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St. Rynaghs Begin All-Ireland Defense With Celbridge Demolition

Monday, 24 January 2022 09:41

It's just two weeks since they lifted the title in Thurles.

Celbridge 0-4 

Rynaghs 9-12 

After the high of winning the 2020 All-Ireland Intermediate Club final in Thurles two weeks ago, it was back to Leinster club championship for St Rynaghs on Saturday afternoon. They faced familiar opponents as the match was a repeat of the 2020 Leinster decider against Celbridge and on that occasion the scoreline seemed to suggest a comfortable win for the Shannonsiders but it was a close and tough encounter.  Given that both teams jerseys are predominantly blue, they were required to change their jerseys and again, St Rynagh's wore the Offaly colours.  The match was an opportunity for Celbridge to try and seek revenge but the All Ireland Champions were in clinical mode once play got underway. 

Following on from a touching gesture that had been made across the country last weekend, both teams put aside their number 23 aside for this match as a mark of respect for Ashling Murphy and her family. 

St Rynaghs started with a full strength first 15, with Siobhan Flannery starting at corner forward for the first time since she suffered concussion again Celbridge in December. Celbridge’s Niamh Egan was tasked with marking Kate Kenny and had a tough job on her hands with the St Rynaghs full forward lifting the ball on many occasions and leaving her marker in her wake.  

The champions opened at a blistering pace with Mairead Daly quickly scoring 2 goals and a point to give her team a dream start.  Daly was on fire in the first half hitting another goal past the Celbridge keeper in the 22nd minute. Each attack from St Rynaghs was excellently worked through a series of passes and despite having three wides in the first half they were ahead by an impressive scoreline of 0-2 to 5-6 at half time. The score of the first half was a fantastic goal scored by Sinead Hanamy who showed her speed, accuracy and strength to take the ball through the Celbridge defence and rattle the back of the net. 

As the score line showed, the second half was academic given the champions dominance but Celbridge put up a hard battle in the second half and never gave up.  They brought on their sub goalkeeper in an effort to try dampen the St Rynaghs attack but there was no let up on the goal hungry Offaly team. Again their style of play was to gain possession, pass the sliotar at high pace but with accuracy and they displayed some fine catching skills throughout the game.  They had the luxury of giving Kate Kenny and others a break and give some of their panel an opportunity to flex their muscles.  Despite ringing the changes they still managed to score another four goals in the second half and it could have been more. Siobhan Flannery was back to her fast and ruthless self and was involved in almost all of the sequences leading to goals and contributed to the goal scoring as well.  Ellen Gilligan may have had a quiet day in the St Rynagh’s goals but she pulled off an excellent save half way through the second half to tip the sliotar out for a 45. 

Next up for St Rynaghs is the Kilkenny Champions Barrow Rangers.  Having had to travel to play all of the 2020 Leinster and All Ireland matches, they have the luxury of playing this game in Banagher. and with the restrictions now lifted, they will be hoping their supporters come out in force. 

Player of the game:  

Linda Sullivan has probably played every position on a camogie pitch in her day and won many accolades for her skill in these positions. Today she excelled at corner forward and her determination and strength on the ball was to be admired and with a forward line including Linda, Kate Kenny, Mairead Daly and Siobhan Flannery, St Rynaghs have an impressive arsenal in their camp.

St Rynaghs: Ellen Gilligan, Sinead Moran, Elaine Sullivan, Meabh Doorley, Emma Corcoran, Grainne Dolan, Katie O’Connell, Helen Dolan, Roisin Egan, Linda Sullivan, Sinead Hanamy, Mairead Daly, Louise Mannion, Kate Kenny, Siobhan Flannery. 

Scorers: St Rynaghs: Mairead Daly 4-3, Linda Sullivan 2-1, Siobhan Flannery 1-3, Kate Kenny 1-1, Sinead Hanamy 1-0, Louise Mannion 0-1, Grainne Dolan 0-1, Roisin Egan 0-1, Amy Sullivan 0-1. 

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