London fail to mix it with Orchard girls
 BY
LARRY COONEY
London suffered another heavy defeat in this year’s camogie championship
at Ruislip on Saturday.
Although luck deserted them for a number of scoring opportunities against
Armagh there could be no denying the fact that London were much inferior
to the Ulster girls who thoroughly deserved their 18-point victory.
Despite a promising opening against the wind in which Rosin O’Neill
gave them a second-minute lead from a free London were soon on the defensive.
After player-of-the-match Colette McSorley levelled five minutes later
from a free it didn’t take long for her and midfield partner Mairead
Doyle to dominate possession.
Initial cracks in a weak London inside-line of defence finally led to
Armagh’s opening goal when Katrina Curry rounded her marker to give
goalkeeper Emma Linnane no chance after 10 minutes.
The London defence were now at full stretch despite heroic defending from
Brid Grennan and Trish Mihill.
Four unanswered points from Katrina Curry, Bernie Murray and Julie O’Neill
opened up a seven-point lead after 20 minutes.
However to their credit the London girls continued to battle gamely and
were rewarded with a fine point from Suzanne Deasy who burst through the
Armagh defence two minutes later.
Roisin O’Neill was also unlucky to see a free come back off the
upright a minute later before Sinead McMahon cut the deficit to five points
after 27 minutes.
Sadly for the hosts disaster struck just on the stroke of half-time when
their defence once again failed to deal with a ball lobbed into the Exiles’
square.
Corner-forward Andrea McAlinden made no mistake to score an opportunist
goal for the visitors to give them a 2-5 to 0-3 half-time lead.
Although having the benefit of the wind in the second-half London still
had it all to do to get back into contention.
Manager Colm O’Meara’s words at the interval certainly had
some effect soon after the resumption and it was no surprise when Bronwyn
Keeshan cut the deficit with a well-taken point.
Armagh goalkeeper Bronagh Keenan was then forced into making a fine save
from Roisin O’Neill which denied the London girls their best opportunity
of a goal.
Within three minutes it had all gone wrong for the hosts once again when
Emma Linnane was picking the sliotar out of the net for the third time
to effectively end the game as a contest.
Bernie Murray finished a fine move on this occasion and along with McSorleyDoyle
and Curry were now beginning to run the London defence ragged once again.
The best score of the game came after 40 minutes when Colette McSorley
began and finished a move which resulted in Armagh’s fourth goal.
The same player also scored the fifth goal to complete a fine individual
performance which included a personal tally of 2-3.
Apart from McSorley’s fine display the only other notable feature
of the game were the performances of the O’Neill sisters in opposition.
London captain and Armagh native Roisin O’Neill lined out at midfield
while her sister Julie picked off a first-half point for Armagh from corner-forward.
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