19 points was excellent scoring from Clonoulty in one of the worse ever conditions for a game of camogie with the rain relentless throughout the hour.

Their spread of scorers was also impressive with Devane, Eimear Bourke and substitute Kellie Quirke finishing the second half scoring.

Clonoulty Rossmore: Bernadette Ryan; Lorna Ryan, Aoife Bourke, Kate Moran; Marie Kinane, Clodagh Quirke, Eimear Loughman; Casey Hennessey (0-2), Kate Ferncombe (0-1); Sophie Maher (0-1), Courtney Ryan (0-4), Kate Ryan (0-1); Eimear Bourke (0-1), Cait Devane (0-8,0-5f) , Avril Quirke.

Subs used: Kellie Quirke (0-1).

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams: Sheena Ryan; Holly Fitzgerald, Beth Ryan, Jessie Collins; Emma O’Mara, Ereena Fryday (0-1), Sarah Ryan; Niamh Slattery, Caoimhe McCarthy (0-3, 0-1f); Emma Daly, Eimear Heffernan (0-3, 0-2f), Mary Anne Hayes (0-1); Saoirse O’Dwyer, Sinead Furlong, Ellen Browne.