Lough Rea Hotel & Spa County Senior Camogie Championship – Friday, 22nd June 2018
Davitts 2-15 Pearses 3-8
Darren Kelly in Duggan Park
After surviving relegation finals in 2016 and 2017, Davitts made a positive start to 2018 when they emerged victorious against the previous year’s quarter-finalists Pearses.
Goals for Taragh Maloney and Laura Hansbury gave the south Galway side a 2-7 to 1-5 interval lead. And with Aine and Roisin Dervan pulling the strings upon the restart, Aidan Shaughnessy’s charges held on despite two Aine Hillary goals.
There was a feeling in Ballinasloe that Davitts had improved but Niamh Kilkenny got Pearses’ opener on two minutes. The five-time All-Star added a second in the 10th minute but that was to reduce arrears as Maloney and Aine Dervan put Davitts ahead.
DAVITTS BEGIN 2019 WITH VICTORY!
Lough Rea Hotel & Spa Senior Camogie Championship Latest in Duggan Park
RESULT!!!
Davitts Camogie 2-15
Pearses Camogie Club 3-8#DAVvsPEA #galwaycamogie— Official Galway Camogie (@GalwayCamogie96) June 22, 2018
The 6.30pm throw-in meant Aine Dervan was late arriving but she made up for it with eight points over the hour. However, Davitts looked in trouble on 14 minutes as Orla Kilkenny and Ciara Lally combined to allow Amy Kenny get a Pearses goal.
Pearses led 1-2 to 0-3 and were favourites to drive on. But Davitts’ response could define their season. An immediate counter attack produced a golden opportunity and Maloney struck the second goal.
Aine and Roisin Dervan gave them a 1-5 to 1-2 advantage before a Niamh Kilkenny brace left the minimum between them. The Dervans combined again with Roisin pointing before Hansbury finished off the second goal and Davitts were five clear.
Hansbury played provider for Maloney to make it 2-7 to 1-4 on 25 minutes but Pearses stayed in touch as Niamh Kilkenny set up her sister Orla to leave five between them at half-time.
Two Aine Dervan frees stretched them 2-9 to 1-5 clear after the restart and the victory was on. Orla Kilkenny responded with a Pearses placed ball but further white flags for Aine and Roisin Dervan looked good enough on the three-quarter mark as Davitts led 2-11 to 1-6.
Pearses needed inspiration. Roisin Dervan finished a three player move before Orla Kilkenny hit back. Aine Dervan had Davitts 2-13 to 1-7 ahead but with Niamh Kilkenny and Hillary playing a one-two which caused panic, the latter got the touch for Pearses’ second goal with eight minutes remaining.
A Niamh Kilkenny free on 58 minutes kept the deficit in check but the Gurteen/Ballymacward side need a goal. It did arrive when Hillary majored again in injury time. But two Aine Dervan scores left Davitts’ success in no doubt.
Scorers:
Davitts – Aine Dervan 0-8 (seven frees), Taragh Maloney 1-3 (one free), Roisin Dervan 0-4, Laura Hansbury 1-0
Pearses – Aine Hillary 2-0, Niamh Kilkenny 0-5 (two frees), Amy Kenny 1-0, Orla Kilkenny 0-3 (one free)
Davitts: Tara Murphy; Claire McHugo, Ciara Gardiner, Rebecca Dolan; Nicole Duggan, Lorraine Farrell, Laura Shiel; Stephanie Broderick, Emma Rourke; Amy Murphy, Roisin Dervan, Niamh Briscoe; Deirdre Tully, Taragh Maloney, Rachel Dolan. Subs used: Aine Dervan for Rachel Dolan (7 mins), Laura Hansbury for Briscoe (13 mins), Eimear O’Byrne for Tully (26 mins), Lisa Shiel for Broderick (60 mins).
Pearses: Claire Carr; Teresa Loughnane, Aoife Kilkenny, Amy Naughton; Aoife Lydon, Tara Naughton, Niamh Jenkins; Orla Kilkenny, Lorraine Lally; Niamh Kilkenny, Lorna Kelly, Amy Kenny; Lisa O’Brien, Ciara Lally, Karina Donnellan. Subs used: Sinead Food for Lydon (HT), Aine Hillary for Donnellan (41 mins), Ciara Costelloe for A. Kilkenny (56 mins).
Referee: Mike Ryan
