Ardrahan camogie team tame the Cats

Ardrahan 2-8

Mullinavat 0-8

THIS time they didn’t get get going until the second-half, but it didn’t matter to Ardrahan last Sunday as they qualified for the All-Ireland senior club camogie final with a convincing six point victory over Kilkenny champions Mullinavat.

Rebecca Hennelly and Keelin O’Shaughnessy struck the crucial goals during a third quarter where this game turned around, but it was the collective performance of the full forward unit that spectators were talking about afterwards.

Even though they appeared nervous at the start and struggled to find their shape, the front six, led by the inspiring captain Rachael O’Toole, eventually got to grips with the windy conditions to settle down.  And throughout the hour, the aforementioned trio along with Andrea Mullins, Edel Holland and Cliodhna Walsh took the game to their opponents.

It wasn’t just the Ardrahan attack which paid their way as they were well backed up in defence. Shauna Healy dealt with anything that came her way in a calm manner; Aoife Lynskey seized control of the tie like she did in the county final; while the rest of the defenders and midfielders make crucial interceptions to ensure Mullinavat never really built up full steam.

But the Leinster side were first to settle when Michelle Quilty sent over a placed ball in the second minute before Hennelly equalised within 60 seconds for Ardrahan. However, the next 17 minutes would be all about the Noresiders as they cleanly took ball in defence and threatened their opponents the other end. Referee Mike O’Kelly’s fondness for the whistle wasn’t helping either team, but Mullinavat were making more use of the breaks.

Quilty got her second in the ninth minute before being gifted another within 30 seconds when the umpire adjudged that Ardrahan keeper Roisin Gardiner had stepped outside the square for her puck out. 

Quilty made it 0-3 to 0-1 and a fourth followed in the 12th minute before Julie-Ann Malone grabbed the first from play. When Quilty made it 0-6 to 0-1 on 16 minutes, many Galway followers in Moneygall feared the worst despite the strong wind.

 Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune