Intermediate Camogie Championship Final
Naomh Mhuire 4-10 Derrymacash 4-6
Naomh Mhuire captured the Intermediate Camogie Championship title after a hard fought victory against Derrymacash who refused who give up and competed right to the end. With one minute of normal time remaining the sides were tied but a goal and a point saw Naomh Mhuire pull away by the final whistle.
Katie Comiskey gave An Port Mor a two point lead with two strikes from the dead ball before Derrymacash fired back to level the game through Caoimhe Phillips and an Andrea McAlinden free. Derrymacash then raised the first green flag of the day when Orlaith Ward saw her shot for a point drop short and land in the back of the net.
Niamh Forker and Michaela Doyle both scored for their sides before Orlaith Ward was again on target to hit her second major and give her side a six point advantage. Niamh Forker fired over a free with just minutes left in the first half and Katie Comiskey closed the gap when her shot flew past the keeper and into the net, leaving the half time score An Port Mor 1-4 Derrymacash 2-3.
An Port Mor were back in front two minutes into the second period when Katie Comiskey saw her long range effort strike the post with Orla O’Kane on hand to smash the ball to the net. Comiskey did get her point with the next attack while a free from Derrymacash through Andrea McAlinden left just one point separating the sides.
McAlinden was on target once again through the dead ball as was Aidene McGeown for An Port Mor who ten minutes later handed her side a four point advantage as she raised the Blackwatertown sides’ third green flag. An Port Mor kept pressing forward and hit a purple patch with points from Katie Comiskey (0-2) and Caoimhe O’Kane.
Derrymacash’s challenge was not complete however and the crowd were in for an enthralling final ten minutes of play. Michaela Doyle stroked over for her second before Orlaith Ward fired home her third goal of the contest while substitute Jacqui Ann McCann also hit the net to level the game with one minute of normal time remaining.
Derrymacash’s hope of saving something from the game was shattered when Comiskey scored her second goal of the evening before Caoimhe O’Kane pointed with the last shot of the game leaving An Port Mor deserving champions with Kate Comiskey striking 2-5 on the night while Eimear O’Kane was her sides rock at centre half back.
Naomh Mhuire Scorers: Katie Comiskey (2-5), Aidene McGeown (1-1), Orla O’Kane (1-0), Niamh Forker (0-2), Caoimhe O’Kane (0-2).
Derrymacash Scorers: Orlaith Ward (3-0), Jacqui Ann McCann (1-0), Andrea McAlinden (0-3), Michaela Doyle (0-2), Caoimhe Phillips (0-1).
Senior Camogie Championship Final
Ballymacnab 2-6 Madden 0-8
Although low scoring, Ballymacnab and Madden severed up a tight and tense affair in Granemore on Sunday evening. Two goals, one in each half, saw Ballymacnab crowned Senior Camogie Champions for 2019 but much credit must go to their defence who stood strong all evening long and broke up several Madden attacks.
The game got up and running in the 4th minute with Ballymacnab taking the lead through Emma McParland before Aoibhin O’Hare doubled their advantage moments later with a brilliant individual score. Madden drew level through Hannah Hughes along with a Laura McGuinness free before Kelly Mallon fired her side in front on the 14th minute but once more the game was even when Ellie McKee knocked over a free.
A long ball to the square by Michelle McGuigan was excellently caught by Eimear Smyth who turned and fired to the net to put the Nab three points ahead, a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the game. An Ellie McKee score split points from Michelle Morgan and Sinead Kiernan to see Ballymacnab ahead 1-4 to 0-5 at the break.
Ballymacnab restored their three point cushion when Ellie McKee chipped over a free two minutes into the second period and the game wouldn’t see a score for the ten minutes that followed until McKee once again converted from the placed ball. Laura McGuinness brought Madden back to with two with a brace of points before Ballymacnab were dealt a major blow with their free taker Ellie McKee shown a red card.
With the game in the melting point substitute Laura Smith send a long high ball goal-wards and the inrushing Aine Maguire blocked off the keepers vision as Smith’s pass ended up in the back of the net to give the Nab a five point lead with as many minutes remaining. Laura McGuinness pulled one from a free but it wasn’t enough as the referee called for the ball.
The brilliant defensive displays of Michelle McGuigan, Louise Toner and youngster Mairead O’Toole saw Ballymacnab deservingly capture the trophy after 60 minutes of end to end action with the final score Ballymacnab 2-6 Madden 0-8.
Ballymacnab: Catherine Toner, Mairead O’Toole, Tierna Maguire, Aileen McParland, Louise Toner, Aife Crilly, Cara Crilly, Danielle McKee, Aine Maguire, Alanna McKee, Michelle McGuigan, Aoibhin O’Hare (0-1), Emma McParland (0-1), Eimear Smith (1-0), Ellie McKee (0-4). Subs: Laura Smith (1-0) for A. McKee, Michelle McCone for D. McKee, Michelle McParland for A. Maguire.
Madden: Amy McGuinness, Helen McArdle, Emma McGuigan, Shannon McGuire, Geraldine Kiernan, Caoimhe Smith, Eimear Smith, Sinead Kiernan (0-1), Kelly Mallon (0-1), Orlagh Grimley, Hannah Hughes (0-1), Michelle Morgan (0-1), Laura McGuinness (0-4), Eimear Grimley, Leah McGoldrick. Subs: Gemma McCann for L. McGoldrick, Orlagh Vallely for E. Grimley, Shannon Morgan for O. Grimley.
