Shannon Rovers clear final hurdle at fourth attempt with win over North rivals Moneygall

FBD Insurance Intermediate Camogie Championship Final

Shannon Rovers 0-12

Moneygall 0-7

After three final defeats in succession, it was fourth time lucky for Shannon Rovers as they put in a storming finish to see off a brave Moneygall challenge in Sunday’s FBD Insurance Intermediate Final. 

Moneygall showed no signs of nerves as the 2022 Junior A champions quickly settled into the game. Both sides had their homework done on their opposition's key players with both centre-backs dropping back deep to prevent too much space in front of both full forwards and key markswomen Aoife McLoughney and Niamh Larkin. 

Stephanie Kenny for Moneygall and Julie Brennan for Shannon Rovers also put in impressive displays resulting in both Aoife and Niamh being kept scoeless from play. Aoife would go on to pick up the Player of the Match award largely due to her superb free taking which yielded nine of her sides 12 points total. By half time Aoife had nailed four frees and a 45m to help her side to a 0-7 to 0-5 lead. 

Laura Leenane and a super Gillian McKenna point from play completed the scoring. Moneygall also relied heavily on frees for scores throughout the game and in Caitlyn Treacy they had another top free taker. Caitlyn hit three frees in the opening half while two points from the lively Ciara Maher completed their first-half haul. 

With both sides playing quite defensively and the pressure of three previous final losses weighing heavily on the Shannon Rovers players the first half was at times a very cagey, tense, and tight affair. 

For Moneygall Mary Ryan was dominant at centre back while Mary Teehan enjoyed a great duel with Nicola Kelly on the wing. Their forwards were moving well which led to frees along with two well-struck point from Ciara Maher to leave the score at the break 0-7 to 0-5 in Shannon Rover's favour. With the greater experience in the team many would have thought Shannon Rovers would push on at the start of the second half but surprisingly they failed to score for the next 15 minutes as Moneygall got on top in the middle of the field and Shannon Rovers struggled against the Moneygall defence to get good ball into their inside forward line. 

By the three-quarter mark, two pointed Caitlyn Treacy points meant the game was in the balance at 0-7 apiece. Shannon Rovers needed to do something quickly if they were to finally get their hand on the cup as the momentum had by now swung in Moneygall’s favour. Gillian McKenna was deployed out the field from corner forward as a third midfielder and straight away this seemed to have an impact as Gilliam began to get on a lot of balls and there was more space inside for the forwards. 

A neat pass from Aine Cleary found Laura Leenane and she fired over the bar to give Shannon Rovers a boost. Playing now with the shackles off Rovers began to create more and more chances and put the Moneygall defence under pressure. 

This led to three frees and a 45m all being finished by Aoife McLoughney. With Francis Bugler, Nimah Franks, Eimear Fogarty, and Celine Guinan all coming more and more into the game Moneygall couldn’t create a scoring opportunity at the other end and failed to score in the final quarter resulting in a five-point win for Shannon Rovers. 

Shannon Rovers: Aine Slattery; Aine Leenane, Julie Brennan, Aisling McKenna; Rachel Hannigan, Niamhh Franks, Francis Bugler; Eimear Fogarty, Celine Guinan; Emma Darcy, Aine Cleary, Nicola Kelly; Laura Leenane (0-2), Aoife McLoughney (0-9, 0-7f, 0-2 45m), Gillian McKenna (0-1). 

Subs used: Stephanie O’Sullivan for Rachael Hannigan.

Moneygall: Eimear Ryan; Katie Hayes, Stephaine Kenny, Alice Maher; Mary Teehan, Mary Ryan, Shauna Kirwan; Orlaith Treacy, Edwina King; Lauren Maher, Bronagh Kenneally, Ciara Maher (0-2); Caitlyn Treacy (0-5f), Nimah Larkin, Emma Costello.

Referee: Mike Ryan (Nenagh Éire Óg)