Croker calling as Camross Camogie Club reach All-Ireland Club Intermediate final

Camross Camogie Club are through to this year's AIB All-Ireland Club Intermediate Championship final after they got past the challenge of Galway's Killimor in Sunday afternoon's semi-final in Trim GAA.

Arien Delaney's side held a narrow lead at the break, with only Erin Walsh's 2nd-minute goal separating the sides at half-time.

Just like she had done in the Leinster final two weeks previous, Grainne Delaney got Camross' first score of the game, but it was only a point this time compared to her goal from throw-in against Na Fianna. Camross didn't have to wait long for a goal as only a minute later, Kirsten Keenan set up her fellow corner-forward Erin Walsh to smash the ball past Leah Horan.

Killimor's Niamh Horan got the Galway side off the mark as she split the posts with a 45' and a free. Sarah Anne Fitzgerald raised three white flags, all from frees, with Annmarie Starr getting a point in between for Killimor. That was their only point from play in the first-half. Horan added three more frees for Killimor, but Grainne Delaney scored two exceptional points for the Laois and Leinster champions. Camross led 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

It was after the restart that Camross began to play their best camogie as they scored 1-4 unanswered. Fitzgerald scored two more frees, while Grainne Delaney took her final tally to five points with two more wonderful scores. Leah Daly's goal came about after she lingered outside of a ruck in the square before she got possession of the loose ball and smashed into the roof of the Killimor net.

Killimor replied with four points in a row, but they'd need goals if they wanted any chance of taking Camross' place in Croke Park. Eimear Porter got the first of those before Horan pointed three frees. Camross led by six points at this stage with three minutes of normal time to play plus added time. Fitzgerald put seven between the sides late on for Camross' final score, before Kate O'Sullivan and Emma Brody scored a point each late on.

Camross held on for a five-point win, which will see them make the trip up the M7 to face Cork's Ballincollig in the All-Ireland final in two weeks' time.

FINAL SCORE

Camross 2-11

Killimor 0-12

SCORERS- Camross: Sarah Anne Fitzgerald 0-6 (frees), Grainne Delaney 0-5, Leah Daly and Erin Walsh 1-0 each. Killimor: Niamh Horan 0-8 (0-7 frees, 0-1 45'), Kate O'Sullivan, Emma Brody, Eimear Porter and Annmarie Starr 0-1 each.

CAMROSS: Niamh Dollard; Mairead Burke, Aisling Burke, Fiona Scully; Aoife Collier, Donnagh Mortimer, Ella Cuddy; Luisne Delaney, Aimee Collier; Leah Daly, Grainne Delaney, Andrea Scully; Erin Walsh, Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald, Kirsten Keenan. Subs: Sile Burke for Daly (50 mins), Tara Lowry for Keenan (53 mins)

KILLIMOR: Leah Horan; Sandra Brehony, Helen Quinn, Siobhan Byrne; Addyson Darcy, Roisin Starr, Makayla Malone; Caoimhe Sheil, Niamh Horan; Caoimhe Starr, Annmarie Starr, Kate O’Sullivan; Karen Brien, Annie Clarke, Eimear Porter. Subs: Emma Brody for Byrne (44 mins)

Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan)