Lough Lene Gaels goals prove decisive

Lough Lene Gaels 4-06 St Brigid's 0-04

Collinstown was in late morning and early afternoon sunshine last Sunday, August 20, where Lough Lene Gaels and St Brigid's contested a Round 1 fixture of Group 2 of the David Smyth Catering Senior Camogie Championship.

A goal scored by Lough Lene Gaels within the opening five minutes of play, Aoife Flynn the goalscorer, gave the Purple and Golds a great start. The Saffrons, for whom Aoife Balfe was inspirational with her all round good play, were full of positive running for much of first half action.

Lough Lene Gaels though possessed the greater ability to turn opportunities into scores. The Purple and Golds scored two further goals late in the first half, one each from Shaunagh Maher and Jemma Williams.

Lough Lene Gaels’ first half point scorers were Jane Nangle and Caoimhe McCrossan (free), while Aoife Balfe pointed for St Brigid's.

At half-time the scoreline read: Lough Lene Gaels 3-02, St Brigid's 0-01.

The teams exchanged points, via Reanna Kennedy (LLG) and Aoife Balfe in the early minutes of second half play; Lough Lene Gaels then adding two further points to their tally, via Caoimhe McCrossan (free) and a superb strike from an acute angle by substitute Orlaith Winters.

As the midway point of the second half approached, Shauna Briody fired the ball low to the right corner of St Brigid's net, with a crisp angled drive, to score a fourth Lough Lene Gaels goal.

Early in the closing quarter of play, Jane Nangle pointed for Lough Lene Gaels, as the pace of action started to drop off, and general play become scrappy in the early afternoon sunshine. Two St Brigid's points, both scored by Aoife Balfe, closed out match scoring.

LOUGH LENE GAELS: Elizabeth Hannon, Jessie Ginnell, Kelly Dobson Niamh Dermody, Elisha Gavigan, Mary Doyle, Alva McCabe Aideen Dermody, Caoimhe McCrossan (0-2 frees), Aoife Flynn (1-0), Jane Nangle (0-2), Reanna Kennedy (0-1), Shaunagh Maher (1-0), Jemma Williams (1-0).

Subs: Orlaith Winters (0-1) for Shaunagh Maher; Meabh O'Hagan for Jemma Williams; Emma Moran for Niamh Dermody; Ellen Higgins for Shauna Briody.

ST BRIGID'S: Rebecca Dunne, Aoife Moran, Cliona Gallagher, Carragh Gavin, Anna Rose Maloney, Shannon Lyons, Eleanor O'Connor, Aoife Brady, Jo-Hanna Quinn, Aoife Balfe (0-4 - one free), Mary Dergan, Niamh Carey, Blather Gavin, Emma Flood, Jane McCormack.

Subs: Emer Hanlon for Blathin Gavin; Kathlyn Leogue for Anna Rose Maloney.

Ref: Jim Bob Baker (Cullion Camogie Club).

Other Round 1 results in this competition last Sunday were as follows:

GROUP 1

At Drumraney

Drumraney 4.17 Cullion 0.06

At Castletown Geoghegan

Clonkill defeated Castletown Geoghegan

Crookedwood had a Round 1 bye.

Group 2

At Delvin

Raharney 6.16 Delvin 2.05