*Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Not even the inclement weather could dampen down the real homecoming as Inagh-Kilnamona eased into a third Munster Senior Camogie Final in four seasons in Inagh on Sunday afternoon.
Inagh-Kilnamona 1-19
Courcey Rovers (Cork) 1-04
Venue: Inagh
Carrying on the impressive form from their county decider triumph three weeks earlier, the gale-assisted hosts brushed aside the concession of a Linda Collins goal to hit the next 12 points and continued to maintain the upper hand on the turnover in a dominant display.
The stormy conditions made for a physical contest but Inagh-Kilnamona’s superior experience was patently clear throughout as they showed remarkable composure to play the ball through the lines in both halves and keep the Munster debutants at arm’s length.
Settling early scores through Aoife Keane and Andrea O’Keeffe were wiped out by Cork senior Linda Collins’ solo goal in the third minute when cutting in from the right to billow the net.
However, it would be the new Cork champions’ only score of the opening period as Inagh-Kilnamona laid siege on the Courcey Rovers goal for the remainder of the half.
Content to pick off points and build up a sizeable half-time cushion, Inagh-Kilnamona demonstrated their better balance as seven different players chipped with scores including five from the hugely influential Amy Keating to open up a 0-14 to 1-00 interval cushion.
Having been forced to dig deep in the opening period, Courcey Rovers, led by Jacinta Crowley, Ashling Moloney and Fiona Keating, were expected to eat into that 11 point deficit with the aid of the conditions.
However, despite grabbing the opening point through a Crowley free, the Cork champions never looked like making up any ground as Inagh-Kilnamona’s movement and support play proved much too elusive.
Points from Amy Keating (2) and Aoife Keane ensured a 12 point margin by the turn of the final quarter before the result was put beyond any lingering doubt in the 49th minute with a Danielle Griffin goal.
It inevitably stemmed from Amy Keating whose attempted point held up in the wind and could only be parried by goalkeeper Sinead O’Reilly into the path of teenager Griffin to scramble the ball over the line at 1-17 to 1-02.
From there, it was all about solidifying their position as Keating and O’Keeffe matched points from Crowley and Fiona Keating to complete a handsome victory.
To score 1-19 in such wintery conditions was a testament to the relentless work-rate of Inagh-Kilnamona, who thanks in the main to strong displays from Clare Hehir, Fiona Lafferty, Teresa and Andrea O’Keeffe and the outstanding Amy Keating, actually managed to win all four quarters.
Having suffered defeat in back-to-back provincial deciders in 2017 and ’18, Inagh-Kilnamona will be determined to emulate Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s provincial breakthrough when they face the same opponents Drom & Inch (Tipperary) in next Sunday’s Munster Final.
Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: Amy Keating (0-8, 6f); Danielle Griffin (1-2); Aoife Keane, Andrea O’Keeffe (0-3 each); Aoibhin Ryan, Fiona Lafferty, Sinead Power (0-1 each)
Scorers for Courcey Rovers: Jacinta Crowley (0-3, 2f); Linda Collins (1-0); Fiona Keating (0-1)
Inagh-Kilnamona:
1: Rebecca Keating
2: Laoise Ryan
3: Sinead Quinn
4: Michelle Mescall
5: Tierna Hegarty
6: Clare Hehir (Captain)
7: Teresa O’Keeffe
8: Fiona Lafferty
14: Amy Keating
13: Danielle Griffin
9: Sinead Power
17: Aoife Keane
10: Andrea O’Keeffe
15: Aoibhin Ryan
11: Claire Commane
Subs:
20: Helen Hehir for Commane (56)
12: Jane Fitzgerald for A. Ryan (57)
19: Cathy Cullinan for Hegarty (60)
18: Hazel O’Connor for Power (60)
Courcey Rovers:
1: Sinead O’Reilly
5: Ciara Hayes
3: Karyn Keohane (Captain)
4: Grainne Hannon
9: Elaine O’Reilly
6: Ashling Moloney
17: Orla Twomey
8: Jacinta Crowley
10: Eimear O’Reilly
27: Ava O’Donovan
11: Fiona Keating
12: Lorraine Collins
29: Ellen Maguire
13: Linda Collins
14: Christine O’Neill
Subs:
21: Anne Marie Collins for O’Donovan (48)
20: Grace O’Reilly for Maguire (48)
16: Deirdre O’Reilly for O’Neill (51)
19: Isabelle Lordan for Twomey (55)
25: Lara Helbrow for Lorraine Collins (59)
Referee: Mike Ryan (Tipperary)
