It was an exciting weekend for the camogie clubs across Galway and Mayo for the Rose Nixon cup final on Saturday November 18th. It was an historic weekend for Connacht Club Camogie as the first Connacht Camogie finals were held in the iconic Dome.
Rose Nixon Cup 2023
Carnmore v Westport
18 Nov, 3pm
Venue: Connacht GAA Dome, Bekan
Ref: Gus Chapman
FT: Westport 3-17 Carnmore 2-9
Player of the Match: Fionnuala McLaughlin, Westport
Joint Captains Ava Lambet and Lisa Scahill receive the Rose Nixon Cup from Brian Molloy, Connacht Camogie Chairperson. Player of the Match Fionnuala McLaughlin receives award from Brian Molloy. Photo credit: Westport Camogie
Photo credit: Michael Gough
Match Report
By Sarah Gaughran, (Connacht Camogie PRO)
Westport Camogie Club were crowned Rose Nixon champions for the first time in their history as they overcame Carnmore in the Connacht GAA Air Dome on Saturday. A strong finish was key to the victory.
It was Westport who started the strongest with points from Fionnuala McLaughlin and Meabh Tunney opened the scoring for them inside the opening two minutes. Roisín Lardiner replied with two quick fire points to bring the sides level by the 8 th minute. Lisa Scahill put Westport back in the lead with a well taken point while Mayo star Ava Lambert popped up with their opening goal of the game by the 16th minute to leave a four point gap between the teams. McLaughlin replied with her second point of the day but Sarah Cogley stepped up with 3 frees for Carnmore to leave two between the sides. McLaughlin and Cogley swapped scores before the end while McLaughlin stepped up with a goal just before the half time break to leave it Westport 2-5 Carnmore 0-6.
Westport started the second half the same way they finished the first as Scahill hit the back of the net straight from the restart. McLaughlin followed up with two more points from play while Tunney added a 45m free to extend their lead even further by the 37 th minute. Cogley responded well for Carnmore again as she slotted over another free and she also found the back of the net to reduce the deficit to seven with 20 minutes remaining on the clock. McLaughlin and Cogley swapped frees again on the 42nd and 43rd minutes. But 0-8 without reply between the 44th and 57th minutes were key to the victory. Points from Lambert (0-2), Scahill (0-2, 0-1F), Tunney (0-1F), Emily Kelly (0-2) and Christina McEvilly (0-1), were key to Westport getting over the line. Carnmore did hit late with a goal from full forward Siofra Leonard and a free through the stick of Cogley but it wasn’t enough as Westport ran out 3-17 to 2-9 winners on the day.
Scores from play were key to the victory and Westport were very strong at taking their scores from play. The goals just before and after half time were also key to the victory as Westport began to kick on. For Carnmore, they will be disappointed that they didn’t get more scores from play. The day will go down in the history books for Westport camogie club and they will be hoping that they can make it back to back titles in 2023.
ADDITIONAL:
- 24/11/2023: Westport girls celebrate historic Connacht crown – Western People
Match Preview
The first final to take place in the Air Dome is the Rose Nixon final on Saturday the 18th of November at 3PM between Carnmore from Galway and Westport of Mayo. Carnmore, will be hoping to bounce back from their final defeat in Galway. Carnmore had a mixed campaign in the Galway campaign with three wins from five in the Junior B competition. They had an under par performance in the final but they will be hoping to show their strength today as they take on Westport. Westport had a tough battle with Roscommon Gaels on the way to the final. Even after extra time in the first semi final, the sides could not be separated and a replay was required. The replay took place on Friday the 10th of November under lights in Bekan. There was nothing between the sides heading into the half time break as Westport went in just one point in front but Wesport laid down a marker in the second half outscoring their opponents 1-4 to 0-3 in the second half as they ran out 1-7 to 0-5 winners on the night and they booked their place in the 2023 Rose Nixon Final.
