Well done to the RCC Junior Camogie team who beat Ballyhaunis CS last Wednesday the 22nd of November on a scoreline of 0-02 to 0-01 after extra time. The RCC Junior girls’ camogie team took on Ballyhaunis Community School in a Connacht semifinal in Ballyhaunis on a cold, wet and windy Wednesday afternoon. The first half was very close with both defences on top. There were some scares for RCC early in the first half, but the girls were safe thanks to some great defensive play from the full back line. A few minutes later Shóna Kennedy made a superb run from the midfield, taking a shot a few yards short of the twenty but unfortunately dropping just short of the uprights. Near the end of the second half Hollie McDermott took a shot from just outside the twenty on the right-hand side just drifting wide. The two sides were neck in neck, ending the first half with no score for either team. The second half got off to an equally slow start with the first bit of danger for either team coming in the tenth minute where a near identical goal chance came very close to going in for Ballyhaunis, only for a brilliant block from the full back, Romy O’Sullivan. About two minutes later Hollie McDermott had an unlucky shot from a free just veering wide. RCC were building momentum with some great runs from Lisa Morris and Éabhanna Sheridan, putting Ballyhaunis under massive amounts of pressure which led to Claire Kelly getting a free run in on goal, placing the ball just wide. Subsequently Hollie McDermott got a free on the right-hand side just on the twenty and threw it over putting the RCC a point up with two minutes to go. Ballyhaunis with nothing to lose, gained momentum in the final moments, earning a sixty-five which was pointed to bring the teams level and to bring the game to extra time. If it weren’t for the fantastic defending of the Featherstone sisters Claire and Alice during the half, it could have been a whole different story after the final whistle.
Little to no chances in the first half of extra time with defences being on top once again. The second half was a bit more exciting with some good runs again from both teams but eventually RCC got a free right in front of the goal and Hollie McDermott stepped up once again and calmly put it over the bar winning the game for the RCC. Well done to all on a tremendous team performance. The girls are now through to a Junior Final Vs Spiddal in the next few weeks. Squad: Hollie McDermott, Lisa Morris, Ava Gore, Zoe Whyte, Lara Humborg, Katie Hegarty, Eabhanna Sheridan, Izzy Flynn, Shona Kennedy, Caoimhe Murray, Erin Whyte, Zoey King, Katie Devine, Isabella Duffy, Romy O Sullivan, Mary McPhilips, Eabha Nally, Chloe McNeela, Alice Featherson, Claire Featherson, Claire Kelly, Shannon Glancy, Jessica Coyle, Shona Kennedy, and Ciara Connolly.
