Munster Senior B Post-Primary Schools Camogie Championship Final
Coláiste Muire, Ennis 1-8 St Mary’s Nenagh (Tipperary) 1-6
COLÁISTE Muire, Ennis are Munster Senior B Camogie champions for the very first time after edging a quintessential wrestle for supremacy with holders St Mary’s Nenagh in Caherlohan on Thursday night, reports Eoin Brennan.
The unique floodlit backdrop and sizeable crowd encircling the pitch was duly matched by a rip-roaring tie that ebbed and flowed until Coláiste Muire seized control come down the final straight. With the lead changing hands on six occasions and never more than a puck of a ball between the sides at any stage, it was a tie that essentially could have gone either way. However, while they were slow to start, the Ennis school certainly warmed up as the tie progressed and in the end were worthy winners following a three point unanswered final quarter.
The ultimate difference between the sides was the clinical performance of Mary Hanrahan who not only finished with 1-3 including the last two title clinching points but was superb throughout from her full-forward berth, with a razor sharp touch aided by a constant ability to take on St Mary’s defence.
Captain Tierna Hegarty was equally as inspirational as the defensive anchor as was full-back Hannah Doyle while Emily Costelloe, Aisling Moloney, Cliodhna Queally, Lauren Cahill and substitute Orna Moynihan were others to stand out amidst a gritty collective display.
History may be written by the winners but St Mary’s Nenagh had plenty of strong performances too, no more so than midfield joint-captains, the Cuneen twins Ellen and Niamh along with centre-back Aine Tuohy who was a huge loss in the final minutes when having to retire early through injury.
Backed by last year’s title, St Mary’s Nenagh were quicker to settle with two early Kate Ryan points almost garnished by a goal for Aisling Kennedy but Coláiste Muire goalkeeper Grace McMahon duly came to her side’s rescue.
It took ten minutes for a nervy home side to open their account through Emma Quinn which would be subsequently cancelled out by a Niamh Cuneen ’45 as Nenagh completed the opening quarter on the front foot at 0-3 to 0-1.
The tie turned immediately on the resumption when Ellen Casey’s long delivery was fielded by Mary Hanrahan who took on her marker and bore down on goal before unleashing a bullet to the right corner of the net and send Coláiste Muire into the ascendency for the very first time.
Five first half wides hampered any further progress as an eye-catching Emily Costelloe point was cancelled out by Niamh Cuneen by half-time at 1-2 to 0-4.
All seemed to be going to plan for the hosts when Muireann Daffy stretched the lead to two on the restart. However, St Mary’s had other ideas and when Emma Gavin squeezed a shot through a crowded goalmouth to find the net in the 34th minute, the Tipperary side were boosted back in front by the minimum.
With every possession now magnified amidst an anxious second period, points from Ellen Casey and Mary Hanrahan nudged Coláiste back in front by the two-thirds mark, only to trail once more by the final water break after a brace of Ellen Cuneen frees handed St Mary’s a 1-6 to 1-5 edge.
However, Coláiste Muire and more specifically Mary Hanrahan saved their best for last, with the Crusheen dynamo first hauled down on her way to goal for Emma Considine to equalise before adding the final brace of winning points herself to rubber-stamp a memorable provincial triumph.
Coláiste Muire: Grace McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Sinead Hastings (Ruan), Hannah Doyle (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Lauren Cahill (Kilmaley); Cliodhna Queally (Inagh-Kilnamona), Tierna Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) (Captain), Karlene McGerr (Inagh-Kilnamona); Ellen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Aisling Moloney (Ruan); Emma Considine (Clooney-Quin), Emily Costelloe (Clooney-Quin), Muireann Daffy (Inagh-Kilnamona); Emma Quinn (Clooney-Quin), Mary Hanrahan (Crusheen), Emma O’Loughlin (Clarecastle)
Subs: Orna Moynihan (Clooney-Quin) for McGerr (41, inj), Kate Forde (Ruan) for O’Loughlin (43, inj)
Scorers: Mary Hanrahan (1-3); Emma Quinn, Emily Costelloe, Muireann Daffy, Ellen Casey, Emma Considine (f) (0-1 each)
St Mary’s Nenagh: Aine Spain (Kilruane McDonagh’s); Iris Grace (Burgess-Duharra), Aoibheann Slattery (Silvermines), Anna Mulcahy (Kilruane McDonagh’s); Laura Kennedy (Burgess-Duharra), Aine Tuohy (Silvermines), Bronagh Kenneally (Moneygall); Ellen Cuneen (Joint-Captain), Niamh Cuneen (Silvermines) (Joint-Captain); Ciara Kenneally (Toomevara), Caitriona Finn (Portroe), Emma Gavin (Kildangan); Michelle Barry (Nenagh Éire Óg), Kate Ryan (Kilruane McDonagh’s), Aisling Kennedy (Burgess-Duharra)
Subs: Lucy Hogan (Portroe) for Barry (43), Cailín Creamer (Portroe) for Tuohy (55, inj)
Scorers: Emma Gavin (1-0); Kate Ryan, Niamh Cuneen (1f, 1’45), Ellen Cuneen (2f) (0-2 each)
Referee: Joe Mulcahy (Limerick)
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.