St Brigid’s All-Ireland Camogie journey ended by Kerry’s Clanmaurice

There was All-Ireland semi-final heart break for St Brigid’s as their late comeback wasn’t enough in Bansha as Kerry’s Clanmaurice sealed their place in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park in two weeks time.

Brian Bowe’s side had been behind by seven points at one stage but brought the game level in the 62nd minute thanks to a goal which came from Clodagh Tynan’s placed ball.

Clanmaurice 1-15

St Brigid’s 2-10

The first two points of this AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie semi-final were traded as Clanmaurice’s Caoimhe Spillane and St Brigid’s Aisling O’Dea split the posts. The reigning All-Ireland champions hit the front and got the next three points unanswered. Amy O’Sullivan got two of those and was proving a handful for Aoife Carroll which forced St Brigid’s manager Brian Bowe into a positional change as Sarah Creagh went full-back instead. Patrice Diggin raised a white flag in between the two O’Sullivan scores.

St Brigid’s had the wind in the first-half but hit two bad wides from Eimear Hassett’s frees. O’Dea got her and St Brigid’s second point of the game with a well-taken score.

O’Sullivan put over a third point for Clanmaurice before St Brigid’s came roaring back into the game and were level within four minutes. Hassett pointed from play after a great team score which involved Aoife Finlay and Aisling O’Dea working well from a Clanmaurice puck-out. Hassett and Tynan scored a point each but their three points were eradicated from the next play. A long ball in from Aoife Behan landed in the hand of Jackie Horgan and she turned her marker to fire the ball past Laura Dunne. Diggin pointed a free Iate in the half to go into the dressing rooms 1-6 to 0-5 ahead.

Brigid’s came out for the second period and raised the first two white flags courtesy of half-time substitute Jessie Quinlan and a Hassett free. Clanmaurice however got the next four scores to push themselves six ahead. Diggin pointed from play and two frees while Spillane scored her second point of the contest.

Hassett and Diggin traded four scores as the clock looked to be getting away from Brian Bowe’s side. Aisling O’Dea cut the gap to five points but that would soon be reduced again as Jessie Quinlan struck for a goal in a crowded square. Diggin pointed yet again to put three between them until up stepped Clodagh Tynan to smash the ball home from a free with half the Clanmaurice team on the line.

The All-Ireland champions showed why they have such a title as Diggin pointed two wonderful scores late on to get the better of St Brigid’s.