Killeagh end Glen Rovers' hopes of making the quarter-finals

Killeagh 4-10 Glen Rovers 3-5 

GLEN Rovers and Killeagh played their final group game in the SE Systems Senior Camogie Championship in a wet and dull Castleroad on Thursday with the rain teeming down but the pitch in good condition.

With St Finbarr's and St Catherine's already qualified for the quarter-finals, all the Glen could do was hope for a comprehensive victory and try and win the third-placed bonus spot. But it was a long shot from the outset, for Killeagh a bridge too far coming into the game with -17 scoring difference. 

With Killeagh winning by eight the Glen’s hopes of getting through are gone and credit the East Cork side for finishing their season with a good win.

An evenly matched first half produced four goals, two apiece with Killeagh leading 2-5 to 2-4 at the break. Killeagh raced into a 1-1 to no score lead inside three minutes, Ciara Daly finishing a pass from Stefanie Beausang from close range with Beausang then pointing. 

But Katie Walsh goaled after a good cross ball by Ashling Wallace and an Emma Murphy free had the sides level by the sixth. With Abbey Lynch doing well out around the middle and Emma Akinkuolie making good runs up the right flank the Glen had their share of attacks but poor striking in wet conditions cost them. 

Killeagh defensively, Chloe Sigerson playing deep at times, did well, forcing the Glen into errors. Beausang hit 1-1 as Killeagh went five in front. Then Walsh hit her second of the night and a free from Leanne O’Sullivan left just one in it at the break.

Beausang converted three frees on the restart. Glen were struggling to get past Killeagh’s half-back line but with their first attack inside the brilliant, nifty Walsh hit her hat-trick. An Emma Murphy free levelled the game again on 41 minutes. But that was as good as it got.

With Laura Treacy controlled matters and good play by Sigerson and Looney, Killeagh spread the ball well. Beausang (f) and one from Sigerson before Caoimhe Harney passed to the running Looney who batted the ball to the net. In slippery conditions and getting darker Killeagh’s next attack was tapped home by Harney after Lauran Callanan lost her footing.

A good end for Killeagh albeit disappointed to be out regardless. Likewise for Glen Rovers who now won’t make that third-placed spot.

Scorers for Killeagh: S Beausang 1-8 (0-7 f), H Looney 1-1, C Daly, C Harney 1-0 each, C Sigerson 0-1.

Glen Rovers: K Walsh 3-1 (0-1 f), E Murphy 0-2 f, L O’Sullivan (f), E Akinkuolie 0-1 each.

KILLEAGH: R Abernethy; A K Budds, A Walsh, E Brenner; N Ni Chaoimh, L Treacy, E Treacy; M O’Donovan, C Sigerson; J Long, K Aherne, H Looney; C Daly, S Beausang, A Brenner.

Subs: S Burns for A Brenner and C Harney for M O’Donovan (h-t), C Scully for H Looney (54).

GLEN ROVERS: 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.

Subs: S Roche for L Callanan (blood sub h-t), L Callanan for S Roche (35), S Roche for M Martin (56), S K O’Meara for A Akinkuolie. 

Referee: Denis Motherway (St Fanahan's).