February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Young Irelands 2-6, Breffni Blues 1-2
Young Irelands were back on form last Wednesday night, when they took on the Breffni Blues at Van Cortlandt Park, beating them 2-6 to 1-2.
Young Irelands dictated the pace and showed no ill effects of their loss to Emeralds the previous week. This game had all the earmarks of a local derby, with skillful camogie and lots of good, clean physical play. As with so many camogie games, this one was decided by a dominance at midfield. Young Irelands’ Ger McCluskey, Teresa Goodwin and Mags Ryan completely blotted out the Breffni Blues. The constant supply of ball to the forwards was made good use of by Ann Ryan, Orla Murphy, Aishling Dooley Breda O’Neill and Joan Fitzgerald.
In goals, Sarah McCarthy showed she was one of the best goalkeepers around. The back line of Helena Faulkner, Mary McEvoy, Helena Campton, Monica Irwin made sure the Breffni Blues had no time or space to pick off scores.
The Young Irelands got off to a running start with a point from Ger McCluskey and by half time they built up an insurmountable 2-3 to 1-1 lead. The Breffni Blues fought all the way to the end, with great performances from Pauline O’Boylan, Mary Brady and Susan Fitzpatrick.
Young Irelands scorers: Ger McCluskey 1-3, Breda O’Neill 1-0, Ailish Dooley 0-1, Ann Ryan 0-2.
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Breffni Blues: Pauline O’Boylan 1-0, Susan Fitzpatrick 0-1, Rose O’Reilly 0-1.
Semifinal Preview
The NACA championships take place in Boston this coming weekend. With two teams each from Boston and New York participating, semifinals take place on Saturday at the Milton Health Care Facility, Milton.
At 1 p.m. Eire Og of Boston play Breffni Blues of New York. The Boston women came out on top in their last encounter.
Emerald Isle are in a similar position when facing Young Irelands, New York, in the other semifinal at 3 p.m. Emeralds recently handed Young Irelands their first defeat in two years and the teams are tied at the top of the league. The former feel that this is their year and will be hoping to make it through to Sunday’s final, which takes place at 2 p.m. in Dilboy Stadium, Sommerville. The final is preceded by the Shield final at 11:30 a.m. where the losing semifinalists will do battle.