Camross missed chances allows Barrow Rangers progress

AIB Leinster Intermediate Club Championship Quarter-Final

Camross 1-7
Barrow Rangers 0-11
(After Extra Time)

By Andrew Egan – Kilkenny People Reporter

Barrow Rangers booked their place in the semi-finals of the Leinster Intermediate Club Championship after running out 0-11 to 1-7 winners over Camross (Laois) after extra-time on Saturday afternoon.

Camross were first on the scoreboard on their home turf, as the talented teenager Aimee Collier fired over a lovely score. Camross enjoyed a lot of possession during the opening period, but Barrow Rangers centre-back Miriam Bambrick, cleaned up a lot of the danger and was very tidy in possession herself. It took a while for the next score, but Barrow Rangers did manage to get themselves on the scoreboard through Roisin Breen, who placed over a free from an acute angle. Breen was back on the scoreboard moments later to give Barrow Rangers the lead, as she converted another placed ball. Camross full-forward, Kirsten Keenan, knocked over the last score of the first quarter, as Keenan converted a free. It was a very physical contest across the field, as well as being quite stop-start, and that meant it was only 0-2 to 0-2 at this stage. The second quarter was more of the same, as both sides struggled to make inroads into their full-forward line. Barrow Rangers did take the lead after the break in play, as Roisin Breen’s free dropped short into the goalmouth, with Katie O’Byrne quickest to react and firing over the crossbar from close range. Camross levelled once more through Kirsten Keenan. The Barrow Rangers gaolie Kayla Joyce Foley, hand passed it straight to Keenan, but she could only fire over the bar for a point when the goal was wide open. Camross had a few more wides before the end of the half, as they failed to convert a few free-taking opportunities which would have given them a lead at half time. The sides went in level 0-3 apiece, in a hard hitting first half.

Camross continued to pile on the wides after the half time interval. They did eventually get on the scoreboard, and it was a score worth waiting for. Grainne Delaney received the ball around the middle of the field and sharply turned her marker, leaving her for dead. Delaney then slotted over a wonderful point between the posts from distance, which was the stand out score of the match. Barrow Rangers responded well, with Roisin Breen placing over two points from placed balls in a row to help them retake the lead. Camross replied with an equalizer just before the third quarter came to an end, as Keenen knocked over a free. Both sides were defending strongly at the start of the fourth quarter, but a bit of luck went Camross’ way to give them an advantage. Sarah Ann Fitzgerald’s long range free was struck powerfully, and the sliotar ended up in the back of the Barrow Rangers net. Camross h a goal advantage now, t Barrow Rangers weren’t going to make the last ten minutes straightforward for them. The away side kept plugging away and they were rewarded with Roisin Breen landing two frees between the uprights. Camross were trying to hobble over the finish line at this stage, as they held onto a narrow one point lead. Their challenge was made even more difficult with the sending off of Lizzie Ryan, the Camross midfielder. With practically the last puck of the 60 minutes, Roisin Breen held her nerve to strike over a free and send this Leinster quarter-final into extra-time.

Momentum was firmly with the Kilkenny outfit, and they almost grabbed their first goal of the game at the start of extra-time. Katie O’Byrne put Camross keeper, Aedín Lowry, under pressure and turned her over. O’Byrne quickly turned around and swung for goal, but somehow Lowry managed to get her hurl to the effort and deflect it wide. Roisin Breen did score the resulting 45’ though to put Barrow Rangers ahead. That was the only score of the first half of extra-time. At the beginning of the second half, Miriam Bambrick landed a point from an impossible angle to put Barrow Rangers two points to the good. Camross were given a lifeline though with a couple of minutes left. Aimee Collier was deemed to be fouled in the square, and Camross were awarded a penalty. Sarah Ann Fitzgerald’s penalty was blazed high and over the crossbar though, and Camross had to settle for a point. Roisin Breen placed over another 45’ for Barrow Rangers. While Kirsten Keenan responded for Camross to leave one between them again, the women in black and yellow couldn’t force an equaliser and it was the Kilkenny champions who went through.

Teams and Scorers
Barrow Rangers; Roisin Breen 0-9 (0-7 frees, 0-2 45’), Katie O’Byrne, Miriam Bambrick 0-1 each.
Camross: Kirsten Keenan 0-5 (0-3 frees), Sarah Ann Fitzgerald 1-1 (1-0 free, 0-1 penalty) Amy Collier 0-1

Barrow Rangers: Kayla Joyce Foley, Patrice Mullins, Aideen O’Connor, Mary Wall, Shauna Treacy, Miriam Bambrick, Aimee Morrissey, Ellen Purcell, Orla Bambury, Rachel Collier, Roisin Breen, Johanne Barcoe, Rebecca Holden, Collette Dormer, Katie O’Byrne
Camross; Aedín Lowry, Aoife Collier, Mairead Burke, Fiona Scully, Leah Daly, Sarah Ann Fitzgerald, Aisling Burke, Annabelle Ryan, Lizzie Ryan, Sile Burns, Aimee Collier, Grainne Delaney, Kirsten Keenan, Andrea Scully

Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath)