O’Dea point earns Kinvara senior girls second chance

Seamount College 1-11

St. Mary’s, Magherfelt 1-11

SEAMOUNT College, Kinvara survived a bruising encounter last Saturday in this All-Ireland senior schools camogie semi-final after Jenny O’Dea’s injury time equaliser booked a return trip to Derry and kept their championship ambitions alive.

Carrie Dolan’s goal on 23 minutes had given Seamount a 1-3 to 0-4 lead but Niamh McKee’s Magherfelt major overturned the deficit. And in a second half notable for some strong challenges, Roisin Cassidy received a second yellow on the three quarter mark for the Ulster side while a tackle by Aislinn Craig on Dolan could have had a similar result.

A clear day got off to a good start for the home side as Cliodhna Walsh pointed on two minutes but St. Mary’s went ahead with two Eimear McGuigan placed balls. Seamount were creating chances but not making them count.

A move involving Walsh, Katie McMahon and Dearbhaile Walsh was denied in the 12th minut.  And Walsh came close to another goal seven minutes after only to see the sliothar go wide.

Dolan levelled in the 16th minute before Cassidy and Ciara Murphy for Seamount left it 0-3 apiece.  McGuigan put the visitors back in front but when Dolan made a run in from the right, she created the space for a successful shot at goal and Kinvara enjoyed their best lead at 1-3 to 0-4.

The first time Connacht champions needed to build, but it was St. Mary’s who lead at the break.  McGuigan and Dolan traded frees but three unanswered points for McKee and McGuigan (2) gave the Derry team the edge at 0-8 to 1-4.

A Dolan brace made it 1-6 to 0-8 within two minutes. Scoring remained tight as McGuigan and Dolan traded white flags but when McKee was afforded space on 40 minutes, she didn’t disappoint in rattling the net and Magherfelt led 1-9 to 1-7.

Dolan and McGuigan exchanged scores again before Cassidy was sent off.  Despite enjoying much possession, Seamount couldn’t make the desired impact but they did get back level through Dolan and Murphy.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.