Sile Burns scored 1-2 as Cork continued their good run in the Gala Senior A Camogie Championship yesterday with a five points victory over Galway at Athenry.
The Rebels lead by 1-5 to 0-6 at half time with Burns scoring the decisive goal after three minutes, but Galway certainly matched the visitors well in this game, even though they were missing influencial half-back Sinead Calahan.
2005 All-Star Calahan broke a bone in her hand in the lead up to the game, but her side matched Cork score for score in the opening half, with Veronica Curtin impressive scoring five points including three from placed balls, while Ann Marie Hayes was also on target.
Angela Walsh was also very influential for Cork in the opening half and made a valid contribution with not just her two points but also helped to create Burns fifth minute goal with a precision pass to the centre forward.
Conditions remained wet throughout this game with heavy showers prevailing, but the camogie on offer was certainly of high intensity and it was only in the second half when Cork began to pull away with Galway’s only scores coming thanks to two Veronica Curtin pointed frees.
Cork were worthy winners with some good defensive play from Mary O’Connor and Caitriona Foley, while Sile Burns, Una O’Donoghue, Eimear Dillon and Jennifer O’Leary could not be faulted in attack.
Galway were unable to utilise any possession they had in attack to great effect in the second half, which ultimately proved to be their downfall.
The Senior B clash between the sides at the same venue was also a keenly contested affair with the sides finishing level after 60 minutes, but only after a stern Cork comeback in the second half.
Galway raced into a 0-6 to 0-0 half-time lead thanks to four points from Aoife Lynskey and a point each from Deirdre Burke and Elaine O’Sullivan in the opening half.
However Cork made a major turnaround on the restart and, although Galway goalkeeper Caitriona Nee made a fine penalty save in the 42nd minute, Cork found a goal two minutes from the end through Michelle Brown which put her side into a one point lead and it took a late equaliser from Molly Dunne to ensure a 1-6 to 0-9 full-time score.
Also in the Senior B Limerick romped to a 7-31 to 1-1 win over Dublin in the capital yesterday.
Limerick led by 5-13 to 0-1 at the interval with Kirsten Farrell scoring Dublin’s point.
Orla Curtin and Mairead Kelly were the Limerick heroines with two goals each while Marie Keating, Fionnuala Dore and Dympna O’Brien scored a goal each for the visitors.
