Former Cork player Sarah O'Donovan goal seals win for Ballygarvan over Newcestown

Ballygarvan 4-11

Newcestown 3-10

Ballygarvan picked up their first win in the SE Systems senior camogie championship at Castle Road on Tuesday night.

They got the better of Newcestown in an entertaining game in their round three clash, and it leaves them with a chance, be it very slim, of making the knockout stages of the championship.

Overall they were deserving winners with impressive displays from Tara Crowley, Cliona O’Leary, and Lucy Casey.

Meabh O’Donovan opened the scoring for Newcestown and in the second minute, they got the first goal, when Aoife O’Sullivan found the back of the net.

Two frees from Jennifer Sheehy had Ballygarvan within two points and with eight minutes gone, they took the lead.

O’Leary picked up a Newcestown puc out and burst past several players to raise a green flag, to make it 1-2 to 1-1.

Maeve Lynch hit the crossbar for Newcestown before she pointed in the 12th minute to level it.

Ballygarvan replied with two white flags, through O’Leary and Crowley to put them two points up.

Aoife O’Sullivan pulled a point back, before Newcestown got another goal, this time Aoibhe Sheehan on target. O’Donovan pointed for them to put a goal between the sides, but with 22 minutes gone, the sides were level again.

Michaella Buckley played Sheehy in and she raised the fourth green flag of the first half, to make it 2-5 apiece.

Two frees from Lynch, with Lucey Casey replying for Ballygarvan had a point between the sides as half time approached.

But a late burst from Newcestown, which included two points from Lynch, saw them 2-9 to 2-6 up at half time.

Early points after the restart from O’Leary and their Cork star, Izzy O’Regan had Ballygarvan back within one point of Newcestown.

Lynch pointed another free for her side, before points from O’Leary and O’Regan had the sides level after 40 minutes, 2-10 each.

Three minutes later and Ballygarvan took the lead when a shot from Rachel Crowley was saved but Cara Bowen pounced on the rebound to raise their third green flag.

Credit to Newcestown they replied instantly with a goal of their own, this time Claire Kingston finding the back of the net.

Sheehy pointed a free before Sarah O’Donovan got the crucial store. The former Cork star recently transferred back to Ballygarvan and in her first competitive game raised their fourth three flag, after coming off the bench, to seal the win for Ballygarvan.

Scorers for Ballygarvan: J Sheehy 1-4 (4f), C O’Leary 1-3 (2f), C Bowen, Sarah O’Donovan 1-0 each, I O’Regan 0-2, T Crowley, L Casey 0-1 each.

Newcestown: M Lynch 0-6 (3f), A O’Sullivan 1-1, A Sheehan, C Kingston 1-0 each, M O’Donovan 0-3.

BALLYGARVAN: S Ahern; S Lyons, E O’Regan, E Casey; S Fitzgerald, C O’Leary, SJ Brady; I O’Regan, T Crowley; E Kelleher, C Bowen, M Buckley; J Sheehy, R Crowley, L Casey.

Subs: Susan O’Donovan for E Casey (23 inj), Sarah O’Donovan for R Crowley (48).

NEWCESTOWN: C Wilson; E Dineen, A O’Sullivan, S Kelleher; A Wilson, A O’Donovan, R Hallahan; E Tarrant, C Kingston; L Jennings, M Lynch, M Kenneally; A O’Sullivan, M O’Donovan, A Sheehan.

Subs: C Aherne for L Jennings (35), C Hallahan for A Wilson (59).

Referee: Cathal Egan, Glen Rovers.