REIGNING ALL-IRELAND champions Milford were stunned by Inniscarra in the Cork senior camogie final at Cork IT on Friday evening.
Going for their fifth county title in a row, a Milford team that featured established stars and Cork camogie legends including Anna Geary and Ashling Thompson were ultimately beaten by a score of 4-10 to 2-13.
A goalmouth scramble after eight minutes saw the ball find the back of the net to give the underdogs a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.
Milford hit back moments later, however, when a Maria Watson hand pass levelled the scores at 1-2 apiece.
Shortly thereafter, Joanne Casey’s goal from a free re-established Inniscarra’s three-point advantage.
Casey then scored her second goal of the game with another powerful strike after 20 minutes, but five points from Emer Watson and two by Maria Watson saw Milford take the lead.
The ubiquitous Casey continued to prove influential though, and three successive points from frees saw her team take a one-point lead (3-5 to 1-10) into the break.
Another Casey free and a Niamh McCarthy point saw their side continue with the momentum they had picked up towards the end of the first half.
However, just when it looked as if Inniscarra had their hands on the cup, a Thompson goal from distance and a Christine O’Connor point brought the scores level once more.
But Inniscarra were not to be denied, and it was player-of-the-match Casey who made the difference again, as her three successive frees were ultimately enough to see her side over the line, bringing the star player’s individual tally to 2-7 in the process.
It was rare heartbreak for Milford ultimately, while Inniscara now travel to face Inagh-Kilnamona of Clare in Munster Senior Club Championship semi-final on Monday at 2.30pm.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
