Myshall's run of finals comes to an end as Rangers remain on track to retain title
Sarah Kehoe fires a point for MLR against Myshall in McGrath Park on Saturday. Photos: Pat Ahern.
Mount Leinster Rangers' hopes of retaining the title they won last year remain on track after they saw off the challenge of their arch rivals in this Azap Print Senior Championship Camogie semi-final at McGrath Park on Saturday.
They got off to a great start when Roisin Joyce found the posts for the opening score. Ciara Kavanagh converted two frees and for the next six minutes the game remained scoreless.
In their opening attack, Myshall’s Caoimhe Jordan almost stole an early goal but the Rangers defence did enough to distract her and the chance was lost.
The centre-back atoned on eleven minutes when she off-loaded to Emma Coogan who duly planted the ball in the net. Aimie Nolan then nudged the former champions in front with an excellent point.
While Kavanagh equalised for Rangers Jordan intervened and pushed her side in front once more with a point from play. The Rangers free taker then enjoyed a purple patch where she pointed from play and added two frees to give her side a 0-7 to 1-2 interval lead. Sarah Kehoe, for the eventual winners, also had a goal disallowed for a square ball.
Three further points after the interval from Kavanagh stretched out the Rangers lead. Myshall replied with a Sarah Sheehan free. At the other end, Shannon Kavanagh almost stole in for a goal but that was always at a difficult angle. Rangers registered a series of wides in the third quarter, which on another day, cold have come back to bite them.
A couple of points from Sheehan midway through the half kept Myshall in the game but Rangers kept them at arm’s length. Kehoe did have compensation for her disallowed goal when she raised a white flag at a critical juncture midway the half. Kavanagh’s 59th minute free left four between them.
Myshall dug deep. The experienced Catherine Kavanagh in the Rangers goal, with time on her side, opted for a first time clearance out towards the corner flag rather than taking possession.
The tension was palpable. Rangers know Myshall are never gone until the final whistle. They helped themselves too with Kavanagh rounding off the day with two late points.
The holders have now dispatched a huge threat to their crown. They now have it all to do in two weeks-time against a side hungry to emulate what the Borris side did last year when winning a precious senior crown. A fascinating scenario awaits.
C Kavanagh 0-11 (9fs, 45), S Kehoe, R Joyce 0-1 each.
E Coogan 1-0, S Sheehan 0-3 (1f 45), A Nolan, C Jordan 0-1 each.
Catherine Kavanagh; Tara Kavanagh, Aine Ryan, Alice Dalton; Kathleen Fenlon, Rachel Breen, Sarah Joyce; Molly Kavanagh, Martha Dolan; Sarah Kehoe, Ciara Kavanagh, Roisin Joyce; Hannah Kehoe, Shannon Kavanagh, Rachel Bible.
Rachel Kennedy for Bible (39), Chloe O’Dywer for S Kavanagh (59).
Laura James; Niamh Nolan, Michelle Nolan, Michaela Donoghue; Therese Nolan, Caoimhe Jordan, Gillian Doyle; Ali Ruschitzko, Emma Coogan, Sarah Sheehan; Leanne Nolan, Kate Nolan, Aimie Nolan.
Rhiannon Kenny for T Nolan (40), Ciara Quirke for L Nolan (41).
Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).
