Maeve Coffey strikes late as camogie champions Seandún stun Cloughduv to return to the final
Seandún's Maeve Coffey fires in a late goal against Cloughduv in the SE Systems Senior Camogie Championship semi-final. Picture: Larry Cummins
THE champions hold on after a stunning final seven minutes saw them rock Cloughduv with 1-5 without reply to win by four after being put to the pin of their collar by a brilliant Cloughduv.
The goal never looked like coming after an outstanding Cloughduv defence snuffed out Seandún’s big-name forward line. But all the plaudits will go to substitute Maeve Coffey, introduced on 40 minutes, who hit 1-1 inside 60 seconds to first give Seandún a two-point lead and then force Cloughduv into goal-seeking territory with a point on 61 minutes.
Seandún played into Cloughduv’s hands in the opening half. Cloughduv dropped deep with one definitive sweeper but also packed their half-back line by quickly tracking back. Seandún lost too much ball in their half-forward line and what attacks they did break through with, they got swarmed inside by Cloughduv’s last line of defence where Aileen Corkery on Katrina Mackey and Aisling Kelleher on Amy O’Connor were outstanding.
Seandún knew coming into the game that goals were nearly impossible against Cloughduv. It was always going to be a low-scoring game and had they lost their title they would have rued the fact that their full-forward line was just too congested, and they should have created more space for themselves.
Niamh McNabola hit the first two points of the game, settling the underdogs inside two minutes. Amy O’Connor replied, and it was point for point. A Lisa Lynch free, Lauren Homan, Lynch again (f), then Cliona O’Callaghan for Seandún, Briege Corkery and Sinead Mills as Cloughduv led by one on 22 minutes.
Cloughduv looked the fresher side and only for Homan out around the middle Seandún would have been in greater trouble. Hayley Ryan was also doing well out around the middle. Amy Sheppard was causing big problems at right corner-forward, winning four frees before Seandún made a switch. Lynch converted another two of those, Homan converted a free then Lynch, Katrina Mackey, and Amy Sheppard all from play had it 0-9 to 0-6 in favour of the challengers.
What a tantalising second half. Seandún started the brightest with two points. It took eleven minutes for Cloughduv to get back to scoring but with Seandún still losing ball in their half-forward line they didn’t take advantage of their dominance. Lynch pointed, then Homan but two fine points from McNabola, who was winning good ball up the right wing, and Amy Sheppard into the final quarter gave Cloughduv a three-point lead.
Ball was going inside to Seandún but again Cloughduv’s defence were excellent, Seandún still not creating the space they needed.
Homan again and Ryan were winning great ball around the middle. Mackey pointed but two again from Lynch (f) and Suzanne Bateman now put four between the sides. You couldn’t see a goal coming even though Seandún tried.
Two Amy O’Connor points, one from play, the gap now two. Ciara O’Leary pulled off a brilliant save on 58 minutes. O’Connor converted the 45. Again, O’Leary and Cloughduv cleared their line with Seandún just needing a point to level it.
The pass back across the square will haunt Cloughduv as the pacey delivery fell to Coffey and she belted the net. Securing the puck-out and Coffey’s confidence up, she pointed from distance and when O’Connor hit the insurance point it was heartbreak for Cloughduv and a winning fight for Seandún, one that should stand them in good stead for the final.
A O’Connor 0-6 (0-2 f, 0-1 45) L Homan 0-4 (0-1 f), M Coffey 1-1, K Mackey 0-2, C O’Callaghan, S Mills, 0-1 each.
L Lynch 0-7 (0-5 f), N McNabola 0-3, A Sheppard 0-2, B Corkery, S Bateman 0-1 each.
A Lee (Na Piarsaigh); N O’Leary (Brian Dillons), L McKeogh (Blackrock), C O’Keeffe (St. Vincents); M Scannell (Bishopstown), P Mackey (Douglas); S K Brosnan (Brian Dillons); H Ryan (Blackrock), L Homan (St. Vincents); C Coleman (Na Piarsaigh), R De Faoite (Blackrock), S Mills (Brian Dillons); A O’Connor (St. Vincents), C O’Callaghan (Blackrock), K Mackey (Douglas).
M Coffey (Blackrock) for C Coleman (40), E Curtin (Blackrock) for R de Faoite (45), E Sharpe (Brian Dillons) for C O’Keeffe (49).
C O’Leary; J Verling, A Kelleher, A Corkery; F Drinan, N O’Leary, A Barry Murphy; L Buttimer, C Hughes; R Hurley, B Corkery, N McNabola; M Corkery, A Sheppard, L Lynch.
S Bateman for R Hurley (38), C Sheppard for J Verling (59).
Cathal McAllister (Aghada).
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