Clough/Ballacolla draw curtain on memorable Ballinamere-Durrow season

Clough/Ballacolla have an AIB Leinster Club Junior ‘A’ Camogie Championship final to look forward to after a superb win away to Ballinamere/Durrow in Ballinamere on Saturday afternoon.

AIB Leinster Club Junior ‘A’ Camogie Championship semi-final

Clough/Ballacolla 0-13

Ballinamere/Durrow 0-10

The club, in their first-ever Leinster Club Championship campaign after winning their first adult championship two weeks ago, are into the Leinster final next weekend, where they’ll face the winner of Johnstownbridge (Kildare) and Crookedwood (Westmeath).

It was Ballinamere-Durrow's first season in camogie and they had a great won, winning the Offaly intermediate camogie title.

As they did last weekend against Dunderry, Clough/Ballacolla trailed by three points at half-time, having played into the wind. Their start to the second half was impressive as they scored the first six points to take the lead, one they would not relinquish.

Sarah Bergin got Clough/Ballacolla off the mark before Ballinamere/Durrow raised the next four white flags with the wind behind them. Clough/Ballacolla were once again superb against the wind and got back level thanks to scores from Boyhan. Two of her scores were 45s that came from Paige Hyland and Molly Cassin efforts, while her third white flag was a free.

Amy Loughman and Bergin traded scores before Clough/Ballacolla went ahead thanks to a free from Boyhan. Ballinamere/Durrow finished the half with a flourish, scoring four points in a row to lead by three at the break. Loughman, Roisin O’Brien and Edel Gillespie got scores for the home side.

Down by three, Clough/Ballacolla came out after half-time and scored the first six points to take full advantage in Ballinamere. A free from Boyhan set up Bergin for her third score of the afternoon. Boyhan then converted two frees before she picked up possession after a Cassin shot was saved and split the posts.

Clough/Ballacolla’s 11th score was a well-worked team move as Boyhan and Bergin combined to set up Hyland, who put them five points up. Cassin’s only score of the afternoon from midfield put her side into a great position with a quarter of an hour to play.

Loughman and Boyhan, her eighth of the game, swapped scores to leave a goal between the sides. Ballinamere/Durrow tried with all their might to get a goal to force extra-time, but Clough/Ballacolla cleared the ball time and time again to seal their place in the final next weekend.

CLOUGH/BALLACOLLA: Tara Delaney; Laura Dooley Kirwan, Ellen Hennessy, Aoife Bergin; Aine Duggan, Marian Ferns, Eimear McEvoy; Maeve Hennessy, Molly Cassin; Chloe Boyhan, Paige Hyland, Fiona O’Grady; Jade Carroll, Sarah Bergin, Sarah Delaney. Subs: Rachel Hyland for Delaney, Bríd Brennan for Carroll

BALLINAMERE/DURROW: Ellen Cashin; Jane Maher, Chloe Buggy, Edel Gillespie; Emma Buggy, Marie Cantwell, Ciara Wyer; Una O’Brien, Mary Wyer; Laura Walsh, Amy Loughman, Ana Doyle; Saorah Doyle, Grace Heffernan, Roisin O’Brien.

Referee: Kevin Reihill (Westmeath)