Round-up: Weekend's camogie action

By Jordan Norris

A return of 2-4 from Kate Wall including a dramatic late winner proved pivotal as St. Finbarr’s saw off a determined De La Salle, 3-11 to 2-12, to secure a first AIB Munster Senior Club Camogie Championship title.

The Barr’s trailed by six points in the first half but battled back courageously and Wall’s 59th-minute strike ensured their place in the history books following a thriller in Tipperary.

De La Salle made a dream start as with just 33 seconds on the clock, they struck for the game’s opening goal. The sliotar found its way to Abby Flynn and she jinked inside and out toying with her marker before bearing down the left flank and slotting past Ciara Hurley.

Five-time All-Star Beth Carton was next to show her hand as she provided a belter from miles out. Brianna O’Regan was then called into action at the other end but the De La Salle netminder excellently blocked down Nicole Olden’s goalbound effort and the Waterford champions worked the ball upfield and won a free which Carton converted to establish an early five point cushion.

Flynn and Maggie Gostl were causing havoc and the former was found in space to swing over, but it was very much game on moments later as on 10 minutes – the Barr’s struck for a goal of their own. A searching free from Sorcha McCartan dropped perfectly and Orlaith Cahalane expertly flicked to the net to signal their arrival.

De La Salle responded excellently to that setback as Alannah McNulty unleashed Carton for another superb score, before Courtney Healy turned over the Barr’s defence and Carton notched the requisite free before the unmarkable Flynn sent them six in front.

St Finbarr’s then hit a purple patch approaching half time as they were inspired by a superb effort over the shoulder from McCartan and Wall then drove forward and made no mistake. Wall then raised a green flag on 27 minutes when she was able to flick over the onrushing O’Regan. A McCartan free ensured it was a one-point affair at the break despite De La Salle’s dominance. 1-7 to 2-3.

Matters were level for the first time on the resumption as McCartan split the posts from a free as momentum was now firmly with the Cork champions. Carton then produced a moment of magic as she found the radar despite being faced by a wall of defenders but Wall soon teed up Olden to make it honours even again.

Carton and McCartan traded frees before Brian O’Sullivan’s side hit the front for the first time on 44 minutes when the wonderful Wall raced away from Shayla Condon and dissected the uprights. She was then denied a goal seconds later as O’Regan turned her effort behind but McCartan made no mistake with the 45.

Carton reduced arrears to one but Wall was again found in acres and provided further punishment before De La Salle managed to wrestle their way back in front through a piece of individual brilliance. Gostl caught a long delivery and despite being double marked, she swivelled and unleashed a rasper into the roof of the net and the Gracedieu outfit were now the ones to catch.

Once again, Wall got on the sliotar and showed a clean pair of heels and it was a level game for the fourth occasion, but De La Salle snuck ahead when Carton somehow emerged from a ruck to play in Flynn for her third point.

Trailing by one with one minute of normal time left, St. Finbarr’s needed something special and it arrived on 59 minutes – Orlaith Cahalane marauded down the left flank and squared to the wondering Wall and she found an inch and nearly took the net off as the sliotar nestled in the far right corner and sent the travelling support into raptures.

De La Salle threw everything in three minutes added on, but St Finbarr’s weren’t to be denied. A spectacle befitting of a showpiece event and a final to be remembered.

Scorers for St. Finbarr’s: Kate Wall (2-4); Sorcha McCartan (0-6; 0-5f); Orlaith Cahalane (1-0); Nicole Olden (0-1)

Scorers for De La Salle: Beth Carton (0-9; 0-6f); Abby Flynn (1-3); Maggie Gostl (1-0)

St Finbarr’s: Ciara Hurley; Stephanie Punch, Sofia Daly, Grainne Cahalane; Aoife O’Neill, Meabh Cahalane, Ciara Golden; Aisling Egan, Aisling Shannon; Sorcha McCartan, Kate Wall, Keeva McCarthy; Orlaith Cahalane, Nicole Olden, Hannah O’Leary.

Subs: Eimear Hurley for Hannah O’Leary (40); Ella Wigginton Barrett for Sofia Daly (55)

De La Salle: Brianna O’Regan; Taylor Healy, Alex Healy, Shayla Condon; Megan O’Connor, Alannah McNulty, Emma Kennedy; Keeley Corbett Barry, Leah Browne; Courtney Healy, Beth Carton, Holly Ryan; Abbie Mullane, Abby Flynn, Maggie Gostl.

Subs: Niamh Power for Alex Healy (HT); Isobel Boland for Courtney Healy (53)

Referee: Mike Ryan (Tipperary)

**Elsewhere, a goal from a penalty in the final moments snatched victory for Tyrone champions Eglish over Crossmaglen of Armagh by 1-10 to 0-12 in the Ulster intermediate final replay.

And in the Munster intermediate decider, it was Ballincollig of Cork that prevailed over Tipperary representatives Moycarkey Borris by 2-7 to 1-5.

Meanwhile Na Brídíní Óga (Antrim) defeated Fullen Gaels (Manchester/Britain) by 2-9 to 2-6 to qualify for the All-Ireland Junior Club semi-final.