No joy for Colaiste Naomh Cormac as St Cuan's secure comfortable victory

Lily Spence Cup Senior C Post Primary All-Ireland Camogie Championship Semi-final

ST CUAN'S CASTLEBLAKENEY 4-11

COLAISTE NAOMH CORMAC 2-5

COLAISTE Naomh Cormac's dreams of capturing a place in the All-Ireland Senior C camogie final were well and truly dashed by a talented St Cuan's Castleblakeney side in the semi-final played at The Faithful Fields on Saturday.

Inspired by Emma Barrett, who bagged 3-3 from play, St Cuan's controlled the game from the off and despite the best efforts from the Kilcormac side, they were unable to match them and had to give best on the day.

St Cuan's were very strong throughout the field and looked like they could be well capable of competing at a higher level. Physically they were were strong and too often seemed to be able to push the Colaiste Naomh Cormac girls off the ball. They had speed and craft and used that very well to their own advantage.

Colaiste Naomh Cormac never gave up the fight. They worked very hard in the second half to try and get back into the game but they were fighting an uphill battle and while they created more openings, they found it difficult to breach the St Cuan's defence.

The Castleblakeney school got off to a good start and were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead inside the opening 10 minutes. Colaiste Naomh Cormac did get off the mark at that stage but they found themselves 2-5 to 0-1 behind approaching the interval but they managed to get more scores closer to the interval and went in nine points down at half time, 2-7 to 0-4.

Another St Cuan's goal inside the first minute of the second half was a blow to Colaiste Naomh Cormac but they kept fighting and a goal midway through the half gave them a little boost but unfortunately that was wiped out with St Cuan's fourth goal two minutes later. Colaiste Naomh Cormac kept fighting and were rewarded with a second goal in injury time but St Cuan's were comfortably through to the All-Ireland final at that stage.

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It was a hard day at the office for Colaiste Naomh Cormac and they were chasing the game from the very start. They didn't get a score from play in the first half with their first point from play coming after 35 minutes and they only managed one goal from play after that. They had more chances later in the game and tried to push for goals to try and get them back into the game but unfortunately weren't successful.

Emma Barrett was the chief thorn in the side of Colaiste Naomh Cormac and outside her scores, the rest of her team only contributed 1-2 from play. But they were always threatening and but for some great saves from Caoimhe Spain and the woodwork, St Cuan's could have doubled their goal tally.

Caoimhe Spain had a fine game in goals for Colaiste Naomh Cormac while Aine Rigney, Karla Mannion and sub Briana Commins battled hard in defence. Further afield Lucy Lowry, Emer Bracken and Isabella Gleeson put in a big effort.

For St Cuan's Aoife Jordan, Abigail Donohoe and Aoife Scarry played well in defence, Lynn Hartigan and Della Griffin were a strong midfield partnership while Emma Barrett was the star of the attack where Moya Glynn and Clodagh Jordan also did well.

In a sign of things to come, Emma Barrett cut through from the right inside the opening 30 seconds and saw her shot well saved by Caoimhe Spain at the expense of a '45' which Aoife Scarry pointed. Clodagh Jordan added a second point after five minutes before the first goal three minutes later. Aoife Scarry's free was won by Michelle Quirke, who passed on to Emma Barrett and she fired low to the net. Aoife Scarry pointed another free and St Cuan's were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead.

Colaiste Naomh Cormac got off the mark when Emer Bracken pointed a free but St Cuan's threatened again but good defence denied Clodagh Jordan. Aoife Scarry pointed another free before Emma Barrett went close to a second goal but her shot came off the butt of the post. However she wasn't to be denied five minutes later when taking a pass from Moya Glynn and finishing to the net. She then added a point from play to stretch the lead to 10 points.

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Emer Bracken pointed three late frees for Colaiste Naomh Cormac with Aoife Scarry getting one in reply for St Cuan's after Emma Barrett was hauled down as she looked set for another goal. Barrett did fire over another point from play and St Cuan's went in leading by 2-7 to 0-4.

Just 41 seconds after the restart Emma Barrett struck for her third goal when taking a pass from Michelle Quirke, turning and racing goalwards before shooting low to the net. Emma Dempsey quickly added another point. Colaiste Naomh Cormac got their first score from play after 35 minutes when Isabella Gleeson's shot dropped over and they had a goal opportunity when Emer Bracken passed to Kate Feighery but she was crowded out by the defence and the chance was gone. St Cuan's had another goal chance themselves but this time Emma Barrett was denied by a Caoimhe Spain save at the post.

Aoife Scarry pointed a free for St Cuan's before Colaiste Naomh Cormac finally got through for goal. Emer Bracken went for goal from a 20m free but the effort was saved. However the ball wasn't cleared and it came back to Emer Bracken who shot to the roof of the net.

Any lift they may have got from that score was quickly cancelled two minutes later when St Cuan's goaled again. Emma Barrett dropped a ball into the goalmouth and when it broke Moya Glynn gathered and shot to the net. They almost had another when Emma Barrett raided again but Caoimhe Spain advanced to save well but the ball came back to Barrett and she drilled it over the bar. Aoife Scarry added a further point from a free. Deep in injury time Colaiste Naomh Cormac struck for a second goal when Aine Rigney fired a 20m free to the net. It was just a consolation and St Cuan's advance to the All-Ireland final.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

ST CUAN'S CASTLEBLAKENEY: Saoirse McDonagh; Ava Connolly, Abigail Donohoe, Aoife Jordan; Natasha Kelly, Aoife Scarry, Niamh Gormally; Lynn Hartigan, Della Griffin; Shona de Cartaret, Michelle Quirke, Emma Dempsey; Clodagh Jordan, Emma Barrett, Moya Glynn. Subs. Katelyn Murphy (for Shona de Cartaret, 44 mins), Shona Barrett (for Moya Glynn, 53 mins), Alanna Glynn (for Ava Connolly, 62 mins).

COLAISTE NAOMH CORMAC: Caoimhe Spain (Drumcullen); Eva Bracken (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Aine Rigney (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Caitlin Hynes (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Abby Hollywood (Drumcullen), Karla Mannion (Drumcullen), Sally Talbot (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Lucy Lowry (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Chloe Gath Hollywood (Drumcullen); Sarah Grimes (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Shauna Mannion (Drumcullen), Cliona Mannion (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Emer Bracken (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Isabella Gleeson (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Kate Feighery (Kilcormac/Killoughey). Subs. Brianna Commins (Kilcormac/Killoughey) (for Sally Talbot, 22 mins), Caitlin Reddan (Drumcullen) (for Cliona Mannion, half time), Mairead Stephens (Drumcullen) (for Caitlin Hynes, 53 mins).

REFEREE: Barry Nea (Westmeath)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

There was only one contender for the player of the match, Emma Barrett. She set the tone in the opening seconds with a run and shot which was only saved at the post by Caoimhe Spain. Her speed, quick turns and runs caused umpteen problems for Colaiste Naomh Cormac. She finished with a tally of 3-3 from play and was only denied further goals by three great saves from Caoimhe Spain, by the woodwork and when she was pulled down when through and on course for another goal effort.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Emma Barrett's opening goal after eight minutes put her side in control of the contest at an early stage and Colaiste Naomh Cormac were really chasing the game from there on.

REFEREE WATCH

The experienced Barry Nea handled the game very well. He pulled players on both sides for overcarrying on a number of occasions and he applied the advantage rule to great effect. He was always in control and issued yellow cards when necessary.

WHAT’S NEXT

St Cuan's advance to the All-Ireland C final where they will face St Mary's Charleville.

VENUE WATCH

Considering the weather conditions that have prevailed in recent weeks, the Faithful Fields pitch was in very good condition for this contest. As usual there were plenty of stewards on hand beforehand to look after parking and everything else was in good order for the game.

STATISTICS

Wides; St Cuan's Castleblakeney 3 (1 in first half) Colaiste Naomh Cormac 2 (2 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Castleblakeney 2 (Emma Dempsey, Ava Connolly) Colaiste Naomh Cormac 2 (Eva Bracken, Shauna Mannion)

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Castleblakeney; Emma Barrett (3-3), Aoife Scarry (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1` '45'), Moya Glynn (1-0), Clodagh Jordan, Emma Dempsey (0-1 each).

Colaiste Naomh Cormac; Emer Bracken (1-4, 0-4 frees), Aine Rigney (1-0, free), Isabella Gleeson (0-1).

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