CARBERY camogie clubs are up and running in the new county league season following the opening round of action.
Newcestown fell to Inniscarra in Group A of the senior league on Monday evening. The visitors made the sharper start and built a 1-7 to 0-3 interval lead before adding five points after the break to run out convincing 1-12 to 0-5 winners.
Things don’t get any easier for Newcestown, who travel to last year’s intermediate league champions Sarsfields in round two. Maeve Lynch, Claire Kingston, Briannagh Wilson and Rachel Hallahan impressed for the Carbery side, while Claudia Keane stood out for Inniscarra.
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Courcey Rovers opened their premier intermediate county league campaign with a Group A win over Enniskeane. Just a point separated the sides at half-time, Rovers leading 0-6 to 0-5, before pulling clear in a free-heavy second half to win 0-13 to 0-8.
Ann Marie Collins (0-6, 4f) and Jacinta Crowley (0-5, 3f) led the scoring for Courceys, with Caoimhe Foley and Aine O’Donoghue also on target.
Maebh O’Brien (0-5) and Daire O’Brien (0-3) were Enniskeane’s standout performers. Fiona Keating, Ann Marie Collins, Jacinta Crowley and Lucy Crowley impressed for the winners. Courceys host Watergrasshill next, while Enniskeane travel to Charleville in round two.
The Clonakilty team that was defeated by Sliabh Rua in the opening round of the intermediate county league.
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Sliabh Rua defeated Clonakilty 2-16 to 2-4 in Group A of the intermediate county league under floodlights in Ahamilla on Monday night. Cork U23 inter-county player Amy McCarthy top-scored for Clonakilty with 1-2, with Sinead Crowley (1-0) and Aoife O’Flynn Meade (0-2) also on target. Clonakilty are away to Midleton this weekend.
Ballinascarthy’s scheduled Group B meeting with Aghabullogue was postponed and will be refixed. Their next outing is away to Newtownshandrum.
In the premier junior county league, Kilbrittain-Timoleague’s Group B clash with Tracton was abandoned late on after a Tracton player suffered a concussion, requiring an ambulance. Kilbrittain-Timoleague led 2-6 to 1-4 with five minutes remaining, having been 1-3 to 1-2 ahead at half-time.
Amy O’Sullivan (1-2), Laura Sheehy (1-1), Michealla Holland (0-2) and Anna Crowley (0-1) were on the scoresheet prior to the abandonment. Next up is a trip to Mallow in two weeks.
Barryroe drew 5-6 to 3-12 away to Rockbán in their opening junior A county league fixture on Monday evening. Trailing 2-4 to 1-6 at the break, despite an early goal, Barryroe responded in an entertaining second half that produced three further Rockbán goals before the sides finished level. Lucy Kirby was among Barryroe’s best, and they host Nemo Rangers next.
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Two Carbery clubs are competing in this year’s junior C county league, with Bandon and St Colum’s drawn in Group B alongside Fermoy and Dungourney. Bandon’s scheduled clash with Fermoy did not go ahead.
St Colum’s were beaten 4-10 to 2-5 by Dungourney. The Kealkill side trailed 2-5 to 1-6 at half-time but conceded two more goals despite a strong effort. Katie Dineen impressed with 2-1, while Ella Downey added six points. Jane Hourihan (0-1) and goalkeeper Carolin Lucey also caught the eye. Next up, Fermoy host St Colum’s, while Bandon travel to Dungourney on the weekend of April 13th/14th.
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Castle Road hosted Cork’s final round-robin fixture in the Electric Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship on Sunday. Defending All-Ireland champions Kilkenny claimed a 2-15 to 1-12 win.
A late Lexi Manley goal ensured Cork finished level with Limerick on scoring difference, but Mossy O’Sullivan’s Munster champions advanced to the All-Ireland semi-finals on head-to-head, following an earlier 2-8 to 0-11 win over Limerick.
Cork will face Kilkenny again in the semi-final on Saturday, April 11th, with Galway meeting Tipperary in the other last-four tie.
Manley (1-8) led Cork’s scoring against Kilkenny, with Cliona Harte (Barryroe), Lauren O’Connor, Stephanie Dwyer and Leah Hannigan (0-1 each) also on target. Carbery representation on the Cork minor panel includes Katie Crowley and Caoimhe Foley (Courcey Rovers), and Karen O’Sullivan (Newcestown).
Duggan Park hosted Cork’s opening-round win over Galway in the All-Ireland U23 Camogie Championship on Sunday, with Jerry Wallace’s side prevailing 1-11 to 0-11. Maebh O’Brien (Enniskeane), Amy McCarthy and Niamh Kennedy (both Clonakilty) are the Carbery players involved with the Cork U23 panel.
