MILFORD’S ALL-IRELAND club three-in-a-row dream was ended in today’s senior camogie semi-final in Nenagh as Galway club Mullagh caused an upset.
Mullagh grabbed goals at vital times as they won out by two points at McDonagh Park after coming behind from a 0-8 to 1-2 interval deficit. Milford had defeated Galway clubs in the last two All-Ireland deciders when they overcame Killimor and Ardrahan but were undone on this occasion. The result propels Mullagh into their first All-Ireland camogie club final since 1993.
Leona Monaghan got Mullagh off to a dream start with a goal after just 31 seconds but Milford responded in the manner one would expect of champions, with four points in a row from Anna Geary, Emer Watson (two) and Marie O’Neill to go in front.
Rachel Monaghan slotted a couple of points for Mullagh but with Watson adding another couple herself, Milford looked to be on their way at half time, as they led by 0-8 to 1-2.
Remarkably though, they only managed one point in the second half, and that came five minutes into that period from the stick of Maria Watson. That opened the gap to four but it was all Mullagh in terms of the the scoring stakes from there to end.
Rachel Monaghan struck for a goal four minutes later and then brought the teams level at the end of the third quarter. The exchanges were fierce, with neither side willing to yield and it seemed like they would not be separated until Cathy Bowes pointed with four minutes left. Rachel Monaghan put two between the sides in extra time and that was enough to assure the Galway girls victory.
Mullagh will have to wait to discover the identity of their final opponents as the clash between Antrim’s Loughgiel Shamrocks and Wexford’s Oulart-The-Ballagh was postponed during the week due to an unplayable pitch in Castleblayney.
The intermediate final will be contested by Waterford’s Lismore and Kilkenny’s Piltown after they won today’s semi-final ties. Lismore held on for a 1-14 to 1-12 success against Galway’s Oranmore-Maree. Catriona McGlone’s early goal was key for Lismore and they lead 1-9 to 0-6 at half-time.
Lismore were reduced to 14 players when Aoife Houlihan was red-carded two minutes into the second half and it was a rearguard action from there to the end. Oranmore/Maree kept chipping away but a run of points from Aisling O’Brien, Nicola Morrissey and Shona Curran gave them the breathing space to hold out, despite conceding a late goal.
Piltown were pushed all the way by Clonduff but it was the Kilkenny side’s goal-threat that proved significant in the end. Clonduff edged into a 0-6 to 1-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining but Piltown finished with a devastating burst to break the Down team’s hearts. Goals from Chloe Blackmore, her second, and Nicola Phelan sealed their success.
Results
AIB All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final
Mullagh (Galway) 2-5 Milford (Cork) 0-9
AIB All-Ireland intermediate camogie semi-finals
Lismore (Waterford) 1-14 Oranmore/Maree (Galway) 1-12
Piltown (Kilkenny) 3-6 Clonduff (Down) 0-6