Controversial late free fires St Catherine's past Glen Rovers into quarter-final
Orla Cotter was in fine form for St Catherine's against the Glen. Picture: Jim Coughlan
ST Catherine's have made the SE Systems Senior Camogie quarter-finals after a winning point five minutes into additional time in Castle Road.
Niamh O’Regan finished a Laura Hayes free, awarded for one of the most controversial rules in camogie. Who charged? The person in possession or the person defending is a question repeatedly asked.
The decision went St Catherine's way. Credit Catherine’s who had their second tough battle this week after defeating Killeagh on Monday.
The Glen were in a good position at half time and were expected to have the fresher legs in the second half, but Catherine's upped a gear. Trailing by two at half time they hit three in a row within five minutes, Aoife Hurley running riot, the same player also hitting a goal chance wide.
But a free from Leanne O’Sullivan, who was excellent throughout, was deflected into the net by a high hurley for the Glen to retake the lead.
It was short-lived though. O’Regan brushed aside defenders to goal.
It was nip and tuck from there. Katie Walsh levelled it on 50 with a free. Hurley and O’Regan struck to stretch it again. Two Emma Murphy frees and then O’Regan decided the game.
The Glen raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the 14th minute. Murphy was causing problems and hit three in a row, two from play. Katie Walsh and Emma Akinkuolie hit the next two as the Saints, despite dropping a player back and leaving Leanne O’Sullivan free, couldn’t get a grip around their half-back line and midfield. Any attack was well defended by Aoife O’Rourke, Cliona Martin, O’Sullivan, and Sarah Murphy.
But from the quarter mark they got into their stride. They enjoyed strong possession and hit two points, but also five wides.
The sides were level on 28. The Glen were making the most of their chances with good accuracy, Catherines however finished the opening half with eight wides. A draw would have been fair.
But O’Regan finished brilliantly.
O Cotter 0-7 (0-3 f), N O’Regan 1-2, A Hurley 0-4, L Hayes 0-1.
E Murphy 0-7 (0-3 f), K Walsh 0-3 (0-1 f), L O’Sullivan 1-0, E Akinkuolie 0-2, M Martin 0-1.
Y O’Neill; C Dunning, C Motherway, A M Rohan, R O’Callaghan, L Hayes, M Murphy; A Hurley, S M Clancy; A O’Regan, E O’Brien, C Galvin; N O’Regan, O Cotter, A Mulkerrins.
F Sheehan for S M Clancy (38), T Condon for C Galvin (46), L O’Donnell for A O’Regan (47), F Neville for A Mulkerrins (54).
D Luby; C Martin, L O’Sullivan, A O’Rourke; A Lynch, T McCarthy, E O’Meara; L Callanan, S Murphy; E Akinkuolie, E Murphy, M Martin; K Walsh, A Wallace, A Akinkuolie.
S Roche for M Martin (58).
Michael Walsh (Barryroe).
App?
