Allianz Corn Gobnait Junior A final
St Patrick’s Maghera 0-9 Loreto Kilkenny 4-10
St Pat’s Magera’s bid for All Ireland Junior A glory was undone by a very good Loreto side at Darvar on Wednesday as the Kilkenny college collected yet another title at this grade, their 14th since 2007.
St Pat’s fought tooth and nail throughout, and had a great spell during the second half, but it was Loreto’s ability to take their scores, and their goals in particular, that divided the sides in the end.
Playing with the aid of a strong diagonal wind Maghera started well when Cáit Conway sent over a point from a free, and the Co Derry school could have had a few more but for some wayward shooting.
Loreto got on the scoreboard in the fifth minute when left half forward Aofie Shealy got in for a goal, but Magera hit back with two more points to level the game. The second goal was a real body blow for the St Pat’s girls, as Sarah Kehoe’s shot for a point just dipped below the crossbar and into the net, the goals proving the difference as they girls in black and amber went on to lead by 2-5 to 0-5 at half time.
Most pundits were expecting Loreto to run away with the game when they had the use of the wind in the second half, but the St Pat’s girls had other ideas and they played their best Camogie of the game in a hard fought second half. Good defensive work by the Maghera side denied full forward and team captain Ciara Dunne in the early stages and when they moved the ball down field Cáit Conway pulled a point back from a free.
With wing half backs Branagh Brolly and Ellie Griffin running at Loreto at every opportunity, ably assisted by Lucy McKaigue, Rhianna Doherty and McEldowney they began to create chances and closed the gap with some well take points. However the goal they needed to really get them back into the game never really looked like coming and Loreto bided their time.
Entering the last ten minutes the Kilkenny girls began to find their range and goals from Eleanor Doheny and team captain Ciara Dunne put the game beyond St Pat’s grasp.
The Player of the Match award went to Loreto centre back Anna Doheny who gave a masterful display to keep the Ulster champions at bay, but St Pat’s, who had four Antrim girls in the ranks, can take great heart from their second half display.
Scorers
Loreto: C Dunne 1-6, A Shealy and E Doheny 1-1 each, S Kehoe 1-0, L Boyd 0-2 frees
St Patrick’s: C Conway 0-6 frees, MT McCullagh, R Doherty and O McCartney 0-1 each.
Loreto:
E Brennan, S Doheny, A Carroll, C Hickey, E Murphy, A Doheny, G Brennan, O Kennedy, L Gilmore, S Kehoe, A Kirby, A Shealy, E Doheny, C Dunne capt, L Boyd.
Subs: A Laherty for E Murphy (35), M Kenny for L Boyd (58), A Murphy for O Kennedy (59)
St Patrick’s:
Ó Henry, L McKaigue, E Murray, A McFaul, B Brolly, K McCloskey, E Griffin, C Conway capt, MT McCullagh, R Doherty, O McCartney, C Hampsey,A.Hampsey, C Chambers, A Mulholland.
Subs: M Horgan for A Mulholland and C Mallon for C Hampsey (both 47)
Referee: C Dooley (Offaly)
