Clough/Ballacolla hold nerve to claim Junior camogie crown
Happy scenes at Laois Hire O'Moore Park for Clough/Ballacolla camogie after the Junior Camogie final on Saturday Photo: Denis Byrne
CLOUGH/Ballacolla claimed the Junior Camogie Championship title following a thrilling one-point victory over St Brigid’s second team in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday afternoon.
The junior final served as the opening fixture of a double header, with St Brigid’s first team faced Camross in the Intermediate Camogie Final afterwards.
It was Clough/Ballacolla’s third final appearance in four years, having suffered defeat to Abbeyleix St Lazarians at the same stage last year. They made sure there would be no repeat on this occasion, holding on for a narrow one-point victory after a dramatic finish.
Clough/Ballacolla made a positive start, with Sarah Bergin opening their account with a point before Fiona O’Grady’s effort caused problems under the dropping ball. With the sun proving deceptive for the St Brigid’s goalkeeper, the shot dropped into the net to give Clough/Ballacolla an early boost.
St Brigid’s responded through an Eimear Guidera free, but Chloe Boyhan pushed Clough/Ballacolla’s advantage on with a point. Boyhan added another before Guidera converted two frees in succession to keep St Brigid’s in touch.
Bergin came close to adding another goal for Clough/Ballacolla, only to be denied by a superb save from Cribbin. However, the pressure continued and Clough/Ballacolla found the net for a second time when Cribbin patted down a dropping ball, allowing Sarah Delaney to gather the loose possession and fire across the line.
St Brigid’s produced an immediate response, with Enya Carroll finishing superbly into the top-right corner to register their first goal. Teresa Bourke followed with a point before Guidera converted another free to leave just a point between the sides.
With half-time approaching, Boyhan delivered a crucial score, firing low and hard to the net for Clough/Ballacolla’s third goal. It gave them a four-point cushion at the break, leading 3-3 to 1-5.
Clough/Ballacolla extended their advantage early in the second half when Jade Carroll fired home after being set up by Boyhan.
Guidera kept St Brigid’s in contention with a point and another converted free, while Boyhan replied with two frees of her own. Guidera added another free before Shauna Walsh and Delaney chipped in with points as St Brigid’s began to build momentum.
Guidera then produced an excellent finish from an angle to register St Brigid’s second goal and bring fresh life to the contest.
Boyhan continued to deliver for Clough/Ballacolla, converting another free, but Guidera responded with a point at the other end. Boyhan’s next free proved particularly important, stretching the lead to four points with just two minutes remaining.
St Brigid’s refused to surrender, however, and found the net in the final play when a Guidera free found the top of Maggie Fitzpatrick’s hurl and into the goal.
The late green flag set up a tense finish, but Clough/Ballacolla had done enough to secure the silverware, edging out St Brigid’s by the narrowest of margins on the final whistle.
Clough/Ballacolla: Chloe Boyhan 1-6 (0-4fs), Sarah Delaney 1-1, Fiona O’Grady and Jade Carroll 1-0 each, Sarah Bergin 0-1.
St Brigid’s: Eimear Guidera 1-8 (0-6fs), Enya Carroll and Maggie Fitzpatrick 1-0 each, Teresa Bourke and Shauna Walsh 0-1 each.
Tara Delaney; Laura Dooley Kirwan, Ellen Hennessy, Eimear McEvoy; Aine Duggan, Marian Ferns, Caoimhe Cassin; Maeve Hennessy, Molly Cassin; Chloe Boyhan, Paige Hyland, Fiona O’Grady; Jade Carroll, Sarah Bergin, Sarah Delaney.
Subs: Rachel Hyland for M. Cassin (45m), Caoimhe Coffey for C. Cassin (51m).
Anna Cribbin; Hannah Fitzpatrick, Denise Healy, Bríd Lowry; Caragh Finlay, Ava Dowling, Ellen Meagher; Eimear Guidera, Cesira Healy; Teresa Burke, Niamh Coss, EmmaJane Coss; Emily McCane, Aisling Henderson, Enya Carroll.
Subs: Shauna Walsh for McCane (37m), Eva Carroll for Henderson (44m), Evelyn Alyward for Carroll (54m), Maggie Fitzpatrick for N. Coss (55m).
Gerry Williams (Mountrath)
