2021 Cairde Early Learning Centre Minor A Club Championship Final

Davitts v Salthill Knocknacarra

Venue: Carnmore
Date: 15 Jan, 1:30PM
Kinvara v Salthill Knocknacarra
Ref: Sean Byrne

FINAL SCORE: Davitts 4-07 Salthill Knocknacarra 2-07
Player of the match: Ciara Hickey

Match report:

• Davitts 4-7 Salthill/Knocknacarra 2-7 (Minor A Final Report and Reaction) – Galway Bay FM
• Lively Davitts deliver minor glory in final to remember – Connacht Tribune

Teams:

DAVITTS: Caoimhe Hickey, Aoibhin Hodgins, Hayley Kenny, Aisling Donnellan, Lucy Tierney, Katie Anna Porter, Tess Larkin, Catherine Hanley, Ciara Hickey, Mollie Starr, Alannah Kenny, Saoirse Hodgins, Zoe O’Brien, Chloe Farragher, Emily O’Hehir. Subs: Layla Harney for O’Hehir (45′), Robin McDonagh for S Hodgins (57′), Kayla Fallon, Rebecca Broderick, Niamh Headd, Mia Dervan, Sarah Whyte, Ava Breheny, Fionnuala Hanley, Anna Behan .
Scorers: Catherine Hanley (0-4 frees), Ciara Hickey (0-2), Mollie Starr (2-0), Zoe O’Brien (1-0), Chloe Farragher (1-1),

SALTHILL/KNOCKNACARRA: Aoife Kelly, Claire Murray, Emma Madden, Maria Wall, Orlaith Cahill, Aoife Keane, Roisin Reddington, Aoibhe Joyce, Camille Keane, Joanne O’Flaherty, Laura Kelly (C), Ines Morrison, Sinead Burke, Sorcha McGinley, Neasa Daly. Subs: Stephanie Cormican for Daly (56′), Rachel Murphy for Burke (56′), Roisin Fuller, Rebecca Lloyd , Ciara Cox, Riona Kelly
Scorers: Laura Kelly (1-6, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free), S McGinley (1-1)

Match report

Lively Davitts deliver minor glory in final to remember

Eanna O’Reilly, Connacht Tribune, Jan 21 2022

Davitts claimed the 2021 Galway Minor A camogie title with an impressive victory over a gallant Salthill/Knocknacarra side following a tremendous contest in Saturday’s final in Carnmore.

The east Galway club were deserving winners on the day, with their goal scoring ability and spread of scorers making all the difference. Both teams produced an excellent standard of camogie in the winter conditions, with spectators being treated to a thoroughly entertaining decider.

Two goals for Davitts in the final quarter of the game, coming from Chloe Farragher and Zoe O’Brien, turned the final in their favour. Laura Kelly’s penalty goal had given the city side a one-point lead at the second water break, but it was Alan Dervan’s charges who took control down the home straight, outscoring their opponents by 2-2 to 0-1.

Both teams had highly impressive players in their ranks, which should ensure a significant strengthening of their respective senior teams in the near future. Both sides contained players with experience at senior and intermediate level, who displayed a visibly strong physical edge throughout the game.

The contest was fast paced from the off, with Salthill making a strong start. Laura Kelly opened the scoring with a point after a good pass from Sorcha McGinley, before the county minor star landed an excellent score from the right corner three minutes later. Davitts opened their account shortly after when Catherine Hanley pointed a free from the right wing.

Chloe Farragher was a major threat in attack for Davitts and she soon made a strong run before laying the ball off to Ciara Hickey. The midfielder played a neat pass to Mollie Starr, who fired low to the net for the game’s first goal. Kelly responded with her third white flag for Salthill to leave them one point in arrears at the water break.

Starr struck again for Davitts with her second goal, after getting a long delivery from Alannah Kenny, to put the east Galway side well in the driving seat. They followed this up with a superb individual point from Farragher to establish a five-point lead.

Salthill hit back when Sorcha McGinley made a strong run into the square, before forcing the ball to the net after a goal-line scramble. Davitts’ got the final score of the half when Hanley pointed a free after a foul on the hard-working Katie Anna Porter. At 2-3 to 1-3, it was anyone’s game with very little between the sides in general play during the first half.

Kelly picked up where she left off for Salthill after the resumption, with her fourth point coming after a good pass from Joanne O’Flaherty. Ciara Hickey, playing in attack in the second half, soon fired over an excellent long-range point for Davitts. At the other end, Kelly continued to give an exhibition of striking, as she nailed a free from 60 yards on the right-hand side-line.

Kelly’s fifth point from play came after a strong run down the left wing, reducing the margin to a single point. Hickey drew a foul in attack at the other end, which Hanley converted, as the game opened up. A foul on McGinley saw Sean Byrne award a penalty to Salthill. Kelly made no mistake in blasting to the bottom corner of the net to give the city side a 2-6 to 2-5 lea at the second water break.

With the match in the balance, Farragher provided a moment of magic for Davitts, with a brilliant thirty-yard run before she finished superbly past Aoife Kelly to the net. They got another huge boost within two minutes when Hickey had a shot on goal saved by Kelly, before Zoe O’Brien blasted home the rebound.

Hickey was causing huge problems for Salthill, and she soon drew another foul, which Hanley converted, to push Davitts’ six points ahead. A good pass from Alannah Kenny set up Hickey for another point, as they pulled away impressively.

Salthill searched for a goal late on, with Kelly having two frees blocked by the Davitts defence. The second effort saw the rebound fall to McGinley, whose shot was deflected over the bar. The final whistle saw Davitts celebrate a well-deserved win, after coming through a testing encounter with the city side, who certainly made them earn their victory on the day.

Ciara Hickey took home the player of the match award after a marvellous individual display, while Hayley Kenny, Aisling Donnellan, Katie Anna Porter, Catherine Hanley, Alannah Kenny, Mollie Starr and Chloe Farragher all displayed outstanding quality for Davitts.

Salthill contributed significantly to a compelling struggle. Aoife Keane, Emma Madden, Orlaith Cahill, Aoibhe Joyce, Joanne O’Flaherty and Sorcha McGinley all stood out, while in Laura Kelly they possess one of the most talented and exciting young players in the county.

This piece was first published in the Connacht Tribune/City Tribune on January 21 2022.