Croke Park agony

Milford 0-6

Ardrahan 0-5

Darren Kelly at Croke Park

A heartbreaking finish!  Ardrahan’s All-Ireland club senior camogie title dreams were dashed last Sunday as defending champions Milford from Cork held on for a one point victory.

When Rebecca Hennelly lined up the ’45 for the final puck three minutes into injury time, all in attendance were preparing for another day out as the Galway side stayed in touch throughout the hour.

A dead ball specialist who has driven club and county on countless occasions, this time Croke Park was cruel on the 19-year-old as the ball drifted left to deny parity and there wasn’t time for anymore as referee Alan Lagrue blew the final whistle.

It was devastating for Hennelly and her team-mates who had worked so hard for the hour after being put under serious pressure by James McGrath’s charges who were determined to repeat their dominant display from last year’s decider against Killimor from the very first whistle.

Milford have been built on a solid defence, smooth link up play and forwards capable of finding the target and they showed their threat in the opening minutes when Maire Flannagan managed to create an opportunity only for the ball to trickle across the goal and wide.

It was the start of a busy afternoon for the Ardrahan defence who must have felt they were playing forwards and backs; such was the amount of ball that was pouring down. Milford were looking for early majors but couldn’t find them as Sile Forde denied another low effort but the Rebell women did push 0-4 to 0-0 ahead by the 16th minute with Emer Watson able find the target each time.

Ardrahan had already picked up two yellow cards for Sarah Keehan and Siobhan Gardiner but such was their defiance, they continued to throw themselves into the rucks and tackles. It was a case of Milford’s experience counting as the Cork side looked just that bit more composed as they moved diagonal balls to unlock their opponents, constantly trying to pick out Marie O’Neill or Maria Watson.

In contrast, despite trying to take on their opponents at the beginning, Ardrahan were gradually being forced back into a defensive role while their eagerness to clear ball was just seeing direct deliveries being sent back immediately.

It was 20 minutes before Ardrahan started making inroads as their forwards just couldn’t catch a break. While guilty of easily conceding possession on occasions, the sliothar never fell kind for Mike Carr’s team and the equally hardworking Milford rearguard weren’t allowing repossession either.

Hennelly opened up Ardrahan’s account from a placed ball and she added another on 21 minutes while an Andrea Mullins run nearly unlocked their opponents. While this was a creditable half-time position for the Connacht side (0-4 to 0-2), two more chances went abegging that could have demoralised Milford.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.