Moycarkey Borris power evident in emphatic minor final win over Holycross Ballycahill

FBD Insurance Minor A Camogie Championship Final

Moycarkey Borris 3-17

Holycross Ballycahill 0-6

Moycarkey Borris were crowned FBD Insurance Minor A champions on Sunday afternoon after an emphatic victory over Holycross Ballycahill in the County Camogie Grounds.

Having beaten Holycross in the group stages Moycarkey went into Sunday’s game as favourites but the winning margin would have surprised everyone as Holycross Ballycahill came into the final having impressed throughout the championship and after a good win over Boherlahan Dualla in the semi-final.

But on Sunday they had no answer for a rampant Moycarkey team with an array of talent. One couldn’t fault Holycross’s workrate and effort, especially in the first half against a strong wind. Often they would surround the Moycarkey attacker in possession and prevent a score but there was always another player in support who could step up and take the shot.

This was evident when by half time Moycarkey Borris had 11 points scored in total, all from open play with all six of their forwards getting on the scoresheet along with midfielder Kate Ralph. Playing with the aid of a strong wind Moycarkey raced into an early five-point lead before Elanna McGrath got Holycross’s first score with a well-taken free in the 13th minute.

Moycarkey’s points came from Kate Ralph, Kate Dowling, Lucy Callanan and Sarah Corcoran. Kate Ralph responded to Holycross’s first score with a brilliant score from distance before Ciara Shelly made it 0-7 to 0-1 with the first of her scores.

Holycross were battling hard all over the field with Kate Carr excellent in defence and Alison Fitzgerald winning possession in the middle of the field. But they continuously struggled to get the ball past an excellent Moycarkey Borris half-backline where Rachel Ralph in particular excelled.

A second Elanna McGrath free plus a Robyn Fitzgerald point from play concluded the scoring for Holycross. For the opposition Alisha Kearney, Jane Corcoran and Sarah Corcoran raised white flags to give them a commanding lead at the break 0-11 to 0-3.
Holycross needed to start the second half well and they re-emerged after the break with renewed determination and vigour.
Meabh Ryan, Miah Bourke, Caoimhe Doyle and Issy Carr grew more and more into the game and they dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes.

Unfortunately for Holycross, they couldn’t capitalise on the possession and some good scoring chances went begging as a resolute Moycarkey defence weathered the storm.

Disaster struck for Holycross in the 41st minute when a Sarah Corcoran free was blocked out by a Holycross defender and fell nicely for Jane Corcoran who pulled on the ball into the back of the net.

Elanna McGrath responded with an excellent point from a free to make it 1-12 to 0-5. Seven minutes later though the result was put firmly beyond doubt when Jane Corcoran struck her second goal of the game. By now Moycarkey were flying with Ciara Shelly causing all sorts of problems at full forward.

In the 55th minute, she got Moycarkey’s third goal to bring her tally to 1-3 while Sarah Corcoran added two second-half frees and Alisha Kearney also pointed to extend the winning margin. At the final whistle, Moycarkey Borris were celebrating their first-ever minor A title as captain Kate Ralph accepted the John Quirke Jewellers sponsored trophy on behalf of the team.

Moycarkey Borris: Molly O’Dwyer; Ellen Maher, Caitlin Shelly, Kate O’Keefe; Caoimhe Fitzgibbon, Rachel Ralph, Shauna Flanagan; Kate Ralph (0-2), Eva Ralph; Sarah Corcoran (0-5, 0-2f), Lucy Callanan (0-1), Alisha Kearney (0-2); Kate Dowling (0-2), Ciara Shelly (1-3), Jane Corcoran (2-2).

Subs used: Aideen Johnston for Lucy Callanan; Caoimhe O’Sullivan for Jane Corcoran; Aimee Slattery for Ellen Maher; Eimear Sheridan for Kate Dowling; Emma Corcoran for Shauna Flanagan.

Holycross Ballycahill: Sarah Quinlan; Faye Healy, Amber Bannon, Aoife O’Reilly; Kate Carr, Meabh Ryan, Louise McGrath; Alison Fitzgerald, Miah Bourke; Sophie Lee, Caoimhe Doyle, Issy Carr; Elanna McGrath (0-4f), Robbyn Fitzgerald (0-2), Michelle Dwan.

Subs used: Emily Mills for Aoife O’Reilly; Rhianna Cahill for Caoimhe Doyle; Eimear Duggan for Sophie Lee.

Referee: Pat Murray (Moneygall)