Dublin claimed their first adult All-Ireland since 2006, their superior firepower being the difference as they overcame Offaly 1-13 to 0-9 in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland junior A camogie final in front of a sizeable crowd in Clane writes Daragh Ó Conchúir.
The Metropolitans were clearly motivated by losing last year’s decider and tore into their opponents from the throw-in.
Driven on by player of the match Carol Anne Canning, they got off to an excellent start and Kirsten Farrell’s 15th minute goal from a bullet of a shot into the corner helped them establish a 1-8 to 0-3 interval lead.
Georgina Kelly and 16-year-old Orla Beagan were very accurate in front of the posts too and though Offaly were much improved in the second half, thanks to the efforts of Kate Ahearne and Michelle Davis, who scored seven points, Dublin were always in control.
The powerful Canning was very well supported at midfield by Emer Maher, while Rachel Nochter, Shauna Duff, Kelly and Beagan were impressive too.
It was a famous day for Meath camogie as the Royals won both the All-Ireland junior B and U16C titles.
Kerry were their victims in the adult decider, 2-4 to 1-5 in Cloughjordan. The Kingdom girls led by two points early on and by three in the second half after Aoife Fitzgerald’s goal but Meath found the wherewithal to edge ahead by the end. Goals from Sinéad Beagan and Lynn Winters were the significant scores.
Meath beat Laois in U16C final 1-10 to 2-3, with the damage done in the first half at the end of which they led by 0-7 to 0-0.
Eimear Cook added a goal in the second half as she finished with a tally of 1-3. Megane Thynne, Nadine Doyle, Fia O’Brien and Laura Reilly struck the remaining points between them.
Laois fought valiantly in the second half and actually outscored the winners in the second half with Lizzie Ryan amongst the goals.
