Clough/Ballacolla overcome Dunderry to book Leinster semi-final spot
The Laois champions showed huge character to come from behind and defeat Dunderry in Meath
Clough/Ballacolla have a Leinster Junior Camogie Club Championship semi-final to look forward to after a superb display away to Dunderry from Meath in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-final.
The tail end of Storm Boelo played its part with a gale-force wind blowing directly down the pitch. Dunderry won the toss and elected to play with the wind behind them.
Credit to Clough/Ballacolla, they stuck with Dunderry in the first half and only trailed by three points with the advantage of the wind in the second half. They were excellent from first minute to last and will face the Offaly champions in the semi-final next weekend.
Clough/Ballacolla had a point within a minute as Chloe Boyhan pointed a free. Dunderry used the wind to their advantage to get the next three points courtesy of Aoife Minogue (two) and Molly Dowd.
The game was level after 19 minutes thanks to scores from Clough/Ballacolla’s Sarah Delaney and Molly Cassin. Dunderry hit back and scored 1-1 down the other end. Maria McLoughlin scored the point, while Dowd’s shot dropped shot and Minogue was on hand to kick the ball into the back of the Clough/Ballacolla net.
An excellent score from Boyhan saw them end the half with four points. The Laois champions came close to scoring a goal before the break, but Delaney was denied twice by Aoibheann Byrne. Dunderry led 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time. Clough/Ballacolla would have been delighted to be within touching distance of Dunderry considering the elements.
They came out after the break and scored 1-2 to go ahead with 42 minutes on the clock. Boyhan pointed a free before Fiona O’Grady assisted Sarah Bergin, her shot flew into the net to put her side ahead for the first time since Boyhan’s point in the first minute. Delaney’s second point then put Clough/Ballacolla in a great position coming down the stretch.
Niamh Daly got a point back for the home side to cut Clough/Ballacolla’s lead to just one point. Thankfully for Clough/Ballacolla, the next 10 minutes went by without a score. It was them who broke that scoreless period with a great score from Maeve Hennessy.
The game-clinching score came a few minutes later when Boyhan flicked the ball into the net after a shot from Cassin dropped into the square.
Dunderry went looking for goals late on, but could only manage one more point from Daly.
It was an excellent team performance from Clough/Ballacolla with their defence coming out with the ball time and time again. The midfield duo of Hennessy and Cassin worked their socks off, while the forwards made sure the ball coming out of defence was contested every single time.
They’ll now face the Offaly champions next weekend in a Leinster Junior Club semi-final.
FINAL SCORE
Clough/Ballacolla 2-7
Dunderry 1-6
SCORERS— Clough/Ballacolla: Chloe Boyhan 1-3 (0-2 frees), Sarah Bergin 1-0, Sarah Delaney 0-2, Molly Cassin and Maeve Hennessy 0-1 each. Dunderry: Aoife Minogue 1-2 (0-1 free), Niamh Daly 0-2, Maria McLoughlin and Molly Dowd 0-1 each.
CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Tara Delaney; Laura Dooley Kirwan, Ellen Hennessy, Aoife Bergin; Aine Duggan, Marian Ferns, Eimear McEvoy; Maeve Hennessy, Molly Cassin; Chloe Boyhan, Paige Hyland, Fiona O’Grady; Jade Carroll, Sarah Bergin, Sarah Delaney. Subs: Mary Griffin for E Hennessy (41 mins), Rachel Hyland for Carroll (47 mins), Bríd Brennan for O’Grady (53 mins), Helen Coonan for Griffin (64 mins)
DUNDERRY: Aoibheann Byrne; Rebecca Lee, Michelle Daly, Seána Duffy: Laoise Ní Loaire, Lucy Criníon, Anna Stenson; Sadhbh Nelson, Rachael Flynn; Aoife McCormack, Aoife Minogue, Maria McLoughlin; Molly Dowd, Niamh Daly, Caoimhe Keyes. Subs: Clodagh Loughran for Keyes (HT), Kate Clarke for McCormack (40 mins)
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)