Camogie: Johnstownbridge into All-Ireland decider
November 14, 2015
Johnstownbridge (Kildare) defeat Clanmaurice (Kerry).
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.
Johnstownbridge (Kildare) 2-10
Clanmaurice (Kerry) 1-5
Two goals in the second half from magnificent Kildare star, Siobhán Hurley freed Johnstownbridge from the shackles of Clanmaurice and earned them a place in the AIB All-Ireland junior club camogie final against Athleague next Sunday after a vigorously contested semi-final at the University of Limerick.
Hurley was responsible for all the Leinster champions' scores, apart from a Róisín O'Connell point, as they powered through the second half to overturn a one-point interval deficit and win by a margin of eight.
This game fell victim to the inclement weather conditions last week and after initially being rescheduled for the same Birr venue, was relocated to UL's 3G pitch during the week to ensure that it would go ahead at the second time of asking.
Fortunately the heavy rain that enveloped a lot of the country stayed away although the heavy wind and biting cold clearly had an impact.
Clanmaurice had marginally the better of the opening half thanks to three points from Sara Murphy and that edged them into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead at half time.
Johnstownbridge went through the gears in the second half though and while Louise Codd, Aoife Trant and Aisling Holton were central to that turnaround, it was Hurley's contribution that was pivotal.
The sharpshooter augmented her point-scoring with two goals, the first from a free and the second from play, to put some daylight between the teams.
Clanmaurice have proven their mettle on many occasions in recent years and the Kerry girls hit back with a goal from Jessica Fitzell but Hurley's ability to tot up the white flags ensured Johnstownbridge's progression.
