Sliabh Rua battle hard to beat Newtownshandrum and win the intermediate camogie title

Sliabh Rua 1-12 

Newtownshandrum 0-12 

An Emma McSweeney goal from a penalty with 58 minutes of normal time played edged Sliabh Rua in front against Newtownshandrum, and they held on in the added time to be crowned SE Systems Intermediate Camogie champions in Castle Road on Sunday.

Weather condition were horrific, the driving wind and rain making it difficult for both teams.

The sides were level at the break, 0-5 a piece, but Newtownshandrum had edged in front by the three quarter stage.

Sliabh Rua were working hard and they stayed on their tails as they cut the lead back to a point before McSweeney’s effort found the net.

The sides traded points again and despite Newtownshandrum pressing, they could not find any way through a strong Sliabh Rua defence, who held on to win.

Newtownshandrum opened the scoring with a Laura Walsh point.

Emma McSweeney levelled from a 45'.

Emma Sweeney and Orla Troy then swapped points from frees.

It was nip and tuck. 

Kayleigh Murphy denied Orla Troy’s goal effort with a superb save.

Laura Walsh scored her second point.

Niamh Nash levelled it to 0-3 each and twice more the sides swapped points before the half time whistle.

Orla Troy and McSweeney swapped early second-half points and aided by the strong wind, Sliabh Rua pushed forward, but the Newtownshandrum defence were solid and clearing their lines they were battling hard for every possession. 

Newtownshandrum goalkeeper Eve O’Donoghue saved well from a Kate Redmond goal effort at the start of the second half and it lifted Newtownshandrum.

Two Orla Troy frees and one from play from Beibhinn O’Neill put Newtownshandrum three points in front.

Sliabh Rua reduced the arrears to a point thanks to Emma McSweeney and Jillian O’Leary points with minutes remaining. 

Again, Troy and McSweeney traded frees.

Newtownshandrum were hanging onto their one point lead before Jillian O’Leary was adjudged to have been fouled.

Up stepped Emma McSweeney and the youngster confidently slotted to the net to put two points between the sides. 

As the clock went into injury time Hannah Deasy and the excellent Emma McSweeney put Sliabh Rua four points ahead.

Newtownshandrum kept fighting on despite the difficult weather condition conditions and Orla Troy pointed to reduce the defecit.

Emma McSweeney replied again.

Newtownshandrum were awarded a couple of close-in frees in the additional minutes and even though they battled hard they could not find the range before their last effort from Bláithín Ní Chonchúir skimmed over the bar before the sound of the full time whistle.

Emma McSweeney was named as The Echo Player of the Match after a superb display which saw her notch up 1-8 of her side's tally.

Scorers for Sliabh Rua: E McSweeney 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6 frees, 0-1 45), K Redmond, H Deasy, N Nash and J O’Leary (0-1 each).

Scorers for Newtownshandrum: O Troy (0-8, 0-7 frees), L Walsh (0-2), B Ní Chonchúir (free) and B O’Neill (0-1 each).

Sliabh Rua: K Murphy; O Cummins, A Sheehan, A Coleman; A Halpin, C Bernard, C O’Donnell; C O’Mahony, L Kelleher; C Horgan, H Deasy, K Redmond; N Nash, J O’Leary (c), E McSweeney.

Sub: A O’Brien for C Horgan (47).

Newtownshandrum: E O’Donoghue; S Coughlan (c), B Ní Chonchúir, A McAuliffe; E O’Connor, C Ryan, A Walmsley; M Noonan, F Troy; L Ryan, C Collins, A Twohill; L Walsh, O Troy, A O’Neill.

Subs: E O’Shaughnessy for B O’Neill (52), A Young for A Twohill (55), A Twohill for O Troy (65 inj).

Referee: Willie Wallace (Aghada).