John Lockes get better of Graig to reach junior camogie county final

The John Lockes (Callan) junior camogie team took another impressive step towards the county title when they overcame stiff initial resistance from Graignamanagh to finish as deserving winners in the county semi-final in Thomastown on Sunday morning.

After a number of good wins at junior level this year the Callan girls entered this match as firm favourites to make it to another final, but they knew a stern test would await from Graig, who had an excellent win over Carrickshock in last week’s quarter-final.

For the opening 20 minutes, the Graig side looked capable of causing another upset in a match which was very evenly balanced between both sides. However, the Callan girls stuck to their own game plan. Helped by impressive performances by the Phelan sisters Emily and Rachel, they grabbed control of the contest in the 10 minutes before half-time and powered through the gears in the second half in which they restricted their opponents to just a single point from a free.

The opening exchanges saw both sides tear into the action although two injuries to John Lockes girls saw some disruption to the flow of play. John Lockes had opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes but Graig were competing well in all areas of the field and they were boosted by a fine goal at this time from Denise Byrne to level the match at 1-1 to 0-4.

The exchanges were very much end-to-end for the next 10 minutes after which the sides were still level at 1-3 to 0-6. The strong support on show for both sides in this well attended fixture made for a great contest.

Gradually, John Lockes then started to get through the Graig rearguard and six successive scores from the lively Emily Phelan (3), Aisling O’Sullivan (2) and Meg Ryan opened up a 0-12 to 1-3 lead approaching half-time. Graignamanagh did rally with two points from Nessa Dowling while a free from Aisling Prendergast reduced the gap to four points (0-12 to 1-5) at the interval, leaving both sides with everything to play for in the second half.

Unlike the first half, the second half didn’t have the same level of excitement as John Lockes continued to press home their advantage throughout the second period. The Callan side hit the three opening scores through Rachel Phelan and Aisling O’Sullivan (2) as they stretched their lead to seven points by the 36th minute. In truth they never looked in danger throughout this period as their defence, led by Rachel Hartley and Laura Phelan, got a firm grip on the Graignamanagh forwards.

This trend continued throughout the second period and further scores followed from Aisling O’Sullivan (3), Rachel Phelan and Emily Phelan saw the Callan girls get to an impressive 0-20 points total.

Graignamanagh battled to the end, particularly goalkeeper Kelly-Ann Whelan who made a number of fine saves and fullback Ellen Delaney, but it wasn’t to be for them against opponents who will be hard to beat in this weekend’s junior championship final against Dicksboro. The match, which will be played in Tullaroan on Saturday, has a 12 noon throw-in time.

John Lockes - Kym Ryan, Sal Ryan, Rachel Hartley, Aine Downing, Sarah Roche (captain), Laura Phelan, Erika Dunne, Sarah Keher, Rachel Phelan, Leah O’Donovan, Meg Ryan, Emily Phelan, Chloe O’Donovan, Aisling O’Sullivan, Caoimhe Kelly.

Subs: Julie Nolan, Lauren Hartley, Niamh Hogan, Erin Morrissey, Sadhbh MacCormack, Maria Ryan, Kate Lynch, Anna O’Brien, Farrah Ryan, Maria Ryan, Aoibhne Corcoran.

Graignamanagh - Kelly Ann Whelan, Gemma Dunne, Ellen Delaney, Kitty O’Driscoll, Lucy Kennedy, Rebecca Hayden, Ava Prendergast, Darcy Bolger, Lynda Murphy, Rachel Brown, Sinead Lanigan, Aisling Prendergast, Megan Kinsella, Denise Byrne, Nessa Dowling.

Subs: Kellyann Cotterell, Jessica Dowling, Orlaith O’Shea, Claire O’Neill, Jessica Ryan, Rachel Blanchfield, Sinead Fenlon, Daisy Barron, Lily Treacy, Aoife Lavin.

Referee - Paul Cahill (Dunnamaggin).