Claremorris goals topple Derry girls
The Claremorris squad before the All-Ireland Lladies JFC semi-final. Pictures: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Sunday was a day that will remain in the hearts and minds in Claremorris for decades to come as their Junior ladies’ team advanced to the All-Ireland final with victory on home soil against Erin’s Own Lavey of Derry.
There was a carnival atmosphere at Canon Gibbons Park and it was all fun at the fair on the pitch as well with seven goals split between the two sides and plenty of drama to boot.
Youth and experience came to the fore in equal measure for Claremorris up and down the field. Half-forward Marina Cawley put in an excellent performance at both ends of the pitch, tracking back to save her team’s skin on many occasions en route to victory. Recent Mayo minor Bree Hession also proved a real handful for the opposition and came away with 1-2 for her efforts.
It was a dream start for Claremorris as they raced into an eight-point lead with just five minutes played. They endured a dreadful barren spell between the 10th and 24th minute; a profligate period they would have come to truly regret if the result had gone the other way.
They recovered well before the break and captain Laura Kelly’s goal settled some rapidly growing nerves. Despite only scoring twice in the second half, both flags Claremorris raised were the colour green and they came within two minutes of one another, either side of a disallowed Lavey goal that would have made things level at that point.
This gave the hosts enough of an edge to see off the ladies from Magherafelt, who fought right up until the bitter end.
It took just 25 seconds for Claremorris to make their mark upon proceedings as Bree Hession fired over the opening point. With three minutes played, Nina Wallace did very well to dance around a defender and toe-poke home a delightful finish. Rebecca Kean arrowed over a free before Nina Wallace added her second goal, to make for a blistering opening five minutes in front of a rapturous home support. Marina Cawley played a well-measured pass and Wallace was on hand to finish.
Lavey needed a shot in the arm and got it, as they fired the next three scores unanswered. Sinead McGill scored from play before Carla Collins and Aoife Shaw added points from frees. Kean got Claremorris moving again but it would be their last score for some time. Shaw fired over another free and the hosts endured a wasteful spell.
Ashleagh Sammon had three great goal chances go awry; the first went wide of the post from an open vantage point, the next smashed the crossbar. The third produced a wonderful save from Lavey keeper Niamh McKenna. Sammon then fed in Hession, who herself was denied as her effort flew wide.
Lavey almost had their first goal but for stalwart work from Marina Cawley, getting back to prevent Aoife Shaw’s pass reaching Noeleen McBride. Carla Collins and Maria Rafferty did convert for Lavey but Claremorris finished the half strong. Bree Hession fired over a point before Alana Fitzpatrick, granddaughter of Mayo great Billy Fitzpatrick, played in captain Laura Kelly who planted the ball in the back of the net.
Mirroring their opponents start to the first half, Lavey enjoyed a fruitful spell at the start of the second. By the 34th minute, Aoife Shaw had added a goal and a point to their tally. The point came from a free and the goal also had some fortune about it, flying past Claire Keane from distance. Things began to look a little bit tricky for Claremorris as dual star Sarah Dee, an accomplished camogie player with Tooreen, was sin-binned for 10 minutes.
The route one tactic worked again for Lavey’s second goal four minutes later. Carla Collins had a shot from a long way out that dropped short but into the grateful grasp of Noeleen McBride, who tidied it up to score.
Claremorris got a rare chance on the breakaway and Bree Hession led the charge. Despite having two teammates waiting inside for a pass, she opted to shoot herself and smashed the ball into the back of the net to bring her team equal in the goals and points they had scored, 4-4.
Lavey went to the well once more and Sinead McGill sent a long ball into the Claremorris square. It caught a Lavey hand on the way into the net but it was disallowed for a square ball. This decision proved to be a big difference maker as the goal would have made it a level game. Instead, Claremorris went up the other end and added their fifth goal.
Ashleagh Sammon, keen to make up for earlier thriftlessness in front of goal, darted past a handful of defenders and unleashed a lobbed shot towards goal. Niamh McKenna remained rooted to the spot as she watched the ball float over her and into the net. It was the best of the seven goals on the day and Claremorris’s last score as they went on to endure nervy times in the remaining 18 minutes of the match.
Carla Collins took her personal tally to five, scoring the games next three scores, all from frees. Her forward partner Aoife Shaw added another from play to bring Lavey to within two points of Claremorris but it was clear a goal was what they needed to get them either level or over the line.
It did not materialize and the final whistle came as great relief to Claremorris, who now have an All-Ireland final to look forward to in two weeks.
