Courcey Rovers make it two from two against Ballincollig in Cork Camogie Championship
Courcey Rovers' Saoirse McCarthy wins possession in their SE Systems Cork senior camogie championship clash with Ballincollig at Ballinora. Picture: Noel Sweeney
Courcey Rovers made it two from two in the SE Systems Cork Senior Camogie Championship group stages after their win over Ballincollig at Ballinora on Friday night.
The result should be enough to see them into the quarter-finals while they'll also be favourites to beat Ballinora in their final game next week.
They were the better side in the first half, led by their Cork star Saoirse McCarthy, along with Fiona Keating, Edel Moloney, and Linda Collins. But Ballincollig came much more into the game in the second half, and their cause wasn’t helped by losing Olivia O’Leary to injury after just eight minutes.
Courcey Rovers' goal, and two great saves from their keeper ensured they deservedly came out on top on the night.
Keating opened the scoring just 20 seconds in when she pointed for Courceys, and their impressive start got even better three minutes later.
Keating turned provider as she set up Aine O’Donoghue to find the back of the net to make it 1-1 to no score.
Sorcha McCarthy got Ballincollig off the mark, with Collins replying at the other end, to make it 1-2 to 0-1 after eight minutes.
Ailish Scanlon scored from a point for Ballincollig, before they had their first goal chance of the half.
Clodagh Finn was through on goal, but her effort was well saved by Katie Crowley.
Sorcha McCarthy pointed for Ballincollig, with Jacinta Crowley, Collins, and O’Donoghue replying to see Courceys lead by 1-5 to 0-3 after 17 minutes.
Scanlon pointed a 45 for Ballincollig, with Keating and Saoirse McCarthy replying for Courcey Rovers.
McCarthy and Blaithin Cunniffe replied for Ballincollig to make it 1-7 to 0-6 after 28 minutes. McCarthy and two from Collins stretched their lead before Crowley made another great save, this time denying Cunniffe.
Scanlon pointed the 45 to see Courcey Rovers lead by 1-10 to 0-7 at half time.
Ballincollig started the second half brightly, with Scanlon scoring in the first minute after the restart.
Finn added a point and when she scored again, after 40 minutes, there was only the goal between the sides, 1-10 to 0-10. But Courcey Rovers upped their game, and they needed to, with McCarthy pointing from distance, before she added another from a free to put five between them.
Jacinta Crowley added another from a free, to make it 1-13 to 0-10 with 52 minutes gone.
Keating pointed again, before Collins saw a goal chance go narrowly wide. Scanlon converted a free for Ballincollig, but they couldn’t close the gap as Courcey Rovers ran out winners on the night.
They now face Ballinora in their final group game next week while Ballincollig will take on Blackrock.
A O’Donoghue 1-1, L Collins, S McCarthy (1f) 0-4 each, F Keating 0-3, J Crowley 0-2 (1f).
A Scanlon 0-5 (3f, 0-2 45), S McCarthy 0-3, C Finn 0-2 (1f), B Cunniffe 0-1.
K Crowley; G O’Reilly, A O’Reilly, J Helbrow; G Hannon, E Moloney, O O’Mahony; E Moloney, S McCarthy; E Maguire, F Keating, D O’Reilly; J Crowley, L Collins, A O’Donoghue.
C Foley for D O’Reilly (44), O Twomey for G O’Reilly (59).
A Hartnett; C O’Sullivan, M Healy, S Buckley; I Fleury, L Weste, R Millett; A Scanlon, K Goulding; O O’Leary, C Finn, S McCarthy; L Dorgan, L Hannigan, E Hickey.
B Cunniffe for O O’Leary (8, inj).
Eddie O’Sullivan, Inniscarra.
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