Camogie: Dowdall and co undo Drum’

Westmeath senior camogie championship semi-final: Clonkill 5-14, Drumraney 0-3

Clonkill’s ability to score goals at crucial stages of Sunday’s senior camogie semi-final in Joristown proved to be all important factor in deciding the outcome of this fixture, writes David Kelly.

Drumraney were well in contention until conceding Clonkill's first goal right at the end of the first half, followed by the concession of two goals in quick succession in the early minutes of second half play.

Thereafter, Drumraney’s best efforts were not sufficient enough to deny a victory to a very efficient Clonkill team, who go on to face holders Raharney in the final.

Clonkill opened match scoring with a Rebecca Croash point, a lead that was quickly doubled with a Megan Dowdall score. Drumraney’s Aoife McCormack replied with a very good point for the south Westmeath club, only for Chloe Galligan to strike Clonkill’s third point.

After Drumraney struck their third wide, Clonkill’s fourth point was scored via Megan Dowdall (a free). The same player then pointed another free before Drumraney’s Áine Lynn doubled her team’s points tally, via a 50-metre free.

Two further Drumraney wides followed on in quick succession, Clonkill replying with two Megan Dowdall points, the first of which came from a placed ball. Right at the end of the first half, Dowdall scored a goal for Clonkill, dispatching the ball low to the Drumraney net with a crisp drive from 20 metres, after a darting run through the heart of the Drumraney defence.

At half time, Clonkill led 1-7 to 0-2.

Drumraney needed a good start to the second half, in terms of obtaining scores, if they were to turn around this semi-final fixture. However, it was Clonkill who made a great start to the second half, with Chloe Galligan and Rebecca Croash scoring a goal each within the opening three minutes of action. Clonkill’s Megan Dowdall then fired over three points in succession (two frees, and one ‘45’).

Drumraney’s Aoife McCormack then fired over a point for her team, and was perhaps unlucky that she didn't keep her parting shot down, as a goal would have been welcomed by the south Westmeath side.

Áine Lynn (a free) was then just off target for Drumraney, before Lucy Power scored Clonkill’s fourth goal shortly after with a dipping shot. Megan Dowdall and Rebecca Croash then added a further point each to the Clonkill total.

As the end of normal playing time approached, Clonkill closed out match scoring with a point each from Megan Dowdall (free) and Aoife Mullen, and a Caoimhe Scally goal.

Scorers – Clonkill: M Dowdall 1-10 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘45’), R Croash 1-2, C Galligan 1-1, L Power 1-0, C Scally 1-0, A Mullen 0-1. Drumraney: A McCormack 0-2, A Lynn 0-1f.

Clonkill: Alannah Dowdall; Susan Kiernan, Aisling Egerton, Laura Gaffney; Ellen Flanagan, Meadbh Scally, Ellen O’Brien; Kristabella Tamosiunaite, Caoimhe Coogan; Lucy Power, Rebecca Croash, Megan Dowdall; Alexandra Elaurza, Alannah Conneely, Chloe Galligan. Subs: Caoimhe Scally for Elaurza, Aoife Mullen for Power, Orlaith Murray for Galligan, Holly Dowdall for Tamosiunaite, Anne Marie O’Reilly for Gaffney.

Drumraney: Sharon Seery; Kate McLoughlin, Chloe Butler, Kacey Burslem Rotheroe; Rebecca O’Kane, Megan McCormack, Aimee Duncan; Emily McCabe, Anne Marie Moran; Chloe Moran, Aine Lynn, Aoife McCormack; Alison Hughes, Rhona Cuffe, Amy Hughes.

Subs: Aisling McLoughlin for Amy Hughes, Sinead Seery for Alison Hughes.

Ref: John Dermody (Lough Lene Gaels).