Mullagh fail to fire in heavy club final reversal

Oulart-the-Ballagh 3-13

Mullagh 0-7

MULLAGH’S best laid plans unravelled last Sunday as Oulart-the-Ballagh made their experience tell to capture a second All-Ireland senior club camogie title at Croke Park

Goals from Stacey Kehoe, Una Leacy and Louise Sinnott felt like hammer blows to the east Galway side chasing a first crown since 1991 as the fight was knocked out of them by the impressive Wexford outfit.

Indeed, the Galway champions’ biggest fear was realised within 30 seconds as Kehoe was one of two unmarked and her groundstroke gave Catriona Daly no chance and the Leinster side were a goal up.

It was going to be a difficult afternoon afterwards though a Rachel Monaghan free following a free won by Karen Kennedy allowed Mullagh an early score. Between entering the field, doing their warm-up and meeting the dignitaries, Pakie Dervan’s team didn’t show any evident nerves and had a focused look about them.

The first goal allowed Oulart-the-Ballagh grow in confidence and they made that count. Ursula Jacob and Shelly Kehoe added two points before the fourth minute.

Jacob started at corner-forward in an attempt to unsettle the Mullagh defence. But it was the performance of Stacey Kehoe which had a greater impact and she finished the day with 1-2.

At the other end, Mullagh attempts to feed Kennedy and Cathy Bowes in the corner were quickly countered by Mary Leacy and her reliable lieutenants Ciara Storey and Stacey Redmond. Frustration grew as they were forced to send direct ball down the centre resulting in the sliothar returning quickly.

Daly produced an important save from Una Leacy and Monaghan added two more frees to make it 1-2 to 0-3. Monaghan and Aoife Donohue were coming out to win ball, but the attacking pair were finding themselves further from goal as the game progressed.

It made scoring chances difficult for the green and gold but they did have four misses before the break.  At the other end, Jacob converted a hat-trick of frees and Leacy opened her account for a 1-6 to 0-3 interval lead.

Monaghan found herself positioned at full-forward before half-time but back out on the 40 upon the restart. Mullagh needed goals and this was a surprising move. The semi-final against Loughgiel Shamrocks showed a vulnerability to high balls for the Oulart-the-Ballagh keeper and full backs. And while supply was scarce, Monaghan’s strength would have been the best option to cause problems.

The Mullagh scorer-in-chief opened the second half scoring but Kehoe responded in the 38th minute.  Mullagh needed a second half revival like they produced against Milford but a sweeping move down the central channel 60 seconds later gave Oulart-the-Ballagh their second major.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.