08 February 2009
St MacNissi’s Garron Tower 6-5 Athenry Vocational School 1-3
Another glorious chapter in the rise of Camogie in St MacNissi’s Garron Tower took place in Saturday’s All-Ireland Senior semi-final in the west of Ireland.
The Tower travelled to Ballindereen close on the Galway border with Co Clare and convincingly beat Athenry Vocational school to qualify for the All-Ireland final on March 14th.
It continues a remarkable rise as they only moved up to this grade back in September and are now a single game away from collecting the national title.
Despite conceding an early point to the Galway side, Garron Tower settled quickly with Bronagh Heggarty everywhere in defence.
With a plentiful supply of the ball, the forward line began to click and by the 15th minute the full-forward line had blasted a goal each, Fionnuala McDonnell’s brilliant run and shot the pick of them.
Mairi Mulvenna added a great point, only for Athenry to hit back with a goal and a point just before the break.
However the Tower were back into their stride on the re-start and but for the brilliance of Olivia Lane in the Athenry goal, would have had the game sealed in the opening minutes. Alex McLaughlin managed to fire over two frees before Ashling Ward force a third super save from Lane. The sliotar broke and Mairi Mulvenna was on hand to hit the net.
Maeve Connolly and Aisling O’Brien, the Athenry captain, swapped points before Ashling Ward hit the net from a pass from Tessa McDonnell in the 52nd minute with Tessa also blasting to the roof of the net close to the end.
The Garron Tower team brought their play to a new level during this game. For long periods they dominated individually and collectively, with few if any of them operating on less than 100%.
Bronagh Heggarty seemed to be everywhere though, while Noeleen Cosgrove pulled off some great stops and clearances during Athenry’s short period of dominance after the break.
Athenry could not match that hunger with only Mairead Linanne, Amanda Dillon and O’Brien posing any real threat to their direct opponents.
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St MacNissi’s : Noeleen Cosgrove, Anne Burke, Ciara Campbell, Aoife Connolly, Bernadette Convery, Brónagh Heggarty, Colleen Patterson, Alex McLaughlin 0-3, 0-2 frees, Maeve Connolly 0-1, Tessa McDonnell 1-0, Maria McManus, Siobhán McAlister, Mairi Mulvenna 2-1, Ashling Ward 2-0, Fionnuala McDonnell 1-0.
Subs : Patricia Abram for B Convery, Danielle Scally for A Connolly, Ruth Haughey for F McDonnell, Oonagh Hyndman for A Burke, Catriona McKay, Emma McCambridge, Eimhear McAleenan, Joan Kearney, Soracha Cosgrove.
Athenry : Olivia Lane, Danielle Forde, Eimhear Joyce, Edel Mooney, Bridie Scully, Amanda Dillon, Lisa Callinan, Mairead Linane 0-2, 0-1 free, Serena Housberry, Natalie Jordan, Aisling O’Brien capt 0-1, Orla Hurney, Shauna Ellis, Ruth Mooney, Samantha Forde.
Subs : Vivienna Crane for S Ellis, Rachel Craven 1-0 for S Forde, Tanya Barrett for A O’Brien, A O’Brien for T Barrett.
