Oranmore juniors take title

Oranmore/Maree 0-14

Oran 1-6

IT took a while last Sunday in Rockfield but Oranmore/Maree eventually pulled away to finish a fantastic season, adding the Connacht Junior A camogie title to the county crown they won four weeks ago.

They had a tough outing against Roscommon senior finalists Oran and trailed by 1-6 to 0-8 with 11 minutes remaining. But six unanswered points in the final straight from Ailish O’Reilly, Suzie McGrath and Niamh Hanniffy ensured provincial honours for the Galway side.

With a strong wind in the first half, the hosts took the early initiative as two Caitriona Regan scores and one for Claire Curley put Oran 0-3 to 0-0 ahead. They were looking threatening with Tracey McDermott coming close but Oranmore/Maree eventually settled. A Hanniffy run opened their account in the sixth minute before three O’Reilly frees had given Tony O’Donovan’s side the advantage.

Oran replied with the next three points from Curley, Caitriona and Deirdre Regan to lead 0-6 to 0-4, but they will lament seven wides that eventually proved costly.

The Roscommon side did lead 0-6 to 0-5 at the break but their opponents had chances to overturn that deficit. O’Reilly sent over her fourth point but Oranmore/Maree nearly reaped more reward in injury time when a McGrath delivery dropped over keeper Maeve Healy, but landed across the goal and wide.

However, it was still looking good for Oranmore/Maree as they would have with the elements in their favour in the second half and they pushed Hanniffy into full forward to underline their intent.  Even though the young attacker did point within 44 seconds to level affairs, they didn’t score again in the third quarter.  Hoping to reduce the space, Oran played a sweeper with Noeleen McCormack entering the fray and she cut out the supply between O’Reilly and Hanniffy.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.