Dicksboro too strong for Birr as they reach Leinster Camogie decider

AIB Leinster Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final

DICKSBORO 3-17

BIRR 0-4

KILKENNY champions Dicksboro booked their spot in the final of the Leinster Senior Camogie Championship with a comprehensive win over Birr by 3-17 to 0-4 in Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park on Sunday.

It was always going to be a tough task for Birr to win here on Sunday afternoon, but Dicksboro were just far too strong for the challenge as they put up a big scoreline in Birr to book their place in another provincial decider.

Orla Hanrick, Rachel Dowling and Amy Clifford got the all important goals for their side and they were full credit for the victory.

Despite coming into this encounter as firm underdogs, Birr started off brightly, with Dicksboro only leading 0-2 to 0-1 after the opening 10 minutes, with Ellen Regan getting the first score for the Offaly champions, Aoife Prendergast and Rachel Dowling getting the scores for the Kilkenny side.

Birr were struggling to get the ball inside to the full forward line, with Caoimhe Dowling happy to sit back for her side and gather any loose ball as a sweeper, and essentially they were not able to create enough chances for their forwards to cause damage.

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And soon Dicksboro settled and began to completely take over as two quick fire goals set the sides apart, with Jenny Clifford finding Rachel Dowling for the opener on the 17th minute, before Amy Clifford found herself in space to blast the ball past Caoimhe Kinsella to leave it 2-3 to 0-1 after 21 minutes and leaving Birr with plenty to do already.

Donal Carroll’s side kept the scoreboard ticking over as they added two more points from a Prendergast free before full forward Orla Hanrick opened her account with a nicely taken point from near the sideline, and they were well on top and still having the wind advantage to come in the second half.

Mairead Jennings added a free for her side before the break, but Aobha O’Gorman cancelled that with a fine individual effort, but the Kilkenny side would have still been disappointed to have struck five wides during the opening 30 minutes, despite holding a commanding 2-6 to 0-2 lead going into the second 30 minutes.

Any hope that the Offaly champions might have had for the second half, was fully diminished in the opening three minutes of the second half, as a goal from Orla Hanrick, was followed up by two points from the sticks of Aoife Prendergast and Lucinda Gahan and firmly put the game to bed and securing victory for the visitors.

The rest of the half became a tough one to endure for Birr as they just couldn’t match the speed, skill and tenacity of Dicksboro and were second best on the day.

A further two points were added by Mairead Jennings and substitute Eimear Mooney, but Dicksboro kept up their scoring with thanks in large to Orla Hanrick who had a fantastic second half, as they now look forward to another Leinster decider in their attempt to win a second provincial title in three years.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

ORLA HANRICK (DICKSBORO): Rachel Dowling had a super first half, as did centre back Caoimhe Dowling, but for this one I’m giving it to Orla Hanrick who finished with 1-4 and caused a lot of issues for the Birr full forward line once the game became more wide and open.

Roisin Kinsella tried her best at centre back for Birr as did corner back Rebecca Ryan, but it was a tough afternoon for Birr.

THE SCORERS

Dicksboro: Orla Hanrick (1-4, 0-1 free), Rachel Dowling (1-3), Amy Clifford (1-1), Aoife Prendergast (0-3, frees), Asha McHardy and Lucinda Gahan (0-2 each), Aobha O’Gorman and Asha McHardy (0-1 each).

Birr: Mairead Jennings (0-2, frees), Ellen Regan and Eimear Mooney (0-1 each).

THE TEAMS

DICKSBORO: Cara Duggan; Jane Cass, Tara Clifford, Angela Carroll; Niamh Phelan, Caoimhe Dowling, Ciara Phelan; Aoife Prendergast, Aobha O’Gorman; Asha McHardy, Lucinda Gahan, Rachel Dowling; Jenny Clifford, Orla Hanrick, Amy Clifford. Subs– Katie Byrne for Phelan (35m), Rose Kelly for Gahan (38m), Tara McGrath for O’Gorman (43m), Caoimhe Carroll for Carroll (48m), Sara O’Gorman for Cass (48m).

BIRR: Caoimhe Kinsella; Rebbecca Ryan, Deirdre Cashen (C), Jazzy Bennett; Hannah Murphy, Roisin Kinsella, Hannah Feenane; Ciara Ryan, Alana Roddy (VC); Kate Pilkington, Arlene Watkins, Ellen Regan; Mairead Jennings, Sarah Harding, Faye Mulrooney. Subs- Sheila Sullivan for Ryan (41m) Sorcha Tierney for Pilkington (45m), Doireann Erritty for Roddy (48m), Eimear Mooney for Feenane (48m), Dara Delaney for Bennett (55m).

REFEREE WATCH

A few contentious decisions and at times Ray Kelly probably let advantages go on a bit too long, but he had no proper bearing on the full time result.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Rachel Dowling’s early goal turned the game fully away from Birr as the game was slow to get going and Birr were still within touching distance but once Dowling found the back of the net in the 17th minute, it was simply one way traffic from there.

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VENUE WATCH

Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park hosted the game on Sunday afternoon and the pitch was in excellent knick considering the weather we’ve endured recently, and there was a decent crowd in to brave the cold.

WHAT'S NEXT

Dicksboro go forward to the final, while the season comes to an end for Birr.

STATISTICS

Wides: Birr –3 (2 in first half); Dicksboro – 8 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Birr - (1) Ellen Regan Dicksboro – (1) Orla Hanrick

Red cards: Birr – (0) Dicksboro – (0)

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