Cork Camogie: First-half goals key for Cloughduv against Ballinora
Aoife Quirke, Ballinora, breaking between Cloughduv players Fia Drinan, Laura Buttimer and Holly Dineen in their SE Systems Senior Club Camogie Championship at Ovens. Picture: Dan Linehan
Cloughduv got their S E Systems Senior Camogie Championship campaign off to a winning start in Ovens as they overcame Ballinora in a game where two first-half goals in the space of five minutes gave them a five-point interval lead.
They dominated the opening half for long periods. Mairead Corkery was hugely influential as she played a roving role, winning a lot of possession and offloading good ball to her inside line where Amy Sheppard, Rachel Hurley and Clodagh Murray were impressive.
Ballinora took an early lead with a Rachel Murphy free but from the puck-out Sheppard picked out Aoife Lehane on the edge of the square with a pin-point pass and she made no mistake to finish to the net.
Cloughduv moved the ball well. Their pace and positioning ensured they were working the ball through the lines quickly.
Sheppard stretched their lead with a free before Rachel Hurley struck for their second goal. With the influential Mairead Corkery and Ciara Kelleher pointing they opened up an eight-point lead after 22 minutes.
Ballinora rallied and landed three points without reply, Kate Dooley with one from play and two Murphy frees. Cloughduv led 2-4 to 0-5 at the interval.
Ballinora applied early second-half pressure and it took an excellent save from Ciara O'Leary to deny Rachel Murphy a goal.
As Ballinora applied pressure, Cloughduv were superb. They worked hard to get back behind the ball and time and again, as Ballinora swept forward, they met a wall of Cloughduv resistance.
Aoife Barry-Murphy showed all her experience as she marshalled a strong defence ably supported by Ciara Hughes, Corkery and Fia Drinan, who were all working hard.
Sheppard converted two frees and added one from play as Cloughduv continued to hold the upper hand. Kate Dooley replied with one from play for Ballinora but it never looked like they'd reel in a determined Cloughduv.
As the clock towards full-time, the sides swapped points, Lisa Lynch and Grace Keohane on target but it was Cloughduv's first-half goals that ensured they prevailed.
Huge credit to Éire Óg, who must be complimented on the superb condition of their pitch.
A Sheppard 0-5 (0-4 f), R Hurley 1-1, A Lehane 1-0, M Corkery 0-2, C Kelleher, L Lynch 0-1 each.
R Murphy 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 45), K Dooley 0-3, S O Regan (f), G Kelleher 0-1.
C O'Leary; H Dineen, A Barry-Murphy, A Corkery; A Buckley, L Buttimer, N O'Leary; F Drinan, C Hughes; A Lehane, C Murray, C Kelleher; M Corkery, R Hurley, A Sheppard.
L Lynch for A Buckley (55), A O'Brien for C Kelleher (55).
T O'Donoghue; E McAuliffe, M Murphy; J Murphy; A Murphy, S O'Keeffe, J Mehigan; R Murphy, A Quirke; K O'Shea, R Murphy, S O'Regan; K Dooley, C Dooley, G Keohane.
A Conway for A Murphy (20).
Cathan Treacy (Glen Rovers).
App?
