Dublin Camogie Update

Lucan Sarsfields 4 – 2 Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 0

A goal after three minutes by Aisling O’Leary from a free gave Ballyboden an early lead but seven minutes later Orla Beagan rattled the net with a great leveller.

The sides have been great rivals and the gap between the sides seams to be narrowing.

On the day Lucan had that little bit extra with Ann Marie Courtney starring at midfield and Laura Morrissey and Amber O’Connor grabbing crucial goals.

Player of the Match: Anne Marie Courtney (Lucan Sarsfields)

Under 12B

Ballyboden St Endas 4 – 0 Whitehall Colmcille 1 – 0

Report to come

Under 12C

Good Counsel 11 – 0 Erin Go Bragh 2 – 0

One of the success stories of 2008 has been the emergence of Erin go Bragh in their first year in camogie. To reach a championship final in their inaugural year was a tremendous achievement and they are already making a very positive impact in their community.

Good Counsel is an established camogie force and the next generation is being shaped under the expert eye of Aoife Maguire, Cathal PortÚir and Alicia Brady.

Amy Gill and Sinead Frier each grabbed a hatrick. The sides were evenly balanced at half time but a few errors by Erin go Bragh proved to be setbacks that on this occasion they were unable to come back from. But with Vicky Moyasola, Erica Manning and Xenia McElligott to the fore they will be back.

Player of the Match Roisin Pancarbo (Good Counsel)

Under 14A

Lucan Sarsfields 13- 5 Naomh Fionnbarra 2 – 2

The most successful team in the 121 years history of Lucan Sarsfields is what Chairman Paul Stapleton called them and whose to argue with Dublin League, FÚile, All-Ireland FÚile na nGael and now Dublin Championship winners.

The whole team was superb and in fairness to the great efforts of Naomh Fionnbarra no team in Ireland is a match for this side at the moment.

Player of the Match: Sarah Courtney (Lucan Sarsfields)

Under 14B

Na Fianna 2 – 1 Naomh Jude 1 – 2

This was probably the most exciting game of the game. The tenth game of the calendar finished in a welter of excitement with Naomh Jude unable to convert possession into to scores.

But credit the Na Fianna, they took their chances and played with tremendous heart and skill.

R¾isÝn NÝ MaolalaÝ notched a vital opening goal for Na Fianna but a goal and two points by the superb Sophie Mallen had put Naomh Jude in front early in the second half.

However following a period of sustained pressure Na Fianna Captain Eimear Duff netted for what proved the game’s decisive score. Try as Jude’s did they could not pull back the lead.

Player of the match: Sophie Mallen (Naomh Jude)

Under 14C

Raheny 5 – 0 Naomh BrÝd 2 – 1

A nasty shower in the second half didn’t spoil this hugely entertaining game. Although the scoreline suggests a comfortable win for Raheny, the game could just have gone the way of the Blanchardstown girls who had already taken the League and Dublin FÚile titles.

Holding a slender one point lead Naomh BrÝd were denied a goal by the splendid play of Raheny’s full back Shauna Monaghan. The resultant clearance was worked up the field where a great move down the win by Aoife Kelly saw her strike a great goal.

It was to be the first of three on the trot as Aoife added two more within minutes to put with her opening green flag in the first half. Emma Flynn was the other goalscorer.

Naomh BrÝd had an outstanding performer in Megan Maher who scored 2 – 0 with Sarah Hawkshawe getting a point.

Player of the Match: Aoife Kelly (Raheny)

Under 16A

St. Vincents 3 – 9 Naomh Jude 2 – 4

Coming up to half-time in this game, Naomh Jude led by 2 – 2 to 0 – 4 and were deserving of that advantage. But almost on the half-time whistle, Kate McCarry goaled to leave just a single point between the sides at the interval.

Sorcha Mullan (1 – 0) and Emma Barron (1 – 2) the Judes’ scorers.

But in the second half the Vincents defence closed the shutters and with Roisin Drohan and Irene Dempsey superb, they tacked on some great scores through Kate McCarry, Beibhin O’Neill, Niamh McNally and the clinching goal from Joanne Dufficy.

Judes never gave up and Niamh Morgan, Eabha Levins, Laura Burns and Aoife Dunne and all others fought to the finish.

Player of the Match: Kate McCarry

Under 16B

Kilmacud Crokes 4 – 4 Naomh BrÝd 2 – 4

This was a game that only tilted Crokes’ way in the closing ten minutes. Prior to that the sides had traded scores with regularity.

A very interested spectator was John Sweeney, member of the 1995 All-Ireland Club Football winning Kilmacud Crokes side. His daughter Orla struck one of the early goals for Crokes.

But when Helen Sweeney goaled for League champions Naomh BrÝd in the second half, the Kilmacud girls knew they had a fight on their hands. Some neat points by Michelle O’Hurley were impressive before Kate Rowley hit the net. Then full-back Clodagh McGeogh made victure secure when she buried a penalty to the net.

Player of the Match: Adrienne Doyle (Kilmacud Crokes)

Under 16C

Na Fianna 5 – 8 Setanta-St Finians 1 – 0

Under 11A

Naomh Jude 5 scores Lucan Sarsfieds 1 score

A very enjoyable and competitive under 11A final. In the first half St. Judes were 2 scores ahead thanks to efforts from Aoife Molloy (free) and Nadine Power. Just before half time Lucan registered their only score of the game when Jenny Ryan goaled to leave the half time score – 2 scores to 1 score. (In the under 11 championship all points and goals are considered scores.

Judes were better in this half, putting great pressure on the Lucan defence. Judes added 3 more scores from Sarah Lahiff, Courtney Halpin and Faye McCarthy. Lucan never gave up but were unable to find a way through a well organised Judes defence in which Eimear McCourt, Marian McDonell, Hanna Hegarty and Aoife Molloy starred. A feature of this game was the great defending by both sets of backs. Lucan had great performances from Charlotte Rooney, Jenny Ryan, Tara Farmer and Sarah Boland.

Player of the under 11A final: Faye McCarthy (St. Judes)

Referee: Carla Hayes

Under 11B

Naomh Olaf 3 scores Naomh BrÝd 2 scores

This was also a very enjoyable final with two evenly matched teams. Naomh Brid centre back, Niamh O’Neill, was playing very well and scored two great points. Naomh Olaf replied with 2 scores of their own to leave the sides all square at half time, 2 scores each.

Naomh Olaf proved that bit stronger in the second half and narrowly took the under 11B title 3 scores to 2. Niamh O’Neill, Aoife O’Sullivan, Aisling Tully and Catherine Leahy had great performances for Naomh Brid while Emma Higgins, Katie Grimes, Sadhbh Maher and Eilis Murphy starred for Naomh Olaf. There was great celebrations and rejoicing among the Naomh Olaf players, mentors and followers as Mary Gibson explained to all present that this was Naomh Olaf’s first ever Camogie championship title.

Player of the under 11B final: Emma Higgins (Naomh Olaf)

Referee: Carla Hayes

Under 11C

Naomh Mearn¾g 6 scores Erins Isles no score

A spectator was overheard to say that this was a “”busy little game””. Naomh Mearnog held a 2 score to nil lead at half time with Sarah Boyle collecting both scores for the North side team. Erins Isle never gave up but were unable to prevent Naomh Mearnog going further ahead in the second half with scores from Sarah Boyle, Ellen Kenny and Ailbhe Twomey. Erins Isle had great performers in Emer Callery, Emma Quinn Nicole Smith and Shannon Fagan while Sarah Boyle, Ellen Kenny, Megan O’Connor, Ailbhe Twomey and Lauren Tarpey put in great performances for the winners.

Player of the under 11C final: Sarah Boyle (Naomh Mearnog)

Referee: Joelenne Hoary

Under 13A

Lucan Sarsfields 2 – 8 Ballyboden St Endas 0 – 4

Lucan completed the U12, 13, 14 treble with this victory and fully deserving of the title.

The strong breeze was a huge factor and aided by the elements Lucan built up a 2 – 7 to nil lead at half time with great scores from Orla Beagan and superb frees from Kate Whyte. Anna Ryan also notched a goal and Ailishe Dowling was in fine form at midfield while in defence Shannon Clarke, Ciara Sheehan and Niamh Byrne protected an able keeper in Jenny Ryan.

Boden rallied with the breeze at their backs and points by Maria McGrath (0 – 2f), Kerrie Maunsell and Aisling O’Leary were inspirational. Lauren Falconer was excellent at full back and Danille Aylmer and Catherine McDonald were others to catch the eye.

Under 13B

Ballinteer St Johns 2 – 0 Na Fianna 0 – 2

This was a titantic battle with the breeze again turning the game into the proverbial “”match of two halves””.

Ballinteer grabbed two early goals bry Jane Tully and Alexandra Cowzer-Byrne to take an interval lead but Na Fianna pointed twice in the second period to keep the game in doubt right up to the finish. Clare Murray and Aishling Casserly were superb for the Mobhi Road outfit.

Under 15

St. Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh 5-5 St Vincents 3-6

This was a game of high skill and was the most competitive of today’s finals played in the Phoenix Park today between old rivals Oliver Plunketts and St. Vincents.

The pressure was intense on both sets of players with little or no time to spare on the ball. The strong wind favoured Plunketts in the first half. However it was St. Vincents who made the better start when Kate McCarry put them 1-1 in front in the first five minutes. But Plunketts came to terms with the pace and intensity of the game with 2 great goals and a point from full forward Aisling Carolan. Kate McCarry added 2 points and Deirdre Johnstone a point for Vincents. But goals from Jade Carey and Megan O’Reilly and points from Aisling Carolan and Claire McDonnell gave Plunketts a 4-2 to 2-3 interval lead.

Vincents expected to start the second half well with the wind at their backs. But like the first half it was the side playing against the wind that made the better start. Megan O’Reilly scored a point and Aisling Carolan added a goal early in the half to give them a 5-3 to 2-3 lead. But Vincents responded magnificently to the challenge and we were treated to a brilliant, absorbing contest from then until the final whistle. Vincents piled on the pressure with points from Deirdre Johnstone (2) and Roisin Collins and a second goal from Kate McCarry. Claire McDonnell added 2 points for Plunketts. Late in the game Estelle Murchan in the Plunketts made a brilliant point blank save to deflect the sliotar over the bar preventing the all important goal that Vincents so much needed. Final score Plunketts 5-5 Vincents 3-6 – a really great final. Well done to both sets of players.

Player of the under 15 championship final: Aisling Carolan (Plunketts)

Referee: Donal Ryan

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