Scariff/Ogonnelloe’s bid to be crowned All-Ireland champions came crashing down on Sunday afternoon when they were outclassed by an impressive Oulart the Ballagh.
Oulart the Ballagh 3-11
Scariff/Ogonnelloe 0-02
Venue: Clonmel
By Derek Dormer
Dreams of becoming the first Clare club to contest the All-Ireland senior club camogie final evaporated for Scariff/Ogonnelloe as they failed to score from play against a far superior Oulart the Ballagh. It is their first defeat since losing the 2020 semi-final to Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Mairead Scanlon’s last-gasp goal sealed provincial glory for the East Clare women just over a month ago. The intervening period saw centre back Ciara Doyle sustain an injury in colleges action, her absence was telling an already difficult task was made far harder without their star defender.
Well-known Sunday Game analyst and four-time All-Ireland winner Ursula Jacob provided the catalyst for Oularts victory with a clinical display.
In what can only be described as atrocious weather conditions Scariff/Ogonelloe won the toss and elected to play into the elements. This decision looked to be the correct one as after fifteen minutes they were behind by only three points.
However a superb goal twenty minutes in rocked the Clare champions confidence as Ursula Jacob unleashed an unstoppable rocket into the top corner.
Trailing 1-7 to 0-00 at the interval was harsh considering the tremendous battling qualities Scariff/Ogonelloe had shown and with the elements to come they would have been quietly confident of turning this deficit around.
Oulart the Ballagh are not All Ireland Champions for nothing and they actually played better against the gale. Their use of possession was a joy to watch as they seemed to play precision short passing camoige to great effect.
Two Una Leacy goals both sublime finishes coming within two minutes of each other both being created by star forward Jacob ended this game as a contest.
In fact only two Aisling Corbett frees was all David Sullivan’s charges could muster as they were held scoreless from play. They never threw in the towel, their best performers on the day were Susan Vaughan the industrious Amy Barrett and Lynda Daly.
By the finish there was no doubting the serious quality Oulart the Ballagh possess and they proved most deserving winners.
Scorers Oulart the Ballagh: Ursula Jacob (1-5 4f), Una Leacy (2-0), Katie Gallagher (0-2), Louise Sinnott (0-01), Stacey Kehoe (0-01), Shelley Kehoe (0-01), Anais Curran (0-01).
Scorers Scariff/Ogonelloe: Aisling Corbett (0-2 2f)
Oulart the Ballagh:
1: Lauren Sinnott
2: Mira O’Dowd
3: Aideen Brennan
4: Katie Roche
5: Aoife Dunne
6: Ciara Storey
7: Mary Leacy
8: Stacey Kehoe (captain)
9: Anais Curran
10: Katie Gallagher
11: Shelley Kehoe
28: Leanne Nolan
13: Ursula Jacob
14: Una Leacy
15: Louise Sinnott
Subs:
22: Eimear O Connor for Louise Sinnott (55)
19: Katie Murphy for U Leacy (56)
Scariff Ogonelloe
1: Rachel Daly
16: Bonnie Wiley Murphy
6: Susan Daly
5: Rachel Minogue
4: Susan Vaughan
2: Abby Walsh
7: Alison McGee
17: Lorraine Grady
11: Amy Barrett
10: Labhaoise O’Donnell
12: Lynda Daly
13: Jennifer Daly
8: Alva Rodgers
15: Aisling Corbett
9: Mairead Scanlon
Subs:
26: Aisling Corry for Lorraine Grady (25)
Danielle Beston for Aisling Corbett (25)
Aisling Corbett for O’Donnell (40)
Roisin Collins for J Daly (56)
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)
