*Scariff/Ogonnelloe’s Aisling Corry. Photograph: Veronica McMahon
Scariff/Ogonnelloe have qualified for the Munster club senior camogie final for the first time.
Scariff/Ogonnelloe 4-08
Newcastle West 1-12
Venue: Dr Stuart Park, Ogonnelloe
A season of firsts will continue for the East Clare amalgamation who defeated Newmarket-on-Fergus in their debut senior championship final outing a fortnight ago. Limerick champions Newcastle West also became county champions for the first time in 2019 whey they saw off the challenge of Ahane 1-15 0-09 earlier this month.
They welcomed Limerick champions Newcastle West to Ogonnelloe on Saturday afternoon with the prize for each being a place in the provincial decider for the first time in their history.
First half goals from Mairead Scanlan, Alva Rodgers and Aoife Power gave the hosts a ten point advantage as the sides retired to the dressing rooms at half-time with the scoreline reading 3-05 0-04.
An inevitable fightback from the visitors followed but Scariff/Ogonnelloe although guilty of easing up on the gas never let the margin fall to a one point score. The Limerick club hit 1-02 without reply in the first ten minutes of the second half but the experienced Marian Rodgers replied with a green flag for the winners.
Tensions also rose as the game progressed. Newcastle West mentor Jamie Lee was given his marching orders while over the course of the second half, the East Clare side picked up four second yellow cards.
In a nervy finish to the contest, there was six minutes of additional time and to withstand the fight, Jim Minouge’s charges deployed the majority of players to defence and left just two players in the attack as they held on. When the pressure mounted, defensively Susan Daly, Susan Vaughan and Ciara Doyle stood tallest while elsewhere Marian Rodgers, Amy Barrett, Alva Rodgers and Mairead Scanlan who scored 1-05 impressed.
“It’s unreal, it’s a great achievement for the girls, the club and the community to get to a Munster final. There will be a tremendous achievement over the next two weeks but we’ve a job to do,” manager Jim Minouge stated moments after the final whistle. They will face the winner of Sarsfields or Drom/Inch in two weeks.
There was no such joy for St Josephs Doora/Barefield in the Munster Junior Final. The Parish lost to Kerry champions Clanmaurice 2-11 1-06 at Newport. Although a Hannah Meaney green flag gave the Clare side a 1-03 0-04 half-time lead however the girls from the Kingdom struck two second half goals running riot against the breeze to seal a place in the All-Ireland semi-final.
