Munster Junior Club Champions
By Anthony Newman
Cromane 6-17
St Patrick’s 2-6
Kerry side Cromane were crowned AIB Munster Junior Ladies Football champions following their win at Mallow on Saturday.
A commanding first half, using the strong wind to their advantage, saw them lead by 2-11 to 1-4 at half time and from here it was always going to be difficult for St Patrick’s.
But credit to the Tipp side they never gave up, but they just came up against a team they were not going to be beaten on the day.
Eimear Burke opened the scoring for Cromane, with Mary Kate Smith adding a second for the Kerry side.
Burke got her second, to see her side lead by 0-3 to no score after five minutes.
Three minutes later and that lead doubled when Burke set up Saoirse Harkin for the game’s opening goal.
Patrick’s had several chances to score before they eventually got off the mark. With 11 minutes gone they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Eimear Boland.
Eabha Hogan stepped up to find the top corner, to make it 1-3 to 1-0.
But credit to Cromane they hit back and points from Burke, Leona O’Sullivan and Smith restored their six point lead within two minutes, 1-6 to 1-0.
A free Burke extended their lead further, before she was unlucky not to goal.
Her effort was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Dearbhla Morrissey for a point, when a goal looked likely.
However, it didn’t take Burke long score the goal she was threatening, as she made it 2-8 to 1-0 after 19 minutes.
Burke added another point a minute later, to take her personal tally to 1-6 in the opening 20 minutes.
Hogan got Patrick’s opening point, from a free in the 25th minute, with Burke replying at the other end.
Two points from Hogan reduced the deficit, before Patrick’s were unlucky not to get a goal.
Eimear Boland played a great ball to Niamh Keane, but her effort went just over the bar, when it could as easily have been under
Sian Corkery got the last score of the half for Cromane as her side led by 2-11 to 1-4 at the break.
With just six minutes of the second-half gone Cromane had added 2-1 to their tally as they continued to dominate, despite playing against the wind.
First Duffy set up Roisin Griffin for their third goal, before she added a point herself.
Then Orla Dunphy set up Griffin for her second, and her side’s fourth goal, to make it 4-12 to 1-4.
Claire Fitzgerald pulled a point back for Patrick’s as they battled to get back in contention.
But Cromane kept the scoreboard ticking over, with Duffy adding another goal before Patrick’s scored one of their own through Hogan.
Claire Fitzgerald added a point for the Tipp side to make it 5-12 to 2-6.
But another goal from Maggie Quirke, with Burke also among their point scorers saw Cromane run out deserving winners on the day.
Scorers for Cromane: E Burke 1-9 (1f), R Griffin 2-1 (1f), M Duffy 1-1, M Quirke, S Harkin 1-0 each, MK Smith 0-3, L O’Sullivan 0-2 S Corkery 0-1.
St Patrick’s: E Hogan 2-3 (1-0 pen, 1f), C Fitzgerald 0-2, N Keane 0-1.
CROMANE: E Murphy; A O’Donovan, O Burke, S O’Donovan; N Burke, O Dunphy, S Corkery; L O’Sullivan, R Smith; M Duffy, MK Smith, E O’Sullivan; R Griffin, E Burke, S Harkin.
Subs: ME McDonnell for O Burke, M Quirke for A O’Donovan (both ht), K Roche for N Burke (53), S Clifford for M Duffy (55), L Griffin for E O’Sullivan (58).
ST PATRICK’S: D Morrissey; L Murphy, E O’Brien R O’Brien; K Fox, M McGrath A Fitzgerald; L Murphy, N Keane; I Maher L O’Brien, E Boland; C Fitzgerald E Hogan, C Foley.
Subs: J Strappe for N Keane (41), K Ryan for K Fox, E Fox for C Foley (both 55), G Gahan for E O’Brien (56).
Referee: Justin Murphy, Cork.
