Nenagh Éire Óg make history as Alanna Morris captains the Blues to a first-ever adult county Camogie title at the Ragg on Sunday afternoon – Éire Óg 4-6 Knockavilla 3-5.
County Junior B Camogie Final
Nenagh Éire Óg 4-6
Knockavilla Kickhams 3-5
Nenagh Éire Óg made history on Sunday afternoon at the Ragg when Alanna Morris captained the Blues to a first-ever adult county Camogie title – the Éire Óg junior B team saw off a determined Knockavilla Kickhams outfit with four points to spare.
Having suffered a heart-breaking defeat in the 2012 county final Éire Óg attacked from the very start of this encounter and led 0-3 to no-score by the 17th minute – despite playing into the wind Ciara McGrath drove over two frees before Aislinn O’Brien notched the Blues’ first score from play. Goalkeeper Ali Darcy made a telling save in the tenth minute – the first in a whole series of significant interventions.
Éire Óg conjured their first goal in the 19th minute when Danielle Harrington hand-passed to the net. Two minutes later Harrington helped herself to another three-pointer and Éire Óg now led 2-3 to no-score.
Two Knockavilla frees in the 23rd and 27th minutes cut the Éire Óg led to seven points; that is until Danielle Harrington set up Holly O’Brien for a terrific goal in the 30th minute. Seconds later Danielle Harrington completed her hat-trick and although Knockavilla closed out the half with two converted frees the Blues led 4-3 to 0-4 at the break.
In the first minute of the second half a Knockavilla free found the net, but a Ciara McGrath ’50 steadied the Blues and left nine in it (4-4 to 1-4) by the 36th minute.
A second Knockavilla goal five minutes later allied to a Kickhams point in the 46th minute reduced the Éire Óg advantage to five points (4-4 to 2-5).
Knockavilla were awarded a penalty in the 49th minute, but the Kickhams spurned the opportunity before Zoe Gratton won a crucial free.
A Danielle Harrington point in the 52nd minute soothing the nerves of the Éire Óg players before a Holly O’Brien free in the 58th left seven in it (4-6 to 2-5). Two minutes into injury time Knockavilla managed a third goal, but Éire Óg held on for a famous win.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Ali Darcy, Mary Dillon, Rachel Maher, Alanna Morris (captain), Amy Heffernan, Ciara McGrath (0-3, 0-2 frees. 0-1 ‘50), Zoe Gratton, Michelle Collins, Aileen Duggan, Aislinn O’Brien (0-1), Holly O’Brien (1-1, 0-1 frees), Danielle Harrington (3-1). Subs: Julie Moylan for Michelle Collins, Saoirse Gleeson for Amy Heffernan. Remaining panel members: Claire Collins, Paula Ryan, Cliona Curran, Brenda O’Sullivan, Judy Ryan-Mulqueen, Alice Darcy, Sarah O’Connor, Elaine Slattery, Kara Ryan-Mulqueen.
The club would like to thank the management team – comprising Paul Henry, Denise Morris and Shane Connolly – for their terrific work with this group of players.
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