Croagh-Kilfinny secure senior status with Griffins Coaches Intermediate County Final victory

CROAGH-Kilfinny will be returning to the senior ranks of Limerick camogie next season after a polished performance in the Griffins Coaches Limerick Intermediate County Final this afternoon against Granagh-Ballingarry in Cappamore.

Croagh came away with the 1-9 to 0-6 victory in the end with a stand-out performance from full-forward Donna Kenny scoring a superb 1-7 throughout the contest. 

The game took a few minutes to get going with both sides eager to get the first score. This score came from Croagh's Orlaith Kelleher who guided the sliothar over the bar against a strong wind. 

Play was scrappy throughout the opening minutes with a lot of passes not going to hand. Croagh looked to go ahead again as Granagh struggled to get their shots on target.

On the ten minute mark Croagh launched their attack again this time a long pass in finding Donna Kenny on the sideline. Kenny did extremely well to hold on to the sliothar and make a run through the defenders before making a beautiful side-step onto her right and striking the ball into the back of the net to put them 1-1 to 0-0 up.

Granagh-Ballingarry finally got onto the scoreboard after a number of easier chances earlier on in the half went a stray. A pointed free from Joanne Clifford on the 45 yard-line sailed over. Croagh canceled out this score with a free of their own down the other side of the pitch. This would be their last score of the first-half. 

Using the strong wind behind them Granagh pushed on after their opening score with frees proving vital to the side that battled hard to try and get the ball into their forwards.

Two more pointed frees from Joanne Clifford and Laura Frawley finished the half with Croagh only ahead by one-point, 1-2 to 0-4. 

Croagh-Kilfinny totally came into their own in the second-half with the wind behind them there was no doubting the end result of the game despite Granagh's best efforts. 

Croagh came out and scored four unanswered points, three courtesy of Donna Kenny's frees with Granagh only able to grab two scores in the final 30 minutes from Fiona Morrisey. 

Donna Kenny was the true stand-out performer for her side missing only one of her six frees all from distance. Midfielder Pheonix Mulcaire Shire added her name to the score sheet with a fabulous long-range effort guided over by the breeze.

Donna finished off the game with a further three points all from frees to solidify her sides victory against Granagh, 1-9 to 0-6.

SCORERS CROAGH-KILFINNY: Donna Kenny 1-7 (0-7 frees), Pheonix Mulcaire Shire 0-1, Orlaith Kelleher 0-1. GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY: Joanne Clifford 0-2 (0-2 frees), Fiona Morrissey 0-2 (0-2 frees), Laura Frawley and Ciara English 0-1 each.

CROAGH-KILFINNY: Brid Hannan, Dawn O'Shaughnessy, Tara Lenihan, Triona Neville, Joanne Foley, Noirín Lenihan, Ciara Houlihan, Reba Kenny (C), Phoenix Mulcaire Shire, Anna Shanagher, Orlaith Kelleher, Aine Keaveney, Sarah Frawley, Donna Kenny, Edel Kelleher. SUBS: Keelin Madigan for E Kelleher (Half-Time), Mika Kenny for A Shanagher (55 minutes), Maeve Lenighen for S Frawley (59 minutes)

GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY: Mags Lynch (C), Kaylee Stapleton, Emer Hickey, Kate O'Gorman, Aine Sheehy, Rachel O'Connor, Mai McKenna, Emer Hogan, Vera Sheehan, Aishling Irwin, Beth Stapleton, Joanne Clifford, Ciara English, Fiona Morrissey, Laura Frawley. SUBS: Kate O'Connor for C English (45 minutes), Elaine Frawley for K Stapleton (47 minutes), Emily Flynn for J Clifford (55 minutes)

REFEREE: Mike Flannery (Ahane)