Killimor unable to cope with MilfordÕs pace and intensity

Milford 3-6Killimor 1-6

Eoghan Cormican at Croke Park

FOR those who arrived early into Croke Park for this All-Ireland senior club camogie final, the warning signs from a Killimor perspective were frighteningly evident for all to see.

The Cork champions had set-up base towards the Hill 16 end where a savage warm-up drill played out for the guts of a quarter of an hour, a microcosm of what would unfold shortly after 5pm.

Three Milford players would stand opposite three of their teammates, ten yards or so apart. The whistle sounded and the three in possession sought to manoeuvre past their opposite numbers using nothing but sheer brute force and strength. Once enemy lines were breached, they were required to turn on their heels and find a way back.

Instead of conserving energy for the hour ahead, Anna Geary was seen tearing into Regina Curtin, while Elaine O’Riordan and Maria Walsh were less than polite in confronting the Watson sisters. It was truly remarkable stuff.

There and then, Milford’s savage intensity was demonstrated and it certainly didn’t end with their warm-up preparations as the winner’s completely outgunned Killimor in all facets of play.

The six-point defeat represented a disappointing conclusion to the championship campaign for Killimor whose flame had burned very brightly when securing victories over Sarsfields and O’Donovan Rossa, but when the pressure came on during Saturday’s decider their attack just lacked that added level of flair and inventiveness to see them over the line.

To say that Killimor simply underperformed though is an injustice to a Milford outfit that exhibited an exciting brand of camogie, funnelling back their half-forwards to negate the threat of Killimor’s midfield partnership. As one observer remarked, Killimor were cleaned out in the one area they are normally so dominant. Put simply, Tommy Callagy’s troops were never allowed develop any sort of rhythm in the face of Milford’s unrelenting intensity.

Brenda Hanney and Martina Conroy were the two Killimor hit women that Milford had identified as the main threat to their defensive fortress and wing-back Maria Walsh headed straight to the edge of the square to marshal Hanney, while the excellent Anna Geary lived, successfully, in Conroy’s shadow throughout.

The other main foundation stone of the Milford structure was the pace at which they moved the sliotar from defence to attack. Over the course of the hour they just had that yard of pace to take them clear of danger with the player in possession never short of support.

For all that, it was Killimor who enjoyed the upper hand in the early passages, but all they had to show for it after 18 minutes was three Martina Conroy placed ball efforts. Milford fared little better managing only a solitary point through Emer Watson and the low-scoring nature of the opening period was largely due to the outstanding work-rate of both defensive units– Ann Marie Hayes and Niamh Hanney particularly impressive for Killimor.

Milford’s early lethargy eventually subsided and when their challenge erupted to life in the 19th minute, the damage inflicted would prove irreversible. Marie O’Neill, with a visionary pass, played through Deidre O’Reilly and the centre-forward met the sliotar on the hop, driving it high to the roof of Helen Campbell’s goal.

Scarcely another minute had elapsed when Milford pounced again. Emer Watson’s probing delivery was batted by Helen Campbell straight into the path of Maria Watson and though Campbell repelled the corner forward’s initial effort, the ‘keeper was powerless to keep out the rebound.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.