Coachford College Win Camogie Title

Coachford College were worthy victors in their tussle with Colaiste Na Toirbhirte, Bandon in theCork Colleges Junior A camogie championship Final replay last Wednesday at a windswept Coachford venue. Coachford beat Mount Mercy and Coláiste Choilm whilst Bandon accounted for Charleville en route to the final, with Coachford coming from a twelve point deficit in Bandon GAA before the mid term to draw the match. The home team started well with a converted free from Cliona Healy after good approach work from Julie Tarrant and Captain Marie O’ Reilly. Bandon responded immediately when Chloe O’ Leary delivered a long pass to Maedhbh O’ Donovan who pointed from the wing. Maeve Lynch then converted a free, having been unceremoniously stopped bearing down on goal by the resilient Ciara Ring. Zerica Griffin gained possession from the resultant puck out and Ciara O’ Sullivan dispatched the ball past Ciara Twomey to put 4 points between the sides. Donovan added another and the warning bells were ringing for the Muskerry school. Rachel McElroy was being dominated by impressive Bandon full Back Sarah O’ Sullivan but an astute switch to the corner yielded a better return for the Muskerry side. Coachford responded with Lauren Moynihan latching onto a Ciara Sheehan clearance and, leaving Keelin Barrett in her wake, scored a valuable point. McElroy caught the resultant puck out and was fouled en route to goal, Cliona Healy converting the point to leave two points the deficit.

Katie McCarthy, easily the best player on view, was a dominant force at the back for Coachford and found wing forward Jenny Burke in irrepressible form with accurate clearances to that wing. Corner back Leah Dineen found herself following corner forward Niamh Collins outfield which left space behind, exploited by Kate Wall when she scored from a difficult angle. Lynch converted a 45 with Chloe O’ Leary, Sinead O’ Sullivan and Aoife O’ Sullivan beginning to contribute to the Carberry school’s dominance. Tara Clifford won possession on the forty and deftly released Ciara McCarthy who flicked the sliotar over the bar, Ellen Tarrant hooked Bandon defender Siobhán Kelleher and Lauren Moynihan snapped up another point. Referee Andy Larkin last action of the half was to award a free to Cliona Healy, on the receiving end of some persistent fouling when running at the Bandon defence; a booking for a Bandon defender and converted point for Coachford the outcome to leavethe score 1-5 to 0-6 in favour of Coach Sinead White’s Bandon side.

At the resumption, Coachford midfielder Marie O’ Reilly gained possession and delivered a cross field pass to McCarthy who eluded two defenders before clattering into Aoife Buckley – referee Larkin correctly awarding a free for the barging infringement. Indeed, a feature of the game was the manner in which the Referee consistently explained all fouls to players from both sides which made for a fabulous contest. Sarah O’ Sullivan scored two frees for Bandon with Ciara McCarthy reciprocating with a long range strike on the run to put a goal between the sides. Katie McCarthy, Ella Foley and Marguerite Lyons all applied pressure on the Bandon puck out and when McCarthy delivered yet another incisive pass to Moynihan, the Cork U14 star floated past two defenders to bury the ball past Orla Dineen. Bandon responded immediately when Niamh Collins found Sarah O’ Sullivan who finished well to the Coachford net. Cliona Healy converted a 45 and, with six minutes remaining, elected to take a point from a close in free when Jenny Burke had been upended.

Both teams were displaying great determination but the Bandon girls spurned two opportunities to finish the game when Sarah O’ Sullivan, on the fourteen having rounded her defender, had her point blank shot stopped by brave keeper Ciara Twomey. Sullivan gathered the rebound but the next shot was blocked by Miriam Cotter in a magnificent piece of skill and anticipation. Bandon missed the 45 with four minutes to play, Twomey found Healy with the puck out but she was fouled on her 65m line. A quick thinking Katie McCarthy delivery found the injured Ciara McCarthy goal side of her marker and her ferocious ground pull rattled the Bandon net for a match winning score. Coachford held out to gain victory in what all agreed was a spectacular contest. Coachford seniors have also qualified for the Cork Colleges final and anticipate a physical encounter with favourites St. Mary’s Charleville.

Coachford: Ciara Twomey, Leah Dineen, Ciara Ring, Miriam Cotter, Julie Tarrant, Katie McCarthy, Ciara Sheehan, Cliona Healy [0-5], Marie O’ Reilly [C], Jenny Burke, Tara Clifford, Ciara McCarthy [0-2], Rachel McElroy, Ellen Tarrant, Lauren Moynihan [1-2], Ella Browne, Julie Verling, Karen Dennehy, Sophie McCarthy, Callie McCarthy, Ella Foley, Marguerite Lyons, Kate Sheehan, Laura Barrett, Aideen Buckley.

Bandon: Orla Dineen, Siobhan Kelleher, Leah Cullinane, Keelin Barrett, Sinead O’ Sullivan, Aoife Buckley, Chloe O’ Leary, Kate Wall [C][0-1], Maeve Lynch [0-2], Zerica Griffin, Maebh O’ Donovan [0-2], Sarah O’ Sullivan [1-2], Sinead Hurley, Niamh Collins, Ciara O’ Sullivan [1-0].