Cork camogie: Red card turns tide as Ballinora snatch win from Courcey Rovers in 69th minute
Kate O'Shea, Ballinora about to strike watched by Lisa Nield, Courcey Rovers. Picture Dan Linehan
No shortage of drama, no shortage of shock. Heartbreak for Courcey Rovers, elation for Ballinora. This SE Systems Senior Camogie Championship game went right down to the wire at Ballyanley on Thursday evening.
Courceys had one hand on the win. In the 59th minute, Saoirse McCarthy’s 45 restored the three-point cushion they’d enjoyed at half-time. It felt safe. It wasn’t.
In the 61st minute, Kate Dooley sent Jennifer Murphy through, and she was hauled down by McCarthy. McCarthy was booked for the challenge while Aishling O’Reilly received her marching orders for the initial foul on Dooley. Rachel Murphy pointed the free – two the margin now – the balance tilting.
O’Reilly’s dismissal was a hammer blow. Ballinora sensed it. Twice Méabh Murphy picked out Dooley, twice she clipped over. The second, in the 66th minute, brought the sides level for only the second time all night.
Then came the sucker punch. From the puckout, Courceys coughed up possession. Rose Murphy was hauled down by Grainne Hannon. Free blown initially, penalty awarded in the end.
Rachel Murphy only had to do what was necessary, and popped it over in the 69th minute.
Ballinora were in front – for the first time since the 19th minute – and crucially, at the only time that mattered.
Having led by three at the break, Courceys only managed five second half scores. All five came from McCarthy. They will feel aggrieved with certain calls, but more than that, they will feel empty at how close they were to redemption after the opening-round loss to Glen Rovers.
McCarthy was outstanding, her distribution exquisite, her seven points the backbone of the Rovers tally. Katie Crowley saved brilliantly in goal, Orlagh O’Mahony swept up everything in front of her, and O’Reilly was a pillar until her sending-off.
The story of the game, though, was Ballinora’s refusal to wilt. They had struck early – Rachel Murphy’s goal inside 30 seconds – but were reined in almost immediately as Courceys reeled off 1-2, Fiona Keating finishing McCarthy’s inch-perfect pass to the net after two white flags from Ciara O’Donoghue.
By the 20th minute, Courceys had their second goal, Aine O’Donoghue this time the finisher, and the gap was three again. Ballinora, who had briefly led midway through the half after a run of four points, were kept on the back foot from there.
They would not taste the lead again until the 69th minute. But when it came, they held it.
Rachel Murphy finished with 1-9, Judy Murphy stood out in defence, Dooley clipped four, and Ballinora had their win – taken from a contest that seemed beyond them.
Rachel Murphy 1-9 (0-3 f, 0-1 45, 0-1 pen), K Dooley 0-4, K O’Shea, Rose Murphy 0-1 each.
S McCarthy 0-7 (0-4 f, 0-1 45), F Keating, A O’Donoghue 1-0 each, C O’Donoghue, C Foley 0-2 each.
T O’Donoghue; A Conway, E McAuliffe, J Murphy; J Mehigan, S O’Keeffe, N Kingston; M Murphy, A Quirke; C Dooley, Rose Murphy, K O’Shea; K Dooley, Rachel Murphy, G Keohane.
A Murphy for Mehigan (HT), J Murphy for Keohane (53).
K Crowley; L Crowley, A O’Reilly, O Twomey; L Nield, O O’Mahony, G O’Reilly; G Hannon, E Moloney; C Foley, S McCarthy, AM Collins; C O’Donoghue, F Keating, A O’Donoghue.
R Gallagher for Hannon (60+8 inj).
C Vaughan (Blarney)
App?
