Second half goals decisive as St Rynagh's claim 'B' title

ST RYNAGH'S 2-10

KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY 2-5

TWO goals in two minutes early in the final quarter were decisive as St Rynagh's captured the Offaly Senior B camogie title with a hard earned victory over Kilcormac/Killoughey in the final played in Shinrone on Sunday.

There was little to separate the teams for much of the game but those two goals gave St Rynagh's the cushion in the latter stages of the game and they were able to hold out against a determined Kilcormac/Killoughey side.

The sides were level at half time after an evenly contested first half and Kilcormac/Killoughey jumped into an early four point lead after the break but St Rynagh's then dug in and they dominated possession for much of the rest of the game but missed a lot of chances.

They were still two points behind when Katie O'Connell slammed home their first goal after 48 minutes and Kate Kenny followed up with the second just two minutes later and that put them in the driving seat. Kilcormac/Killoughey did get the gap down to three again but they were unable to close the gap any further and St Rynagh's grabbed a couple of late points to secure the victory.

Over the hour St Rynagh's were the stronger team and had they taken all their chances they could have put the game to bed earlier but they had to fight all the way to the finish to ensure that they claimed the silverware.

Kilcormac/Killoughey certainly battled hard throughout the first half and matched their opponents in that time. They got that great start to the second half to go four points up but they were under a lot of pressure from there on and their scoring chances became a lot scarcer.

St Rynagh's knew they were in a battle at that stage but to their credit they knuckled down and took the game to Kilcormac/Killoughey. They applied a lot of pressure but it took them time to whittle away the Kilcormac/Killoughey lead. Kate Kenny finished top scorer with 1-8 but unusually for her, she missed a number of chances from frees which she would normally slot over. However, when the chips were down she was on hand to net the second goal and also scored another late point from play to ensure the title went to her side.

Kilcormac/Killoughey played well but struggled in the scoring department. Only one of their points came from play – and that from a sub - and they found it harder to create openings in the second half. They kept battling to the final whistle but just came up short in the end.

Sinead Moran, Siohhan Flannery and Tara Butler all played well in the St Rynagh's defence, captain Louise Mannion did a lot of good work around the middle of the field, while Kate Kenny and Kate O'Connell provided the scores in attack and Amy Sullivan became much more of a force when she dropped to a deeper role in the second half.

Sarah Guinan, Lorraine Keena and Elizabeth Kilmartin worked hard in the Kilcormac/Killoughey defence, Jane Lowry had a fine game in the middle of the field, while Sinead Moore, Debbie Flynn and Emma Mulrooney were most effective in attack.

St Rynagh's hit the front after two minutes with a good score from play by Kate Kenny. Both sides missed chances in the opening exchanges before Kilcormac/Killoughey levelled after 10 minutes through a Debbie Flynn free. Katie O'Connell quickly put Rynagh's back in front with a well worked score and Kate Kenny stretched the lead to 0-3 to 0-1 from a free after 18 minutes.

Debbie Flynn replied with a Kilcormac/Killoughey free and then when she dropped another long range free into the goalmouth, Emma Mulrooney won the ball and finished to the net to put Kilcormac/Killoughey in front for the first time after 24 minutes. Rynagh's finished the half well and Kate Kenny pointed a '45' and a free to send the sides in level at half time, 0-5 to 1-2.

Debbie Flynn pointed another free in the second minute of the second half and three minutes later Kilcormac/Killoughey found themselves four in front when Emma Mulrooney's shot from the left dipped under the crossbar and over the line for a second goal.

St Rynagh's now had to dig in but unusually Kate Kenny missed a couple of efforts from placed balls. She did get one from play and added two more frees to cut the gap to a point midway through the half. Aideen Quinn responded with Kilcormac/Killoughey's only point from play over the hour to put them two up again.

St Rynagh's then took a grip on the game. Katie O'Connell raced in from the right and fired a great shot to the net and two minutes late Kate Kenny came out of a ruck with the ball and closed in on goals before slapping the ball to the net from close range and suddenly Rynagh's were four points to the good.

Debbie Flynn cut the gap to three with six minutes left but they were unable to conjure up the goal which might have rescued the game for them and Amy Sullivan and Kate Kenny both scored late points from play for St Rynagh's to seal their victory.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

ST RYNAGH'S: Sophie James; Maebh Doorley, Sinead Moran, Cait Hickey; Laoise Regan, Siobhan Flannery, Tara Butler; Louise Mannion, Aoife O'Regan; Aoife McLoughlin, Amy Sullivan, Aoife Byrne; Allie Butler, Kate Kenny, Katie O'Connell. Subs. Brionna O'Connor (for Aoife Byrne, half time), Niamh Sheehy (for Aoife McLoughlin, 47 mins).

KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY: Carol Mahon; Sarah Doherty, Sarah Guinan, Sarah Fitzgerald; Rachel Guinan, Debbie Flynn, Elizabeth Kilmartin; Jane Lowry, Eileen Bracken; Sinead Moore, Debbie Flynn, Ruth Hennessy; Sarah Meacle, Emma Mulrooney, Caoimhe Quinn. Subs. Grace Leonard (for Caoimhe Quinn, 41 mins), Orla Kilmartin (for Rachel Guinan, 41 mins), Aideen Quinn (for Ruth Hennessy), Eadaoin Kilmartin (for Eileen Bracken, 53 mins).

REFEREE: Sean Michael Maher.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

There were strong contenders on both sides. Jane Lowry and Debbie Flynn both played well for Kilcormac/Killoughey while Kate Kenny top scored for Rynagh's with 1-8 but I've gone with Katie O'Connell who proved a handful in the corner for the Kilcormac/Killoughey defence all day. She scored 1-1 herself but also won a number of the frees which Kate Kenny pointed and she was lively and busy throughout.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

That two minute spell early in the final quarter swung the match in Rynagh's favour. Up to that Kilcormac/Killoughey were clinging to their lead and while Rynagh's had a lot of possession they were missing chances but those two goals changed the game and Rynagh's didn't look back from there.

REFEREE WATCH

Sean Michael Maher handled the game well. He was consistent in his decision making and kept on top of things throughout the game.

TALKING POINT

St Rynagh's were unlucky to miss out on the A semi-finals on scoring difference but they showed their worth with this win. It is a much changed St Rynagh's team. It is only 19 months since they won their second All-Ireland Interemediate club title but only six of the team which started on Sunday, started that All-Ireland final, so they have had to bring on a lot of new players and it shows their strength in depth that they were able to win this title with so many new players.

WHAT’S NEXT

This marks the end of the season for both sides with Rynagh's going home with the silverware.

VENUE WATCH

Shinrone catered for the game very well on a lovely day for camogie. They had stewards on duty to look after parking and guide people back onto the road afterwards. The pitch itself, like most other pitches at the moment, was a bit soft but held up well.

STATISTICS

Wides; St Rynagh's 10 (5 in first half) Kilcormac/Killoughey 7 (5 in first half)

Yellow Cards: St Rynagh's 0 Kilcormac/Killoughey 1 (Lorraine Keena)

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

St Rynagh's; Kate Kenny (1-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '45'), Katie O'Connell (1-1), Amy Sullivan (0-1).

Kilcormac/Killoughey; Emma Mulrooney (2-0), Debbie Flynn (0-4, frees), Aideen Quinn (0-1).