Carrickcruppen 2-5 Clann Eireann 0-11
A replay will be required to decide the Senior champions as Clann Eireann and Carrickcruppen finished all square.
Caroline O’Hanlon buried a last-minute penalty kick to save Carrickcruppen and force another day.
Clann Eireann controlled possession throughout the game but with Cruppen flooding bodies back behind the ball, they found it difficult to display their dominance on the scoreboard.
Tiarna Grimes and Niamh Murray got Clann Eireann up and running. But those scores were soon cancelled out by frees from Megan Cinnamond and Caroline O’Hanlon.
Both goalkeepers, Anna Carr (Carrickcruppen) and Catherine Lawless (Clann Eireann) pulled off heroic saves during the opening period.
A first half goal from Cinnamond gave the underdogs a slender three-point lead at the interval. 1-3 to 0-3.
O’Hanlon made it four shortly after the turnaround, but Clann Eireann soon levelled. Three on the trot from Tiarna Grimes along with a Niamh Coleman score tied the contest.
Cinnamond pointed again to nudge the Camlough ladies one point ahead, but Clann Eireann were in the driving seat.
Scores from playmaker Niamh Henderson (2), Cait Towe and Niamh Murray put them three ahead, the biggest margin between the teams all day long.
Carrickcruppen fought hard for the goal they desperately needed and were rewarded with a penalty. Up stepped O’Hanlon, who blasted the ball to the top corner and levelled the game.
Clann Eireann had one last chance to capture the title, which fell to Mags Carville. She saw her shot blast wide and that was the final piece of action.
The replay will be next weekend and the pair will have to do it all again to decide the destination of the Marie Hoye Cup.
