Dominant St Rynagh's retain All-Ireland title with compehensive victory

ST RYNAGH'S 5-14

SALTHILL KNOCKNACARRA 2-6

ST RYNAGH'S retained the All-Ireland intermediate camogie title with an emphatic 17 point victory over Salthill Knocknacarra in the final played at Croke Park on Sunday.

St Rynagh's were the dominant team throughout as they overwhelmed their opponents, who were unfotunate to be reduced to 14 players late in the first half.

Even at that early stage St Rynagh's were already well in control and it is unlikely that the Galway side would have got much closer even if they had their full complement for the full 60 minutes of action.

That first half display from St Rynagh's was excellent as they imposed themselves on the game from the early minutes. Salthill Knocknacarra actually got the first score of the game but by the time they had got their second score, St Rynagh's had 3-8 on the board and the Galway side were a player down.

Once St Rynagh's opened their account with a fifth minute Siobhan Flannery goal, they quickly got into their stride. Mairead Daly added a second a short time later and with that they opened up. Their passing and movement was excellent all over the field and Salthill Knocknacarra simply had no answer.

When the Galway side did attack they found the St Rynagh's defence in uncompromising mood and they gave nothing away. They were tigerish in their tackling, some the flicks away were superb and their blocking was excellent.

By the interval they had built up a 15 point advantage, 3-9 to 0-3 and the contest was effectively as good as over.

Not surprisingly the pace and intensity dropped off a bit in the second half. The first eight minutes failed to provide a score as Rynagh's hit a few careless wides. Salthill Knocknacarra were fighting for their pride and to their credit they didn't throw in the towel.

However two further Rynagh's goals further enhanced their superiority. They began to empty the bench at that stage and the game became a little more ragged. Salthill Knocknacarra's efforts were rewarded with two goals in the final quarter but at that stage the cup was already heading back Shannonside.

In a wonderful team performance, where everyone really contributed enormously to the victory, Elaine Sullivan, Emma Corcoran, Roisin Egan, Katie O'Connell, Grainne Dolan, Sinead Hanamy, Mairead Daly, Kate Kenny and Siobhan Flannery were all outstanding.

For a gallant Salthill Knocknacarra, Fiona Kelly, Claire Murray, Siobhan Divilly, Laura Kelly, Aisling Griffin and Sorcha McGinley tried hard.

St Rynagh's won the toss and elected to play against the strong breeze. Salthill Knocknacarra got the first score in the second minute when Aoife Kelly pointed but from there St Rynagh's took over. In a fifth minute a nice move ended with Siobhan Flannery slotting the ball to the net for the opening goal.

Kate Kenny pointed a free after nine minutes and a minute later came the second goal when Mairead Daly took a good pass from Emma Corcoran and ran on and shot low to the net. St Rynagh's grew in confidence and began to spray the ball around beautifully. Kate Kenny hit two points, Roisin Egan came forward to score another and Linda Sullivan got her name on the scoresheet. She almost notched another goal when on the end of a lovely move but just pulled her shot across the face of the goals and wide.

Disaster then struck for Salthill Knocknacarra when Emma Madden picked up her second yellow card and they were down to 14 players. Almost immediately Katie O'Connell came forward and her shot from about 45m out went over the head of the goalkeeper and into the net. Kate Kenny (free), Emma Corcoran and Sinead Hanamy all added points as St Rynagh's pressed home their advantage.

Salthill Knockncarra got their second score after 27 minutes when Evie Hayes pointed but Kate Kenny floated over another for St Rynagh's. Aoife Kelly did get one more for Salthill Knocknacarra but St Rynagh's led by 3-9 to 0-3 at half time.

After the drama of the first half, things were a little slow to get going again after the interval and it took eight minutes for the first score to arrive from a Laura Kelly free. St Rynagh's eventually did find the mark and in some style when a good move ended with Mairead Daly setting up Siobhan Flannery for a goal after 11 minutes. She had another effort saved at the expense of a '45' which Kate Kenny pointed.

Midway through the half Mairead Daly cut through again and offloaded to Kate Kenny and she found the net. Grainne Dolan followed up with a point to put 22 points between the teams.

To Salthill knocknacarra's credit they didn't give up and Aisling Griffin found the net after 18 minutes, quickly followed by a Laura Kelly point.

Kate Kenny scoed two from play for Rynagh's before Sorcha McGinley scored Salthill Knockncarra's second goal. Kate Kenny and Laura Kelly exchanged points from frees before Rynagh's were able to celebrate a great victory

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

ST RYNAGH'S: Ellen Gilligan; Sinead Moran, Elaine Sullivan, Meadbh Dooley; Katie O'Connell, Roisin Egan, Emma Corcoran; Grainne Dolan, Louise Mannion; Mairead Daly, Siobhan Flannery, Helen Dolan; Linda Sullivan, Kate Kenny, Sinead Hanamy. Subs. Louise Flannery (for Siobhan Flannery, 43 mins), Ciara O'Connell (for Meadbh Doorley, 47 mins), Aoife O'Regan (for Linda Sullivan, 47 mins), Aoife McLoughlin (for Helen Dolan, 51 mins), Roisin Daly (for Katie O'Connell, 51 mins).

SALTHILL KNOCKNACARRA: Vicky Flanagan; Sarah Donnellan, Emma Madden, Fiona Kelly; Claire Murray, Aoife Keane, Aoibhe Joyce; Siobhan Divilly, Laura Kelly; Aisling Griffin, Joanne O'Flaherty; Sorcha McGinley; Aoife Kelly, Camille Keane, Evie Hayes. Subs. Ines Morrison (for Camille Keane, 38 mins), Mary Murray (for Aoibhe Joyce, 47 mins), Fiona O'Sullivan (for Sarah Donnellan, 51 mins), Hannah Hernon (for Aoife Kelly, 58 mins), Ava Conlon (for Joanne O'Flaherty, 60 mins).

REFEREE: Barry Nea (Westmeath)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

There were lots of contenders on the St Rynagh's side. Kate Kenny got the official award, Roisin Egan, Emma Corcoran and Grainne Dolan were all outstanding, but I'm going for Mairead Daly. She scored one goal, set up three more and was a constant thorn in the side of her opponents with her pace and skill.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

With such a dominant display, it is had to say there was one moment of the game. Mairead Daly's goal after 10 minutes rally seemed to free up St Rynagh's and they scored a string of fine points after that. Then came the sending off and Rynagh's immediately added their third goal and the game was over.

REFEREE WATCH

Barry Nea did a good job overall. He probably had little option but to send off Emma Madden in the first half. Having already yellow carded her for hauling down Kate Kenny, she connected with the helmet of Mairead Daly and technically it was another yellow card. Other referees might have bottled out of giving a second yellow but he followed it to the letter of the law and on the whole he controlled the game well.

TALKING POINT

St Rynagh's first half performance was out of the top drawer. Some of their build up play was excellent, the way they spread the ball around and linked up with each other was as good as it gets and buiding up a 15 point lead by the interval had effectively sealed the title.

WHAT’S NEXT

St Rynagh's wrap up a second All-Ireland title in a row with a great win. As a result of this win, next year's Offaly champions will compete in the Leinster Senior championship.

VENUE WATCH

Croke Park looked resplendent on a sunny, crisp March day and all arrangements were perfectly in order for the big day.

STATISTICS

Wides; St Rynagh's 8 (3 in first half) Salthill Knocknacarra 0

Yellow Cards: St Rynagh's 0 Salthill Knocknacarra 2 (Emma Madden x 2)

Red Cards: St Rynagh's 0 Salthill Knocknacarra 1 (Emma Madden)

THE SCORERS

St Rynagh's; Kate Kenny (1-9, 0-3 frees, 0-1 '45'), Siobhan Flannery (2-0), Mairead Daly and Katie O'Connell (1-0 each), Roisin Egan, Linda Sullivan, Emma Corcoran, Sinead Hanamy and Grainne Dolan (0-1 each).

Salthill Knocknacarra; Sorcha McGinley (1-1), Aisling Griffin (1-0), Laura Kelly (0-3, 0-2 frees), Aoife Kelly, Evie Hayes (0-1 each).