Defending champions Ardrahan book their return to county decider

Ardrahan 1-11

St Thomas 1-6

Ardrahan offered a timely reminder last Saturday that they were still champions as 1-5 unanswered in the third quarter of this Lough Rea Hotel & Spa senior camogie semi-final saw the blue and white advance to a second consecutive decider.

After struggling during the first half, Mike Carr’s charges turned things around upon the restart with Keelin O’Shaughnessy getting the goal on 37 minutes while Aoife Callanan and Cliodhna Walsh put distance between the teams.

St Thomas enjoyed the better of the opening half but struggled to create the scoring chances that came easier in their quarter-final over Kinvara.  While the stayed in touch and refused to yield, Pat Lee’s side would always be up against it when Ardrahan built their lead.

Heavy rain fell in St Brendan’s Park just before throw-in but the sunny weather returned just in time for Sandra Tannion’s fine point in the opening minute for St. Thomas.

St Thomas, who only lost the group game between these sides by 0-12 to 1-6, looked ready to take off but points would be at a premium as opposing number 6s, Shauna Healy and Heather Cooney, dictated proceedings.

The wind was blowing in Ardrahan’s favour but the scoring was going the other way.  Amy Caulfield got her opening point before Finola Keely scored St Thomas’s third on the quarter-hour.

But that advantage was only 0-3 to 0-2 and they led 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time after Caulfield doubled her tally. Callanan, on free taking duty for Ardrahan’s following Rebecca Hennelly’s season ending cruciate injury, had a nervous first period but still slotted over two frees while Rachael O’Toole’s point just before the break looked the kick Ardrahan needed.

The champions had shown their threat earlier as O’Shaughnessy nearly got through for goal forcing Lorraine Coen to concede the free and the yellow card. Callanan missed the placed ball but the two Ardrahan players would have a major influence after the change of ends.

Needing a score to seize the initiative, it arrived for Ardrahan with their goal to overturn the advantage. O’Toole and Sheila Forde providing O’Shaughnessy with another opportunity.  It’s very rare the Ardrahan full forward will be denied twice and she didn’t disappoint!

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.