St Finbarr's taken to extra, extra time before reaching Munster camogie final
Joy for St Finbarr’s after they beat Newcastle West in the AIB Club Championship semi-final at Togher. Picture: Larry Cummins
It was drama all the way to the final whistle as St Finbarr’s won their AIB Munster Camogie senior club championship semi-final clash with Newcastle West at Togher on Saturday.
They looked like they had the game won until Kate Ambrose scored a goal with the final shot in normal time to take it to extra time. When she scored another goal in extra time, it looked like being the winner.
However, the Barrs showed all their resilience to score two late points to take it to extra, extra time. And again it was another late score, this time from the Barrs Sorcha McCartan, that secured their passage to the Munster final in two weeks.
McCartan was just one of many outstanding performances on the day, with Aisling Egan and Aoife O’Neill in good form in defence, with Keeve McCarthy and Kate Wall working hard up front.
As usual their captain, Stephanie Punch, led by example in what was an outstanding team performance by the Barrs.
Early points from McCartan had them in front, before Ambrose hit back for Newcastle West. By the time we got to the 26th minute the Barrs were in front by two, before points from Ambrose and Hazel Horgan had the sides level.
Just before half-time McCartan goaled from a free to see the Barrs lead by 1-7 to 0-8 at the break.
Two frees from her increased their lead before a goal from Eimear Hurley looked like securing the win for the Barrs.
But massive credit to Newcastle West they hit back with Karen O’Leary scoring a goal for them. Ambrose pointed from a free and deep into injury-time the Barrs led by 2-10 to 1-10.
Newcastle had one last chance from a free and her long-range effort found the back of the net to level it and take it to extra-time.
Three points from Rebecca Delee, were answered by scores from McCartan and McCarthy for the Barrs, to see the Limerick side lead by 2-13 to 2-12 at half-time in extra-time.
Hurley and McCarthy put the Barrs back in front, before Ambrose found the back of the net, to make it 3-13 to 2-14.
But Orlaith Cahalane and McCarthy struck late to level it and take it to extra, extra time.
Ciara Golden and Cahalane put the Barrs in front, before Delee hit back to make it a one-point game again.
But McCartan scored late to seal the win and a meeting with De La Salle in the Munster final in two weeks.
S McCartan 1-9 (1-6 f), E Hurley 1-1, K McCarthy 0-4 (0-3 f), O Cahalane 0-3, K Wall, C Golden 0-1 each.
K Ambrose 2-7 (0-7 f), R Delee 0-4, K O'Leary 1-0, R Ambrose 0-2, H Horgan 0-1.
C Hurley; S Punch, S Daly, G Cahalane; A O’Neill, M Cahalane, C Golden; E Olden, A Shannon; S McCartan, K Wall, K McCarthy; O Cahalane, N Olden, H O’Leary.
E Hurley for N Olden (36), L O’Donovan for S Daly (45), E Wiggington Barrett for H O’Leary (67), K Cahalane for A O’Neill (90).
A Corbett; G Lee, R Mann, Y Lee; R Ambrose, L O’Brien, E Woulfe; K O’Leary, D Murphy; K Ambrose, R Delee, E Whelan; H Horgan, GM O’Kelly, M Smith.
E Collins for E Whelan (44), I O’Brien for GM O’Kelly (70), GM O’Kelly for G Lee (85), E Whelan for M Smith (87).
Johnny Dooley, Tipperary.
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