Gaeltec Utilities Minor B Camogie League Final
St Lachtains 5-8 Tullogher 3-12
St Lachtains produced a remarkable last ten minutes to turn a nine point deficit in the 50th minute into a dramatic two point win with scoring burst of 3-3 to claim the Minor B league title. The win was just reward for the Freshford ladies who kept believing throughout a match that looked to be going against them while for Tullogher, they will know that they held the upper hand for long periods but a failure to hold firm when pressure was applied in the last ten minutes proved their undoing.
This was a very competitive match throughout on a warm sunny evening in Tullogher and the opening ten minutes saw both sides score 1-1 with Tullogher getting a goal start from Ciara Nolan in the 3rd minute but St Lachtains replied with a goal from the impressive Katie Dalton in the 7th minute. St Lachtains were playing against the wind elements in the opening period but they looked the better side from the 10th to the 20th minute with county players Ciara Hickey and Michelle Killeen featuring prominently – and a fine goal from the combative Abby Whitty in the 16th minute saw them lead 2-1 to 1-2 by the 20th minute. Gradually Tullogher started to exert control and a smart goal from the lively Dearbhla Ryan in the 24th minute led to a period of dominance which saw them add four further points before half time (including two fine finishes from the pacy Clara Walsh) to see them lead 2-8 to 2-3 at the half time break.
St Lachtains had the wind elements for the second half but found scores had to come by in the opening twenty minutes of this half with the Tullogher backs led by Rachel Murphy defending stoutly. Further forward, Tullogher continued to make the most of their own chances – and point from frees from Lily Ryan (2) and a fine goal from Dearbhla Ryan in the 47th minute put them in firm control with a 3-11 to 2-5 lead. St Lachtains them moved Michelle Killeen to full forward and she looked a threat every time the ball came her way afterwards – two sharp finishes to the net and two points from her (one after a fine save by Aisling Power in the Tullogher goal) reduced the margin to 3-12 to 4-7 in the 58th minute. St Lachtains continued to apply pressure as excitement levels grew on the sideline and a fine ground pull by Mia Phelan in the 59th minute put them ahead as we entered stoppage time. There was time for Katie Dalton to add a further St Lachtains point and this saw them claim an unlikely two point win when referee Seamus Quigley sounded the full-time whistle shortly afterwards. Both sides played well for large periods of this enjoyable encounter and both will be strong contenders for the Minor B championship which starts this week.
Teams: Tullogher: Aisling Power, Saoirse Doherty, Jane O’Shea, Meave Phelan, Aoife Dooley, Rachel Murphy, Ava O’Leary, Aoibheann Ryan, Lily Ryan, Isabella Murphy, Molly Ryan, Clara Walsh, Aoife Cummins, Ciara Nolan, Dearbhla Ryan. Subs: Siobhan Handrick, Laura Barron, Shauna Bookle, Aoife Purcell, Anna Murphy, Hannah Sidney, Sarah O’Leary, Ruby O’Leary, Caoimhe Connolly, Ella Morrissey, Leah O’Lone.
St Lachtains: Katelyn O’Connor (C), Sarah Hickey, Emma O’Connor, Saoirse Hickey, Nessa Gibbons, Katie Burke, Isobelle Carroll, Ciara Hickey, Aoibheann McCarthy, Ruby Campion, Michelle Killeen, Caoimhe Nolan, Katie Dalton, Abby Whitty, Mia Phelan. Subs: Keelin Walsh, Abigale O’Cain, Chloe Gleeson, Kara Bergin, Kate Walsh.
Referee: Seamus Quigley
By PRO Wed 20th Aug
