Downes double delivers for 'Wood/'Pollard side

Grace Downes struck two second-half goals and Caoimhe McCormack was at her usual brilliant best as the Crookedwood/Castlepollard amalgamation side cruised to victory against their old nemeses Clonkill in this minor ‘A’ camogie final, played under lights in Loughegar on Friday night.

With cold, greasy conditions the order of the day and visibility reduced by misty rain, the ‘Wood/’Pollard combination was on top from the start against their opponents who, until Friday night, have been the dominant force at this grade for a number of years.

Crookedwood/Castlepollard – their panel split evenly between the two north Westmeath clubs, who have plenty to look forward to in the future – were well drilled and looked very comfortable moving the ball about despite the conditions. They led 1-6 to 1-0 at the break, and Downes’ first goal shortly after the restart put the result beyond doubt.

After a quarter of an hour of camogie, Crookedwood/Castlepollard were 0-5 to nil ahead after scores from McCormack (three frees from varying distances), Grace Bracken and Rebecca Ward (who had a possible goal on). The gap could have been much greater but for the reflexes of Clonkill goalkeeper Anna Coloe, who must have stopped a goal and three points in that opening quarter.

On 18 minutes, ‘Wood/’Pollard found the net for the first time when, after a long ball from Ella Reilly, the greasy sliotar slipped from Coloe’s grasp and Kayla Kennedy kicked for home.

Two minutes later, Clonkill had reason to hope again when Aoibheann Flynn stole in behind the ‘Wood/’Pollard defence to poke a long ball to the net. At the other end, Coloe kept them in the hunt by deflecting a shot from Caoimhe McCormack off the crossbar, after McCormack scythed through the Clonkill defence.

McCormack then tacked on a free for the combination side to ensure they led by six at the short whistle.

Clonkill, still very much in with a shout, went on the attack immediately after the restart through midfielder Annie McDonald, who never stopped battling for the home side. However, they were turned over and after ‘Wood/’Pollard broke downfield, sub Éabha O’Mahony teed up Grace Downes for a close-range finish.

Clonkill held their nerve and responded with an excellent point from Ciara Dolan, but with the scoreline at 2-6 to 1-1, the hosts needed scores. While they put together some good passages of play and had a couple of sniffs at goal, it just didn’t happen for them on the day. Crucially, Crookedwood/Castlepollard continued to take their chances and Bracken, McCormack (a free) and O’Mahony (a superb point) left them comfortably ahead by the three-quarter mark, though Coloe continued to keep them at bay as best she could.

The game was over as a contest by that stage, and on 57 minutes ‘Wood/’Pollard wrapped up the win when Downes rifled in her second goal. From there, the amalgamation side emptied their bench but never let up on the intensity, and closed out the game with scores further scores from Caoimhe McCormack (from long range, her first from play), Éabha O’Mahony and Downes (after some lovely ball control).

At full time, Crookedwood/Castlepollard joint captains Caoimhe McCormack and Áine McKenna collected the cup from Noeleen McCarthy, assistant secretary of Westmeath Camogie Board, and the two skippers had some sporting words of encouragement for their defeated opponents.

Scorers - Crookedwood/Castlepollard: G Downes 2-1, C McCormack 0-6 (5f), K Kennedy 1-0, G Bracken and É O'Mahony 0-2 each, R Ward 0-1. Clonkill: A Flynn 1-0, C Dolan 0-1.

Crookedwood/Castlepollard: Sarah Lancaster; Áine McKenna (joint capt.), Claire Loughrey, Aimee Gaffney; Chloe Wong, Caoimhe McCormack (joint capt.), Ella Reilly; Sophia Mac Lochlainn, Carolann Downes; Rebecca Ward, Grace Downes, Caoimhe O'Mahony; Grace Bracken, Emma Wiseman, Kayla Kennedy. Subs used: Éabha O'Mahony (h-t), Ali McCarthy (58), Ava Murphy (58), Ronja Linn Goroncy (60+2).

Clonkill: Anna Coloe; Gemma Nooney, Katie Muldoon, Grace Harvey; Lauren Cole, Ciara Dolan (capt.), Emma Harding; Annie McDonald, Katie McDonnell; Ava O'Brien, Katie Nea, Aoibheann Flynn; Cara Finnegan, Ella Murtagh, Lauren English. Subs used: Eadaoín Granahan (42), Emma Coffey (54).

Ref: Jim Bob Baker (Cullion).