Meehan and McEvoy shine as Banner overcome Wolfe Tones

Junior C camogie final
Banner 1-9 Wolfe Tones 0-9

Novel could best describe this meeting on Saturday afternoon last between Wolfe Tones and Banner in the Junior C camogie final that drew a sizable attendance to Father McNamara park.  Wolfe Tones with an experienced group of players faced up to a youthful Banner side with many dual players. Both sides had freetakers of a standard far higher than Junior C as Ciara Meehan and Sarah McEvoy shared a dozen scores over the hour. Wolfe Tones netminder Anna Brennan retired injured after 15 minutes as the Shannon side started slowly and didn’t score until the 17th minute from McEvoy with Laura Meaney adding a second Tones scores a minute later. Two further scores from Wolfe Tones in the final minutes of the half left them on four points, one behind Banner at the interval. Ciara Meehan was excellent from placed balls and missed just one over the hour. Half-time Banner (0-5) Wolfe Tones (0-4).
With the second-half now in play it was apparent that there would have to be one moment of excellence to divide these sides. A long ball from midfield found Banner captain Sabdh Dunne and she made no mistake from close range. This score put daylight between the sides as Wolfe Tones did manage five more scores in the final twenty minutes of the game with three coming in the final five minutes as they were chasing an equalising goal. A crucial moment in the game came with veteran Banner netminder Mary Jordan denying a certain Wolfe Tones goal from Sarah McEvoy as scores from Anne Marie Meenaghan, Caoimhe Meehan and Hannah McCormack created the buffer zone that eventually led to success from the ladies from Shanaway road and their first silverware as an adult side.
Ultimately it more about the clubs having camogie sides in action than the actual attainment of silverware and the spirit shown by both clubs suggest they will be competing at higher grades in the seasons to come. Best for the champions included Mary Jordan, Ciara Meehan, Elana Sanz, Rachel Cummins, Hannah McCormack, Anne Marie Meenaghan, Caoimhe Meehan and Dianna Carmody. Wolfe Tones who showed their guile and experience to stay in the contest had great showings from Sarah McEvoy, Laura Meaney, Lorraine Carr, Dawn Ryan, Maria Hehir, Siobhan Dawson and Leanne McInerney.

Banner: Mary Jordan, Jenny Healy, Dianna Carmody, Clodagh Vaughan, Rachel Cummins, Caoimhe Ryan, Elana Sanz, Teresa Ryan, Claudine Lynch, Hannan McCormack, Anne-Marie Meenaghan, Ciara Meehan, Ellen McGrath, Sadbh Dunne, Caoimhe Meehan.

Scorers: Ciara Meehan (0-5), Sadbh Dunne (1-0), Caoimhe Meehan, Hannah McCormack, Anne Maire Meenaghan, Claudine Lynch (0-1 each)

Wolfe Tones: Anna Brennan, Vanessa McInerney, Siobhan Dawson, Olivia O’ Connell, Dawn Ryan, Leanne McInerney, Michelle Fitzgibbon, Lorraine Carr, Sarah McEvoy, Grace Quinn, Laura Meaney, Evelyn McGirl, Maria Hehir, Caragh Boland, Jaymee Carrig. Subs: Claire O’ Brien for Boland, Criona Hourigan for McGirl, Caoimhe Hourigan for Quinn, Sophie Belmor for Brennan, Kate O’ Sulivan for McInerney, Martina Griffin for O’ Connell,

Scorers: Sarah McEvoy (0-7), Laura Meaney (0-2)

Referee: Andrew McMahon (Cratloe)