St Catherine’s 0-17 Cloughduv 1-8

THE opening game of a triple-header in Castleroad on Sunday whet the appetite as St Catherine’s and Cloughduv served up a camogie battle for spectators.

St Catherine’s deservedly advanced over the hour with the better spread of scorers and a resolute defence.

Despite getting a fright on 48 minutes after Aoife Barry-Murphy netted to put just one between the teams, Catherine’s pulled away with Orla Cotter (three frees), Aoife Hurley and Finola Neville hitting the next five points to win by six.

It was a hectic opening ten minutes to the game.

Both sides gave full commitment to the jersey as the game attempted to open up.

St Catherine’s had the best of the possession in the opening quarter and led five points to two.

Cloughduv had their share of attacks but met a tough St Catherine’s defence where Rachel O’Callaghan and Evelyn Ronayne led a strong back six.

Cloughduv were probably guilty of too much short passing instead of attempting to play it fast and create space.

They got more into the game though and with Catherine’s hitting three wides it gave them the lift that they needed.

Briege Corkery had a shot well saved by Denise Twomey on 26 minutes for the only goal chance in the opening half.

Clearly on her game at left corner-forward, Joanne O’Keeffe scored two excellent points from distance for Catherine’s.

Such was the close marking, first touches and passing needed to be at its best but both sides found that difficult to master at the start of the second half.

Frees became a premium for 10 minutes as the game endeavoured to open up again.

Cloughduv, gaining an upper hand at midfield and now in a much more attacking mode, drove forward but again the Saints were brilliant at the back.

With two points between them Joanne O’Keeffe and Laura Hayes increased it to four.

Aoife Barry Murphy’s goal had the sizeable crowd vocal, but it was St Catherine’s who finished the strongest to advance to round three.

Scorers for St Catherine’s: O Cotter 0-9 (0-7 f), J O’Keeffe 0-3, L Hayes 0-2, N O’Regan, F Neville, A Hurley 0-1 each.

Cloughduv: S Bateman 0-7 f, A Barry-Murphy 1-0, C O’Leary 0-1.

CLOUGHDUV: A Murray; A Buckley, E Dunne, L Buttimer; C Hughes, N O’Leary, A Corkery; B Corkery, A Kelleher; R Hurley, C O’Leary, A Barry-Murphy; A M Ryan, M Corkery, S Bateman.

Subs: N McCarthy for A Buckley (25), A Twomey for A M Ryan (51), J Downs for C O’Leary (56).

ST CATHERINE’S: D Twomey; O Neville, C Motherway, A M Rohan; R O’Callaghan, E Ronayne, L Wallace; O Cotter, M O’Keeffe; L Hayes, F Neville, L O’Donnell; A Hurley, N O’Regan, J O’Keeffe.

Referee: Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers).