Fitzgerald leads the way as Camross advance to Leinster semi-final
Sarah Ann Fitzgerald was on fire for Camross scoring 2-8 ion the defeat of Clonkill ion the Leinster Camogie Club Intermediate Championship quarter-final on Sunday Photo: Alf Harvey
Camross have a Leinster Intermediate Camogie Club Championship semi-final to look forward to after overcoming the challenge of Westmeath’s Clonkill in Sunday’s quarter-final.
The Laois champions came into the provincial clash on the back of the previous weekend’s county final win over St Brigid’s.
The first-half was an evenly matched contest, with the sides level at the break. Clonkill’s Megan Dowdall opened the scoring for the home side, who had the aid of a strong breeze in the opening 30 minutes.
Camross did exceptionally well against the elements, raising two green flags. The first came from Sarah Anne Fitzgerald, while the ever-reliable Aimee Collier rattled the back of the net for their second goal after 21 minutes. Collier’s strike came after fine interplay between Leah Daly, Gráinne Delaney, and Fitzgerald.
Collier also chipped in with a point from play, while Fitzgerald added a free and another from open play to go with her earlier goal. Most of Clonkill’s first-half scores came from the hurl of Dowdall, who finished the half with 1-4 of her side’s 1-6 tally. Rebecca Dunne struck the other two points as the sides went in level, Clonkill 1-6 to Camross’ 2-3.
With the breeze now at their backs, Camross took full advantage in the second-half, firing over seven points and adding a third goal to run out winners by three. Andrea Scully added a point, while Fitzgerald finished with an impressive personal haul of 2-8 from Camross’s total of 3-10. She struck five frees after the restart and raised a green flag from a placed ball.
Dowdall, as in the first-half, was Clonkill’s main threat, contributing six of her side’s seven second-half points, with Chloe Galligan scoring the other. But it wasn’t enough as Camross marched on into the last four. Aedin Lowry also made a great save in the 42nd minute to deny Clonkill a route back into the contest.
They will now face Kildare champions Naas, who came through a titanic battle with Wicklow’s Knockananna, a tie that had to be settled by a 45’ shoot-out after extra-time finished level.
The semi-final is down for decision on Saturday, November 8, at 2pm in Camross GAA, with Na Fianna from Meath and Mount Leinster Rangers from Carlow on the other side of the draw.
Sarah Anne Fitzgerald 2-8 (1-6fs), Aimee Collier 1-1, Andrea Scully 0-1.
Megan Dowdall 1-10 (0-7fs), Rebecca Dunne 0-2, Chloe Galligan 0-1.
Aedin Lowry; Mairead Burke, Aisling Burke, Fiona Scully; Aoife Collier, Donnagh Mortimer, Ella Cuddy; Luisne Delaney, Aimee Collier; Leah Daly, Grainne Delaney, Andrea Scully; Erin Walsh, Sarah Anne Fitzgerald, Kirsten Keenan.
Ava Guilfoyle for E Cuddy (39m), Tara Lowry for L Delaney (41m), Sile Burke for Daly (51m), Niamh Dollard for A Lowry (53m).
Ella Murtagh; Ann Marie O’Reilly, Ellen Flanagan, Becca Croash; Alanna Coogan, Meabh Scally, Rosaleen Daly; Caoimhe Coogan, Aisling Egerton; Ciara Dolan, Claire Gaffney, Chloe Galligan; Rebecca Dunne, Niamh Keogh, Megan Dowdall.
Evie Kilmurray for Egerton (56m), Katie McDonnell for Keogh (56m).
Jason Buckley (Dublin)
