Eoghan Rua fall despite dominance against Milford

AIB All-Ireland club camogie champions Milford kept their hopes of a two-in-a-row alive but only just, as they edged a very tight encounter with Eoghan Rua at Donaghmore Ashbourne by 1-10 to 0-8.

The Derry champions will rue a host of spurned opportunities, as they had plenty of possession but just could not translate that into scores. Even late on, the normally clinical Grace McMullan and Katie Mullan had goal chances that would have made it very interesting had they been availed of.

The Milford full-back line of Katie Galvin, Maria Walsh and Lisa Healy were outstanding however, and with Ashling Thompson giving a player-of-the-match performance, and Rebels football star Deirdre O’Reilly, Marie O’Neill and Maria Watson getting the key scores, it was the Cork representatives that prevailed.

They led by 1-2 to 0-0 early on, with the dangerous Watson bundling the sliotar to the net, but Eoghan Rua settled down and Gráinne McGoldrick slotted four points to have them trailing by just four – 1-5 to 0-4 – at half time. Méabh McGoldrick was outstanding in the first half as she swept across her defence to set up regular attacks however the Eoghan Rua side were unable to get the scores their possession deserved.

Three of McGoldrick’s scores came from placed balls and in all, she finished with seven points, six of which came from frees. Mullan’s late point was the Coleraine crew’s only other score from play.

Watson came deeper as Milford faced into the wind in the second half and the tactic worked well as despite giving up plenty of possession, the champions outscored their opponents again, despite missing a number of frees. Eoghan Rua again couldn’t make the possession count and troubled the Milford side however Ashling Thompson found herself in the right place at the right time repeatedly to take the pressure of her backline. Cheered on by a vocal travelling support Eoghan Rua fought to the end but must be proud of the effort of their first attempt in an All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final

They will play Ardrahan in the final, after the Galway champions produced a brilliant second-half performance to beat Mullinavat 2-8 to 0-8 at Moneygall.

Eoghan Rua

1. Aileen Moore 2. Adele Archibald 3. Maria Mooney 4. Kelly Maybin 5. Eilis McNamee 6. Méabh McGoldrick 7. Clare Tracey 8. Megan Kerr 9. Maureen Henaghan 10. Rosanna McAleese 11. Gráinne McGoldrick (0-7 0-6F) 12. Katie Mullan (0-1) 18. Sinead Boyle 14. Grace McMullan 15. Jane Carey- Subs Used 13. Maeve Dillon for 2. Adele Archibald

Milford

1. Rebecca Finn 2. Katie Galvin 3. Maria Walsh 4. Lisa Healy 5. Elaine O’Riordan 6. Anna Geary 7. Aíne Watson 8. Orlaith O’Mahony 9. Ashling Thompson 10. Emer Watson (0-2 F) 11. Deirdre O’ Reilly (0-2) 12. Aideen O’Flynn (0-1) 13. Marie O’Neill (0-3)  14. Máire Flannagan 15. Maria Watson (1.02)

Pic Courtesy of Caroline Quinn Photography