NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS are through to the Munster Senior B camogie final following a five point win over Patrickswell.
Geraldine O’Grady’s charges made the most of home comforts in Fr Murphy Memorial Park to prevail in the inaugural Senior B competition and advance to a provincial decider against St Anne’s of Waterford.
Both the Blues and St Anne’s faced off when they were at the peak of their powers a decade ago including Newmarket-on-Fergus’ run to the Junior All-Ireland final in 2005, back then the winners of the Clare senior championship competed in the Junior as opposed to Senior competition when they exited the county.
Home support could have been far greater for Newmarket-on-Fergus and in another example of why integration among the GAA, Camogie and LGFA is a considerable distance away, the powers that be on the fixtures front had this provincial tie clashing at the same time as Newmarket-on-Fergus’ clash with Kilmaley in the U21B hurling quarter-final.
Patrickswell raced into a 0-5 0-0 lead with Newmarket-on-Fergus opening their account through midfielder Sophie McNamara on eleven minutes. An Aoibhe O’Leary narrowed the deficit further but the Well hit back and were 0-9 0-4 in front by half time, Kaci Toomey and Laura McMahon adding to Newmarket’s account.
Three scores on the trot saw the Blues chip away at the lead. They equalised via Kaci Toomey on forty eight minutes and again through an O’Leary free on fifty three minutes.
Emma Crowe pulled on a dropping ball to the back of the net on fifty six minutes to give the hosts the lead for the very first time. O’Leary from an acute angle, excellent sideline scores from Ann Marie Hayes and Michelle McMahon secured a 1-15 0-13 victory.
