Photo Credit : BurrenEye Photography

Junior A Championship 

Ruan GAA: Ruan 2-19 Truagh Clonlara 3-6

With the mercury still in the high 20’s, the first round of the 2022 Junior Championships started for these two teams in a Ruan pitch bathed in evening sunshine.  Having competed against each other in the Division 4 non-County player League final only four weeks before, both teams had a point to prove and Truagh Clonlara were looking for revenge.  That match had been 13-a-side and this too for was also a 13-a-side affair.

Top scorer on the day, Aoife Anderson, lifted the white flag in the first minute for the home team but this was cancelled out four minutes later as a point from play, followed quickly by a foul from Ruan, duly converted, gave Truagh Clonlara a head start.  That was to be the only lead in the game for the visitors.  Points from Lauren O’Donghue and Eve O’Connor, sandwiching a goal from Kate Forde, had the home side into the lead, and one they never surrendered.

Getting ahead on the board is one thing but staying there is quite another and Truagh Clonlara are too good a side to drop their heads.  Strong defending from the full back line of Roisin O’Loughlin and Hannah King, supported by the half back trio Aimee McDonagh, Rebecca Crowe and Sinead Hastings kept the visitors closed out.  Feeding the sliotar into the centre field combination of Neasa Ní Lachtnáin and Aisling Moloney, they combined seamlessly and distributed the ball to runners looking hungry for work and the Ruan management will be pleased that the first half tally of 1-12 came from five different scorers.

Welcome water breaks in both halves provided a chance for both teams to pause, take on liquids and refresh.  The stoppage did not change the momentum though, and Ruan continued to keep the board active with six points in the second quarter.  However, every score is vital, and the travelling team halted the local advance by raising the green flag twice to close the gap and pull Ruan back to a five-point lead at half time.

Play resumed in the second half as Ruan injected some pace with the introduction of Amy O’Donoghue to the attack and the gap remained at five points to the home team as the third quarter came to a close.  An injury to Hannah King forced some on field switches by the blue and gold, but they were well prepared for this.  The addition of Natasha Hynes kept the Ruan attack lively, and with the game now into the last quarter, Noel Quin was forced to stop play for an injury to Lauren Slater. As the sun dropped down, two more points from Eve O’Connor and Aoife Anderson and an inspired goal from Louise McDonnell closed out the game.

Whilst silverware is not on offer for a first-round clash, Ruan will be very satisfied with all the points and a confidence boosting result ahead of their next outing.

Ruan: Alice Casey, Roisin O’Loughlin, Hannah King, Aimee McDonagh, Rebecca Crowe, Sinead Hastings, Neasa Ní Lachtnáin, Aisling Moloney 0-3, Aoife Anderson 0-8, Lauren O’Donoghue 0-2, Eve O’Connor 0-3, Louise McDonnell 1-0, Kate Forde 1-3

Subs: Amy O’Donoghue for Kate Forde (HT), Natasha Hynes for Hannah King (45 minutes)

Truagh Clonlara: Sophie Cullen; Aideen Hogg, Clara Madden; Blaithin Larkin, Lauren Slater 0-1 ‘45, Aisling Cahill; Christina McKeon, Taylor Morris; Aoife McKeon, Maeve Donellan 1-2 Amy McMahon; Aine Hannan 0-2F, Fiona O'Connor 1-1 1F, Roisin Hannan

Subs: Cathy Halley 1-0 for Fiona O’Connor, (HT), Fiona O'Connor for Aoife McKeon (48 mins), Aoife McKeon for Lauren Slater (inj) (50 mins) 

Referee: Noel Quinn

Inagh GAA: Inagh Kilnamona 3-24 Scariff Ogonnelloe 1-5

Inagh Kilnamona eased past an under strength Scarriff Ogonnelloe in their first round of the Junior A Championship. Full time score Inagh Kilnamona 3-24  Scarriff Ogonnelloe 1-5

Inagh Kilnamona forwards were in impressive form whilst their backs put in a solid performance.  Twins Patricia and Sarah Coote impressed in midfield and forwards for the home side along with young up and coming player Elisha Rynne. Caoimhe Longe and Caoimhe Devitt were solid in defence.  Whilst newcomers Eva O'Halloran was not fazed by her first appearance in goal at adult level.

Inagh Kilnamona: Eva O'Halloran; Roisin Clancy, Caoimhe Longe, Elisha Twomey; Caoimhe Devitt, Karlene McGerr; Patricia Coote 0-5, Leanne McMahon; Cara McInerney 0-2, Tara Rynne 0-3, Mary McInerney 0-4; Sarah Coote 1-3, Elisha Rynne 2-4, Aine Longe 0-3

Junior B Championship 

Parteen GAA: Parteen 3-14 Kilkishen/Bodyke 3-5

On a very hot and humid Saturday evening Kilkishen-Bodyke travelled to Parteen for their first-round game of the Junior B championship, where the home side emerged winners on a final score of Parteen 3-14 Kilkishen/Bodyke 3-5.

Scores were exchanged for the first fifteen mins of the game with Polly Donnellan (0-2) and Orla McInerney (0-1) for Kilkishen/Bodyke while Maeve Millea (1-3), Aoife Millea (0-2) and Aisling Cooney (0-2) for the home side. After the water break Parteen hit the back of Kilkishen/Bodykes net with Orla McInerny adding a further point for the visitors. Catherine Byrnes, Aoife Millea and Aisling Cooney added further points for Parteen to leave the half time score Parteen 2-11 to Kilkishen/Bodyke 0-4. The start of the second half saw Kilkishen/Bodyke’s Deirdre Cotter and Chloe Philpott hit the Parteen net with Maeve Millea adding a further goal for Parteen. Kilkishen/Bodyke made several changes with Lauren Doyle, Azarah Keane and Emily Pewter replacing Roisin McNamara, Deirdre Cotter and Ashling Fitzgerald and fought hard with Orla McInerney adding a further point and Polly Donnellan hitting the net from a ‘45. The last quarter of the game saw Parteen add a further three points to leave the final score Kilkishen-Bodyke 3-5 Parteen 3-14.

Kilkishen/Bodyke: Martina McNamara; Roisin McNamara, Nollaig Baker (Joint Capt), Sarah Wiley; Fina Close, Ashling Fitzgerald; Ciara Ryan (Joint Capt), Chloe Philpott; Eimear Whitney, Michaela McNamara; Deirdre Cotter, Aoife Frost, Chloe O’Brien 

Subs: Lauren Doyle for R McNamara, Azarah Keane for Cotter, Emily Pewter for Fitzgerald

Parteen: Sarah Woods; Maebh Nolan, Sarah McKenna, Emily Hill; Emma Hastings, Alannah Browne; Eimear Cassidy, Maeve Millea; Aoife Millea, Lauren O’Driscoll; Sarah Hall, Aisling Cooney, Catherine Byrnes

Clooney GAA: Clooney Quin 4-8 Newmarket on Fergus 0-6

Junior C Championship 

Clarecastle GAA: Clarecastle/Ballyea 2-11 Banner 1-6

Banner Camogie started their Junior C Championship with a trip to near neighbours Clarecastle/Ballyea, where the home team won on a scoreline of 2-11 to 1-6.

The match was played in brilliant sunshine in Clarecastle pitch, with the first half being a very evenly matched affair, with each team’s scores being quickly cancelled out by a score from the other side. At half time, the sides were level at 1-4 apiece. The Banner goal was scored by Leah Vaughan, after a pass from Elena Sanz, who had a brilliant solo run from the halfback line. The points were added by Sanz (penalty), Ciara Meehan (2 frees) and Caoimhe Ryan.

The second half was a different affair, with Clarecastle/Ballyea outscoring the Banner by 1-7 to 0-2. The Banner girls continued to fight to the end, but a combination of missed chances, inaccuracies and crossbars meant the home team had the game almost won by the second waterbreak, leaving the final score Clarecastle/Ballyea 2-11 Banner 1-6.

Banner: Mary Jordan; Jenny Healy, Dianna Carmody; Teresa Ryan, Claudine Lynch, Ellen McGrath; Elena Sanz 0-1, pen, Caoimhe Ryan 0-2; Hannah McCormack, Ciara Meehan 0-3F, Sadhbh Shannon (cap.); Rachel Cummins, Leah Vaughan 1-0

Referee: Ciaran Jones

Parteen GAA: Parteen 3-10 Éire Óg 0-3