By Jason Keelan, at Donoghmore Ashbourne
Knockananna (Wicklow) 3-11
Granemore (Armagh) 0-12
Wicklow and Leinster champions, Knockananna, put in a sensational second-half display to overturn a half-time deficit and dethrone AIB All-Ireland Junior ‘A’ title from holders, Granemore of Armagh.
Both sides came into the game in Donaghmore-Ashbourne GAA grounds with high hopes of silverware in what was a repeat of a goalfest 2023 semi-final.
From the off, it looked like the Orchard County representatives were the stronger side as full-forward, Rachael Merry, pointed inside 30 seconds. Laura Carr then teed up Corinna Doyle to score from a tight angle before the opening Knockananna point came from the stick Aobha Harmon.
By the eight-minute mark, Granemore went 0-5 to 0-1 ahead with Merry adding two frees and Doyle pointing from close-range. Gavin Weir’s Leinster champions were trailing on the scoreboard and were guilty of a number of handling errors in the cold December weather, but always had the huge support of a packed stand behind them.
Merry continued to be the primary threat in the Granemore forward line, in some instances earning frees that she herself converted. Although Harmon replied for Knockananna, once again, the Granemore backs were relentless in their tackling to establish a solid attacking platform.
Clodagh McClelland turned over an attack before setting up Ciara Hill to launch a monster score from almost half-way, but Knockananna were showing signs of their potential, even if it didn’t show on the scoreboard. A handful of promising attacks broke down when a pass might go slightly astray, but by the time the half-time whistle sounded with Granemore 0-9 to 0-5 in front, there were plenty of indications that there was a kick coming from the Garden County club.
In what proved to be a crucial swing moment, Ciara Hill almost found the Knockananna net from a long-distance sideline cut moments into the second half, but goalkeeper Kelli Byrne just managed to clear. Not long after, the value of that intervention was proven when fantastic tussling in the corner led to Áine Darcy winning possession in the corner of the Knockananna attack, and she found Ciara Byrne who blasted to the net.
A long-range point seconds later from Laura McGrath meant that despite Granemore having the much larger share of possession and territory up to that point, the sides were now level.
Granmore did reset themselves after Knockananna’s whirlwind start. Merry pointed another free before chipping in with a 45, but in the final quarter, only one more free would be added to their total as they were outgunned by Knockananna entirely.
On 52 minutes, after a period of wides and some fatigue kicking in, Ciara Byrne came out of a ruck with the sliotar, only to be fouled as she drove towards goal.
After consultation, Joseph Mullins awarded a penalty, which Byrne herself dispatched low to the net. The one-point lead lasted a mere minute as Merry’s free levelled, but that didn’t break the Wicklow side’s momentum.
The final two-minutes plus stoppage time belonged to the Wicklow ladies as they blitzed a shellshocked Granemore with 1-5 in the very short time that remained. Aobha Harmon caused a turnover which allowed Aimee Maher to put her side back in front before substitute, Jackie Kinch, looked to have sealed the win with the clock in the red. The title was firmly sealed when Ciara Byrne saw her long-distance effort from near the sideline sail into the far corner of the net.
Final points from Aimee Maher and a double from Laura McGrath put the icing on the cake and confirmed a very happy Christmas for the new All-Ireland champions.
SCORERS FOR KNOCKANANNA: C Byrne 3-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f, 0-1 45); L McGrath 0-3; A Harmon, A Maher 0-2 each; S Goetelen, J Kinch 0-1 each.
SCORERS FOR GRANEMORE: R Merry 0-8 (6fs, 0-1 45); C Doyle 0-3; C Hill 0-1
KNOCKANANNA: K Byrne; Z Katus, E Mutton, C Stokes, E Breslin, E O’Sullivan, E Mulhall, L McGrath, R Byrne, A Harmon, A Maher, S Byrne, S Goetelen, C Byrne, A Darcy. Subs: J Kinch for Darcy (46), A Mulhall for Mutton (51), E Hadden for C McClelland (51)
GRANEMORE: C Devlin, O Hunter, S McClelland, C McClelland, A McVeigh, G McWilliams, E Haughey, F Loughran, C Hill, K Smyth, J Carr, L Carr, C Doyle, R Merry, M Haughey. Subs: A Doyle for McVeigh (36), Lucy Doyle for Haughey (42), Ciara Carr for J Carr (60+2)
Referee: Joseph Mullins (Clare)
#TheToughest
