McCabe hits brace as Tullamore down Drumcullen to reach quarter finals

Offaly Senior Camogie Championship

Drumcullen 2-6
Tullamore 4-16

Tullamore sealed second place in Group 2 of the Offaly Senior Camogie Championship after a 16-point win over Drumcullen in Rath on Wednesday evening.
Tullamore were 2-6 to 2-3 ahead at the break and while Drumcullen stayed in touch up to the midway point of the second-half, Tullamore pulled away late in the game, scoring the last 1-7 to secure the victory.
Tullamore will now face Kilcormac/Killoughey in one Senior quarter-final this weekend with Birr going head to head with St Sinchill’s/Lusmagh in the other quarter-final. Shinrone and St Rynagh’s had already secured their automatic places in the semi-finals.
Drumcullen will take on Kinnitty in one Intermediate quarter-final with St Cillian’s and Naomh Brid meeting in the second Intermediate quarter-final.
Drumcullen had made the dream start to the game with Elaine Dermody scoring a goal after just two minutes. She added two points from frees in quick succession and Drumcullen lead by five points with as many minutes on the clock.
Tullamore opened their account after six minutes with a free from Sabrina Carroll and they were right back in contention with seven minutes on the clock when Lisa Gorman pounced to fire a lose ball to the back of the net. Natalie McCabe missed a gilt-edged chance to put Tullamore into the lead from close range before Elaine Dermody slotted over her third point to leave Drumcullen two points ahead with 13 minutes on the clock.
Midway through the half, however, Tullamore did take the lead when Paula Kinnarney somehow managed to handpass the ball to the back of the net through a wall of Drumcullen players; and points from Michelle Walsh and Natalie McCabe then left three between the sides.
Elaine Dermody levelled the scores in emphatic fashion when she drilled a 21-metre free to the back of the net but Tullamore pulled away before the break with Sabrina Carroll, Laura Walsh and Lisa Gorman finding the target.
Drumcullen got back within two on the restart with a point from Elaine Dermody but points from Sabrina Carroll (2) and Ali Dooley for Tullamore were followed by a goal for Natalie McCabe as they moved into a 3-9 to 2-4 lead.
Midway through the half, Drumcullen briefly threatened a comeback with Elaine Dermody launching over two points but they would prove to be the home side’s last scores as Tullamore finished the game with 1-7 unanswered.
Five points for Sabrina Carroll, four from frees and one apiece for Lisa Gorman and Natalie McCabe put 13 points between the sides before McCabe put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal in injury-time.

Scorers
Tullamore: Sabrina Carroll 0-8 (0-6f); Natalie McCabe 2-2; Lisa Gorman 1-2; Paula Kinnarney 1-0; Michelle Walsh 0-1, Laura Walsh 0-1, Ali Dooley 0-1. Drumcullen: Elaine Dermody 2-5 (1-4f); Mary Nevin 0-1.

Drumcullen: Siobhan Kinsella; Shauna Moran, Aoife Troy, Laura Dermody; Elaine Fleury, Karen Nugent, Brid Fleury; Fiona Stephens, Aine Kinsella; Michelle Hogan, Elaine Dermody, Amy Spain; Ann Marie Guinan, Mary Nevin, Emer Dermody.

Tullamore: Claire Beatty; Ayesha Brazil, Yvonne Kearney, Bridget Fox; Aoife Marron, Claire Cantwell, Paula Kinnarney; Michelle Walsh, Mary Wyer; Sabrina Carroll, Ali Dooley, Emma McNiff; Laura Walsh, Natalie McCabe, Lisa Gorman. Sub: Ailsa Hughes for A. Brazil (48 mins).

Referee: Tony Carroll

Championship update
Senior Quarter-Finals
Saturday: Birr v St Sinchill’s/Lusmagh; Tullamore v Kilcormac/Killoughey.

Intermediate Quarter-Finals
Saturday: Drumcullen v Kinnitty; Naomh Brid v St Cillian’s.