Liatroim pip St John’s in camogie playoff
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Liatroim 4-09 v 2-03
St John’s
at Ballela Sun 29th Oct
Liatroim produced a sparkling second
half performance against neighbours St
John’s to win the Division Four title in
Sunday’s playoff at Ballela. The teams
went into the playoff with only one blip
on their respective records – they had
taken points of each other earlier in
the year. Indeed it was on the opening
day of the campaign that the Liatroim
ladies secured a one point win over the
Johnnies (8-01 to 7-03). However the
tables were turned in the return match
and this time by a seven point margin
(4-11 v 5-01). St John’s had also won
the championship a few weeks earlier so
were in buoyant mood going into the
game.
So the scene was set for a fine
competitive match and the teams did not
disappoint. Both played with
determination and skill, but at the end
of the day it was the greater depth
within the Liatroim camp, and the
freshness that they were able to call
upon, that saw them through to victory.
There was little to choose between the
sides in the first half, with commanding
performances from both keepers ensuring
that this wouldn’t be a high scoring
game. St John’s were first on the
scoreboard when
Sheáleen Savage was first to reach when
a shot came back of the goalpost and she
fired into the net. Five minutes later
Liatroim equalised and then inched a
point ahead. The Johnnies though they
had restored their lead after twenty
minutes but their “goal” was ruled out
for a “square ball” infringement. They
didn’t have to wait to long though
before Bronagh McCullough pointed.
Liatroim pointed again but Sheáleen
Savage netted again before the break to
leave the Johnnies 2-1 to 1-2 ahead at
the turnaround.
Liatroim upped the tempo on the restart and had converted
three scores within five minutes, with a
major score sandwiched between two
points.
St John’s tried hard to get scores themselves but had trouble making
progress against resolute defending.
Liatroim pointed again before Shileen
McDonald pointed in reply.
It was end to end action at this stage Liatroim seemed to be
better at converting the opportunities
into scores on the board. They pointed
twice to open up a five point margin
before a Sinead Walsh free left two
scores between the sides.
But as we went into the last five minutes one sensed that the
game was up as Liatroim kept their foot
on the gas. Some
St John’s’ heads began to drop as the
next score was a goal to increase the
margin to seven and Liatroim finished
off with three unanswered scores.
Liatroim’s performance, especially in the second period, was
arguably their best of the year. For the
St John’s team, who had given their all
and have done their club proud all
season, their was the disappointment of
not being able to complete the double
but they can look forward to continuing
their development in Division Three next
year.
St John’s: Sinead Lennon; Anne
Cunningham, Sinead Walsh (0-1f), Laura
Smyth (capt), Kelly-Anne McCullough;
Caroline Ward, Grainne McCann, Eimer
Brennan; Sheáleen Savage (2-0), Orlaith
McMullan, Bronagh McCullough (0-1),
Siobhan McGeown. Subs Sileen McDonald
(0-1) for Eimer Brennan, Martina
Cunningham for Siobhan McGeown, Aishling
McMullan for Sheáleen Savage.
