Early Gailltir double takes care of Tramore
The Gaultier camogie team. All Photos: Noel Browne.
This semi final was all over bar the shouting after four minutes as Gailltir took little time to set up another showdown with De La Salle in two weeks’ time. Goals from Alannah and Ciara O’Sullivan got the job done good and early in the Saturday afternoon sunshine against a Tramore side that never threw in the towel.
The blue and navy will meet their great rivals for the fifth year in a row at the SETU Arena next month. They will enter that battle without three players that featured in last year’s Munster final loss to Truagh Clonlara. Free taker Emma Fitzgerald is out for the rest of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, Anne Corcoran is away while Hannah Flynn is sidelined with a back injury. Add in Emily Mahony who has also been struck down by the cruciate curse and Leah Sheridan who has a back issue.
In Fitzgerald’s absence, Laoise Forrest stepped up on the dead balls and struck seven points in total (four from play). She can prosper at centre back or centre forward. Number eleven is her station for now. Ciara O’Sullivan (1-3), Alannah O’Sullivan (1-2) and Molly Comerford (0-4) also made hay.
All Star defender Vikki Falconer started at centre forward for Tramore and put her body on the line all over the field. She needed treatment when she threw herself in the way of Laoise Forrest’s hurley. Emma Corkery got their solitary point from play in the 45th minute. Tara Power and Kim McGrath slotted three frees each and kept fighting to the end. The Seasiders couldn’t call on the services of county panellist Clara Griffin as she has travelled to Australia.
Kate Lynch got the scoreboard moving inside 60 seconds for the defending champions. Gailltir capitalised on early Tramore nerves. Alannah O’Sullivan found the roof of the net after a goalmouth scramble in the third minute. Ciara O’Sullivan batted the ball home off the next attack. Seven up after four minutes (2-1 to 0-0).
Ciara O’Sullivan completed the half with 1-2 from play. Laoise Forrest and Molly Comerford helped themselves to three points each from play. Gailltir should have added to their goal tally. Annie Fitzgerald was hooked by Anna Goldrick before Hayleigh Acheson saved from the county attacker in a one on one. Tramore’s first score arrived on 13 minutes via a Tara Power free. She converted three and missed two into the dressing room end during that opening half. The electronic scoreboard read 2-11 to 0-3 at the break after Forrest converted an injury time free.
Ciara O’Sullivan increased her tally to 1-3 within 70 seconds of the restart. Annie Fitzgerald added her first point of the afternoon. A Tara Power block and the crossbar prevented another Gailltir green flag. Emma Corkery’s point from play brought a cheer from the Tramore contingent. Alannah O’Sullivan responded with a silky solo score as she tapped the sliotar on her hurley and flicked it over. Tramore plugged away and Kim McGrath nailed three late frees.
Based on the knockout stages, is there a case for another tier in Waterford club camogie? The total winning margin across the two semi finals was 37 points while the total winning margin across the four quarter finals was 90 points.
Laoise Forrest 0-7 (3fs), Ciara O’Sullivan 1-3, Alannah O’Sullivan 1-2, Molly Comerford 0-4, Annie Fitzgerald 0-2, Orlaith Walsh, Kate Lynch 0-1 each.
Kim McGrath (3fs), Tara Power (3fs) 0-3 each, Emma Corkery 0-1.
Noelle Murphy; Faye Murphy, Maria Brennan, Aoife Hartley; Shauna Fitzgerald, Clodagh Carroll, Maeve Sheridan; Kate Lynch, Alannah O’Sullivan; Molly Comerford, Laoise Forrest, Ciara Sherlock; Annie Fitzgerald, Ciara O’Sullivan, Orlaith Walsh.
Aoife Fitzgerald for Orlaith Walsh (44), Holly O’Sullivan for Hartley (55), Caoimhe Walsh for Murphy (55), Caoimhe Flynn for Ciara O’Sullivan (55), Sienna Healy for Forrest (58).
Hayleigh Acheson; Caoimhe Collins, Anna McGoldrick, Caitlin Lowery; Louise Walsh, Jordan Scholtz, Grainne Collins; Kelsie Obanya, Tara Power; Emma Corkery, Vikki Falconer, Kim McGrath; Katie O’Neill, Saoirse O’Brien, Natasha Dobbyn.
Leah Obanya for Walsh (48), Francis McCann for Dobbyn (48), Hannah Hamilton for O’Brien (60).
Mick Quirke PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Full forward Ciara O’Sullivan shot 1-3 from play.
That Gailltir double blast.
Two one sided senior semi finals.
Gailltir versus De La Salle on Saturday, October 11 at the SETU Arena.
