SENIOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
TRUAGH-CLONLARA 2-11
INAGH-KILNAMONA 2-7
This County final took a long time to ignite but once Clare Hehir superbly blasted to the roof of the net the game came alive. Up until that moment it was pretty dour stuff. The first half was tight with space at a premium. The champions were the better of the two though and deservedly led by four at the end of the opening quarter with Leah Hawes coolly slotting to the net after a defensive error presented the full forward with the opportunity. Inagh-Kilnamona were struggling for scores and indeed only registered one point from play in that first period with Fiona Lafferty firing over a sixth minute peach. Free taker Aoibhin Ryan kept them in touch with a trio of placed balls and at the interval Foudy’s charges trailed by four on a 1-5 to 0-4 scoreline.
Upon the resumption of play centre forward Aoibhin Ryan landed three of the first four points and suddenly it was game on. Bob Caulfield’s girls don’t do panic though and with Aine O’Loughlin growing more and more into the game they raided for the next three points to open up a five point lead with ten to play. The closing minutes were as frenetic as one could imagine with Hehir’s bullet immediately followed by a majestic Aine O’Loughlin green flag when plucking the sliotar from the heavens before rifling to the roof of the net. Inagh-Kilnamona wouldn’t lie down and were given a lifeline just four minutes from full time with the awarding of a penalty. Up stepped sharpshooter Aoibhin Ryan to coolly convert and it was a one score game once more. Not to be denied Truagh-Clonlara through player of the match Aine O’Loughlin fired over the next two points in the 59th and 63rd minute with referee Andy McMahon’s full time whistle immediately following sending the Truagh-Clonlara faithful into sheer delight.
Truagh-Clonlara: Sophie Cullen, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Powell, Sinead Hogg, Ellen Horgan, Laura Foley, Louise Egan, Eimear Begley, Rebecca Foley, Eimear Kelly, Joanne Egan, Hannah Horgan, Roisin Begley, Leah Hawes, Aine O’Loughlin
Subs: Aoibhin Marren for H Horgan (37), Niamh Ryan for R Foley (46), Rebecca Foley for L Hawes (57), Hannah Horgan for J Egan (60)
Scorers: Aine O’Loughlin 1-5 (3 f), Leah Hawes 1-0, Laura Foley 0-2 (2 f), Becca Foley, Eimear Kelly, Joanne Egan, Aoibhin Marren 0-1 each
Inagh-Kilnamona: Cara McInerney, Hannah Shannon, Cliodhna Queally, Cathy Cullinan, Jane Fitzgerald, Laoise Ryan, Teresa O’Keeffe, Laura Rynne, Sinead Power, Clare Hehir, Aoibhin Ryan, Kate Dowling, Danielle Griffin, Fiona Lafferty, Elisha Rynne
Subs: Mary McInerney for E Rynne (46), Helen Hehir for L Rynne (57)
Scorers: Aoibhin Ryan 1-6 ( 1 pen, 5 f), Clare Hehir 1-0, Fiona Lafferty 0-1
Referee: Andy McMahon (Cratloe)
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.