Moycarkey Borris foiled by resilient Ballincollig in exciting Munster final encounter

AIB Munster Intermediate Camogie Championship Final

Moycarkey Borris 1-5

Ballincollig 2-7

Moycarkey Borris left Mallow on Saturday knowing missed goal chances proved costly in their AIB Intermediate Camogie Club final loss to Ballincollig. 

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Despite leading at half-time and creating several clear opportunities, they were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Ana Hartnett, whose saves had a major influence on the result.

Moycarkey edged a low-scoring first half, 0-3 to 0-2. Molly O’Dwyer made an early save from Tara Goulding before Kate Ralph opened the scoring. 

Ballincollig replied through an Ailish Scanlon free, and points from Goulding and Emma O’Sullivan left the sides level. 

With both defences coping well in heavy conditions, scoring chances were rare. In the Moycarkey defence, Kate Dowling and Lucy Callanan were prominent.

Moycarkey created three goal chances before the break. Alisha Kearney’s ground shot went narrowly wide, and Hartnett then saved twice, including a one-on-one with Sarah Corcoran. Kearney added a point just before half-time to restore the Moycarkey lead.

Ballincollig equalised early in the second half through Blaithin Cunniffe, and a free from Keeley Goulding put them ahead. Ralph responded, but another Moycarkey goal chance went astray when O’Sullivan kicked wide.

Ballincollig then took control with two goals from Leah Hannigan inside half a minute. Moycarkey reduced the margin when Corcoran got the final touch in a crowded goalmouth, but another Hartnett save prevented an equaliser.

Hannigan added two points for Ballincollig, and although Ciara Shelly replied, a late free for the Cork side helped them see out the game.

Scorers: Moycarkey Borris: Sarah Corcoran 1-0, Kate Ralph 0-2, Alisha Kearney, Emma O’Sullivan 0-1f, Ciara Shelly 0-1. 

Ballincollig: Leah Hannigan 2-2, Keeley Goulding 0-2f, Ailish Scanlon 0-1f, Blaithin Cunniffe, Tara Goulding 0-1 each. 

Moycarkey Borris: Molly O’Dwyer; Amy Callanan, Caitlin Shelly, Amy McGovern; Joan O’Keeffe, Kate Dowling, Lucy Callanan; Alisha Kearney, Sarah Corcoran; Eva Ralph, Emma O’Sullivan, Maria Kinane; Kate Ralph, Ciara Shelly, Sophie Coughlan. 

Ballincollig: Ana Hartnett; Aoife Cotter, Miriam Healy, Cara O'Sullivan; Orla Keating, Leah Weste, Ella Hickey; Ailish Scanlon, Susanna Healy; Keeley Goulding, Leah Hannigan, Olivia O'Leary; Sorcha McCarthy, Linda Dorgan, Tara Goulding. 

Subs used: Blaithin Cunniffe for O’Leary (HT); Niamh O'Brien for S Healy (50); Izzy Fleury for S McCarthy (52). 

Referee: Dan McKenna (Limerick)

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