St Finbarr's maintain form with big win over Killeagh
St Finnbarr's Caroline Sugue being chased by Killeagh's Sarah Kent at Castle Road. Picture: Denis Boyle
A COMPLETE performance and win for St Finbarr's in their SE Systems Senior Camogie group over Killeagh on Saturday, which books their spot in the quarter-finals.
With just Fr O’Neills left to play in their group, they look confident of gaining top spot.
Three goals in additional time put a darker reflection on the scoreboard than Killeagh deserved but they were beaten in all sectors by a superior team on the day. Killeagh’s second-half performance in intense heat after a tough encounter with St Catherine's last Monday is to their credit, outscoring the Barrs by 1-6 to 0-6 before the seven minutes of additional time saw the Barrs hit 3-1.
From the throw-in Orlaith Cahalane was a huge thorn in Killeagh’s defence and despite Killeagh pulling players back and crowding the mid-section and half-back lines, Cahalane did fierce damage in the opening minutes. Two from frees and while she didn’t score from play until the ninth minute, she was the creator for the Barrs scoring forwards as they hit four in a row by the sixth minute.
Chloe Sigerson got Killeagh up and running with a free, who also had a breakthrough run on goal by Stefanie Beausang but Ciara Hurley comfortably blocked. Other than that, it was all the Barrs. Defensively they controlled matters and good distribution set them on repeated attacks.
Two bookings for Killeagh inside the opening eleven minutes for persistent fouling epitomised the pressure Killeagh were under defensively as St Finbarr's drove at them. Six bookings overall, three apiece and one sending-off, during the hour may indicate an unhealthy game but it was free-flowing apart from some high and late challenges and insistent fouling.
Such was the heat, water breaks were re-introduced for the day. The Barrs led at that first water break 0-7 to 0-2.
Six points again without reply from the Barrs, Cahalane with two frees, Keeva McCarthy two, one from play, and two from Kate Wall and the outcome even at the 23rd minute was clear to see. Chloe Sigerson from a free, Wall again and then two lovely points scored by Nicole Olden, who was excellent, and Ella Wigginton Barrett, where it was the pinpoint distribution of Meabh Cahalane and Keeva McCarthy that delighted the crowd.
0-16 to 0-3 at halftime. Olden re-opened with three either side of two Beausang frees before Orlaith Cahalane pointed. A purple patch then for Killeagh in searing heat. Another Beausang free before Hannah Looney made a number of runs down the centre.
A close-in free from Sigerson was blocked by Eimear Hurley and the re-delivery in high was flicked to the net by Niamh O’Connor. Looney with a point, Ciara Golden, Looney and Cahalane swapped again. The score standing at 0-23 to 1-9 on 62 would have been enough of a difficult pill to swallow for Killeagh. Further time increased the agony.
Caroline Sugrue, given advantage, hit a lovely strike low to the net, Sorcha McCartan’s high delivery dipped under the crossbar as the sun blinded Riona Abernethy and a one-two between Cahalane and Wall saw the latter hit the net from close range.
An impressive display for the Barrs. A tough week for Killeagh.
K Wall 1-4, O Cahalane 0-7 (0-4 f), N Olden 0-6, C Sugrue 1-1, K McCarthy 0-3 (0-1 f), S McCartan 1-0, E Wigginton Barrett, C Golden 0-1 each.
N O’Connor 1-0, H Looney 0-4, S Beausang 0-3(f), C Sigerson 0-2(f).
C Hurley; S Punch, E Egan, G Cahalane; I Keegan, A O’Neill, A Shannon; M Cahalane, C Golden; K McCarthy, O Cahalane, K Wall; E Wigginton Barrett, N Olden, C Sugrue.
E Hurley for C Hurley (43), H O’Leary for A Egan (45), E Olden for K McCarthy (45), S McCartan for I Keegan (46), A Egan for N Olden (inj 65).
R Abernethy; C Barry, A Walsh, N Ní Chaoimh; E Treacy, L Treacy, S Kent; M O’Donovan, H Looney; A Brenner, C Sigerson, C Harney; J Long, K Aherne, S Beausang.
N O’Connor for S Kent (12), E Brenner and C Scully for M O’Donovan and K Aherne (h-t), A Fitzgerald for A Brenner (43).
Andrew Larkin (Ballygarvan).
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