Senior One Camogie

Lucan senior camogie girls impressive in victory

St. Oliver Plunketts ER 0-7 Lucan Sarsfields 4-16

On a milestone night for four senior one debutantes, it was the overall polished performance of all sixteen players that made the most lasting impression at the Navan road on Tuesday.

So..…first things first. Well done to new keeper Nicole Fitzgibbon (who was very assured), corner-back Emma O’Flynn, wing-back Laura Morgan and corner-forward Aoife McKearney on their exciting contributions  - they don’t look out of place at Senior One. Long careers ahead.

Plunketts were well beaten in the end, but they fought for every inch in the first half and were unlucky to change ends four points in arrears (0-5 to 2-3).

In that half, the home side were denied time and again by exquisite full-back Siobhan Grimes who was faultless. Indeed, but for two excellently taken goals by Lucan’s Sam Fitzgerald and Sarah Collins in the 22^nd and 27^th minutes respectively, Plunketts would have led at the break and who knows how that confidence booster may have helped them afterwards when facing the fresh breeze.

As it turned out, those two goals were the winning of the match for Lucan. When Laura O’Mahony and Collins again tacked on further wind-assisted points allied to an Ailbhe Ryan goal immediately after the break, the game was up for Plunketts (3-6 to 0-5) and the girls in green eased home from there.

Ciara Casey kept the scoreboard operator busy with her frees while midfield duo Mairi Moynihan and the exuberant Annemarie Courtney were irrepressible charging forward in the second half when both scored some delightful long range points by the 50^th minute (3-11 to 0-6).

Laura O’Mahony and Sam Fitzerald are settling in well now at senior one level and their skill and pace and general elusiveness proved a further torment to the increasingly beleaguered Plunketts rearguard. They had more points by the 46^th minute (3-14 to 0-7).

Sinead O’Toole again showed her versatility with a rare outing in attack where her energy, first-touch, passing and score taking were important factors. She took her point well.

The scoring was ended by ball-winner Sarah Collins, who is a serious addition to the Lucan ranks on this form. Her ability to gain a foothold for Lucan close to the opposition goal is a big help. She knows how to finish too  â€“ another two goals this week. Aguero. Her spectacular goal in the 59^th minute was the final act on another good night for Lucan camogie (4-16 to 0-7).

Again this week, Ailise Dowling gave an assured display in the corner while the dexterous Sarah Courtney hurled an influential second half. Herself and lively centre-half Claire Rigney sweep a lot of intelligent ball from the half-back line.  

This was a focused display with each player applying herself well to the task at hand. Basics.

Lucan scorers : Sarah Collins 2-3, Samantha Fitzgerald 1-3, Ciara Casey 0-3, Laura O’Mahony 0-3, Ailbhe Ryan 1-0, Annemarie Courtney 0-2, Sinead O’Toole 0-1, Mairi Moynihan 0-1.

Lucan : Nicole Fitzgibbon, Ailise Dowling, Siobhan Grimes, Emma O’Flynn, Sarah Courtney, Claire Rigney, Laura Morgan, Mairi Moynihan, Annemarie Courtney, Sinead O’Toole, Ciara Casey, Samantha Fitzgerald, Laura O’Mahony, Sarah Collins, Ailbhe Ryan, Aoife McKearney.

SOTS : Sarah Collins.