*Photograph: Ruth Griffin
CLOONEY/QUIN came up short in their efforts to win the Munster junior camogie championship.
Patrickswell 2-15
Clooney/Quin 1-05
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
Ultimately a leap too far for Clooney-Quin as a powerful Patrickswell side eased to a first ever Munster Junior Club title in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis.
Led by the vastly experienced Sarah Carey, who previously garnered eight senior crowns with Granagh/Ballingarry, a superbly balanced Patrickswell possessed too many fires for Clooney/Quin to put out as they led from start to finish to run out decisive winners.
Outstanding centre-back Carey was equalled by midfielder Teresa Dore, best forward Ciara Barry, free taker Roisin O’Brien and a five point haul from Rachel O’Grady to give John Tuohy’s side a handsome cushion throughout.
Indeed, despite trailing by 1-6 to 1-3 by the break, Clooney-Quin would have been relatively satisfied with that scoreline despite having played with the aid of a strong wind.
A brace of Rachel O’Grady points helped the visitors to a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage, only solaced by a Caoimhe McDonnell opener. However, Patrickswell would have a Sophie Carey goal ruled out for a square ball while home goalkeeper Rachel McHugh also intercepted another potential chance for Sophie Carey to keep the Limerick intermediate champions somewhat at bay.
Those let-offs were magnified when in the 20th minute, a Ciara Grogan free was only partially batted clear for teenager Sheena Beirne to pull the rebound to the net and slash the arrears to just the minimum at 0-6 to 1-2.
However, it would only prove a brief reprieve as from the resulting puck-out, the excellent Ciara Barry raced through to cancel Clooney/Quin’s goal with one of her own.
Clooney/Quin’s inspirational captain Ciara Grogan did pull back a free before the break to lower the half-time deficit to just three but in spite of the club legend and outgoing Clare GAA COO Deirdre Murphy being introduced for the second half to positive effect, the hosts would be on the backfoot for the majority of the new half.
Rachel McHugh denied Sarah Fitzgerald with a great save after only 90 seconds but would be powerless to prevent Sophie Carey from finally billowing the net. Buoyed by that start, Patrickswell added the next six points including a further trio for Rachel O’Grady to effectively put the result beyond any doubt at 2-12 to 1-03 by the turn of the final quarter.
Deirdre Murphy had a rebound smothered while Ciara Grogan and the lively Sheena Beirne did fire last quarter points but there would be no denying Patrickswell who fully merited their 13 point victory and now take on Bridin Óg Glenravel (Antrim) this Saturday in the All-Ireland Junior Club Camogie Semi-Final on neutral soil (1pm).
For Clooney-Quin’s young side, this will be a major learning curve but overall, finally reclaiming their senior status will be the prize most cherished over the winter.
Scorers for Patrickswell: Roisin O’Brien 0-6 (4f, 1’45); Rachel O’Grady 0-5; Ciara Barry 1-1; Sophie Carey 1-0; Leah O’Carroll 0-2; Sarah Fitzgerald 0-1
Scorers for Clooney-Quin: Sheena Beirne 1-1; Ciara Grogan 0-3 (3f); Caoimhe McDonnell 0-1
Patrickswell
1: Sarah Gillane
4: Kathleen Dore
3: Tara Kirby
2: Kailey O’Donnell
5: Emma Barry
6: Sarah Carey
7: Kate Fitzgerald
8: Kate Feasey
9: Teresa Dore
11: Sarah Fitzgerald
15: Ciara Barry
10: Roisin O’Brien
13: Rachel O’Grady
14: Sophie Carey
12: Leah O’Carroll
Subs
17: Michelle Fitzgerald for E. Barry (51)
18: Sophie O’Grady for C. Barry (55)
20: Chelsea McCarthy for S. Carey (55)
19: Nicola Ryan for R. O’Grady (59)
22: Julie Darcy for Kirby (61)
Clooney-Quin
1: Rachel McHugh
2: Moya Dunne
3: Bebhinn Gallagher
7: Claire Murphy
4: Clodagh Quinn
6: Ciara Grogan
5: Sinead McGee
8: Ciara Halpin
14: Emer Moynihan
9: Nicole O’Riordan
13: Sheena Beirne
15: Emma Considine
21: Caoimhe McDonnell
12: Emma Deegan
10: Emma Quinn
Subs
16: Deirdre Murphy for Considine (HT)
17: Sarah Costello for E. Quinn (44)
20: Rachel Coneely for Dunne (48)
18: Ellen Collins for Moynihan (55)
Referee: Johnny Dooley (Tipperary)
