Junior Camogie Championship: Round Tower 2-5 v Na Gaeil Óga 7-7
Goals proved Towers Camógs undoing as they finished off their championship league campaign with a disappointing loss. It was a top-of the table clash, with Na Gaeil Óga taking the honours Both sides now move onto the semi-final stage of the competition.
Within two minutes and virtually their first attack Na Gaeil struck a goal. They then struck a point as Towers ladies struggled to find their feet. Ciara Devaney, Yazmin O’Neill, Fiona Walsh and Nadine Salinger combined to create the first opening and after the door was initially shut O’Neill flicked back to Roisin Ó Donnagain to drive over. But a low strike crept inside to give the visitors their second goal. Ó Donnagain then carried well into attack and Walsh won possession well to create the opening for an Emma O’Malley’s strike to clip the bar and go over. O’Neill won the puck out and pointed our third from the right. But on the 17 minute mark Na Gaeil levelled the points tally and followed it up with their fourth. O’Neill’s strike was almost flicked to the net by Salinger but our first arrived straight after. Good battling by Salinger, Ó Donnagain and Walsh meant Na Gaeil struggled to clear their lines and a short clearance was struck to the net by O’Malley. But almost immediately our third was conceded when a ball into the Towers box was kicked to the net. O’Malley struck her first point from a free after O’Neill’s drive for goal was halted. But another killer moment arrived when a 65 deceived the Towers rearguard to find its way to the net.
Na Gaeil registered early in the second half and Ó Donnagain almost netted but for a good block by the keeper. O’Neill then had a goal strike cleared off the line by a defender. Towers did register their first score of the half when Chloe Morris set up O’Neill and after she was fouled she picked herself up to strike the free. The deficit was then reduced to two goals. O’Neill won the puck-out in midfield and played up the line to Holly Gregg. She carried in from the right and struck from a tight angle to the roof of the net. With 12 minutes to play it gave Towers hope but disappointingly it was our final score. Na Gaeil finished the stronger, registering three goals without reply. Both teams move on in the Championship and Towers will be confident a better performance is in them in the final stages.
Round Tower: Sarah Callanan, Chloe Morris, Croia Byrne-Egan, Muireann O’Donovan, Grace Keane, Saoirse Tunny, Roisin Ó Donnagain, Yazmin O’Nell, Kirsten Gaffney, Holly Gregg, Nadine Salinger, Amy Murphy, Emma O’Malley, Saoirse Ng, Fiona Walsh
