Eyrecourt emerged with two points to spare over a committed
Mountbellew/Moylough side in the Galway Junior A Camogie Final at Duggan
Park, Ballinasloe. The East Galway side only scored one point in the
second half but that score was enough to see them through in a thrilling
encounter despite the lack of scoring proficiency. The girls from the
North East of the County drew first blood when Paula Carrick pointed
from play just three minutes into the game. Two minutes later Aisling
Fallon set up Elaine O' Sullivan for a second Mountbellew/Moylough score
but for the reminder of the half Eyrecourt were to dominate and from
once Molly Dunne struck over a pointed free from 45 meteres there was to
be no turning back fro the Shannonsiders after that. By the eight minute
Molly Dunne had pointed a second free to level the game. When Dunne went
for a goal shot from close range free Eyrecourt opportunity to take thelead went a miss but Paula Kenny was quick to find the target and give
Eyrecourt a lead that would never relinquish. Dunne added a point from
play and at the end of the opening quarter Eyrecourt had established 0-4
to 0-2 lead.
Karena McHugh pointed for Mountbellew/Moylough but two minutes later
Eyrecourt broke through for the only goal of the game. Paula Kenny
soloed through from midfield before finding Fionnula Larkin whose goal
bound effort was brilliantly blocked by Mountbellew/Moylough 'keeper
Catherine Nee but the ball rebounded favourably to Siobhan Turley who
crashed to the Mountbellew/Moylough net. In a bid to stamp their
authority on the game both Molly Dunne and Yvonne Bradley had goal shots
stopped by the Mountbellew/Moylough defence and before the break
Mountbellew/Moylough's Paula Carrick had pulled back another point that
left scoreboard reading Eyrecourt 1-4 Mountbellew/Moylough 0-4 when the
half time whistle sounded.
Eyrecourt continued to charge forward early in the second half but their
policy to go for goal kept Mountbellew/Moylough in touch and when Paula
Carrick surged through before releasing to Mary Dempsey who split the
Eyrecourt posts, the margin was down to two points with over twenty
minutes still to play. The decision by Karena McHugh to go for goal
proved costly when Susan Earner brought off a good save and minutes
later Paula Kenny combined with Yvonne Bradley to force a 45 which
resulted in Molly Dunne combing with Fionnula Larkin for a valuable
Eyrecourt point.
Eyrecourt were not to score again in the final quarter but
Mountbellew/Moylough despite tremendous pressure were unable to claw
back the deficit. Karena McHugh did pull back a point but it was not
enough as further chances from McHugh, Paula Carrick and others with
amiss.
Eyrecourt: S Earner: C Lynch, M Moran, E Larkin, P McCormack, C Larkin, L
McNally: P Kenny (0-1), L A Lyons; Y Bradley, M Dunne (0-3), S
McCormack; F Larkin (0-1), S Turley (1-0), C Bradley.
Subs: M Mullary for C Lynch.
Mountbellew/Moylough: C Nee, M Cunniffe, B Dempsey, L McHugh; C
Donnellan, C Gavin, C Dempsey; P Carrick (0-2), M Reynolds, A Fallon, C
Gardiner, K McHugh (0-2) M Dempsey (0-1), E O'Sullivan (0-1), O
Connelly.
Subs: E Donnellan for E O'Sullivan.
Referee: G Smyth.
|