St. Joseph’s College, Lucan (Joeys) are crowned Dublin Post-Primary Schools Senior A Champions after playing out an absolute thriller at Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club, Ringsend, on Friday 22/1/2016.
Final Score: St Joseph’s College, Lucan 3-5 v Our Lady’s Terenure 2-6
In almost perfect conditions for January, St Joseph’s College, Lucan won their second Senior A Camogie Championship on Friday, beating a gallant Our Lady’s side.
What a game! What a win! This nail-biting match went down to the wire. There were outstanding displays all around the field on both sides. First blood went to St Joseph’s when Emily McIntyre pounced and sweetly volleyed a high ball to the net. McIntyre along with Katie Feeney and Jessie McClelland would be a constant threat in the full-forward line. A fine Chloe Mullen point got Our Lady’s off the mark before some excellent support-play and passing from Orla Sadlier and Samantha Fitzgerald, both of whom worked tirelessly all day, set up midfielder Orlaith Murphy who split the posts. Our Lady’s were back on level terms soon however, when they finally broke down a stubborn Joeys defence, and struck the back of the net. Joeys’ dead-ball specialist Aoife McKearney got the pick of her scores with a pointed free that she floated over the bar against the breeze from out on the road-side touchline just inside the Our Lady’s half of the pitch, an inspirational score in such blustery conditions. And Our Lady’s had one of their own in Isabelle Costelloewho slotted over a 45’ to keep things level approaching half-time. Joeys’ goalkeeper Nicole Fitzgibbon put in a superb hour, clearing countless balls and thwarting attacks. Her outstanding moment came 20 minutes in when she raced from her goal-line and brilliantly blocked Holly Finnegan’s goal-bound shot. Joeys appeared to have struck a major blow to their opponents when Orla Sadlier chased down a ball into the square and kicked to the back of the net on 30 minutes, but Our Lady’s refused to be shaken-off and a long ball over the top of the Joeys defense was collected by Finnegan and struck past Fitzgibbon to the far corner of the net. All square at half-time, 2-2 apiece. Our Lady’s took the lead for the first time with a Costelloe free after the break, but this was followed by Joeys’ best spell of the match, as the half-back line of Laura Morgan, Jessica Condron and player-of-the-match Méabh Dowler, began to dominate their territory. McKearney put Joeys back in the lead with a 45’ and a brilliantly-judged free struck right of the posts but carried home by the wind. Both scores made and dispatched by herself, after launching a couple of venomous runs at the Our Lady’s backs. Laura Quinn set-up Fitzgerald for a further point and a long-distance goal from Joeys’ veteran Laura O’Mahony seemed to put her team out of sight with 10 minutes to play. The Terenure side had different ideas however. They would fight to the bitter end and reduced the deficit to a single score with a free and 45’ from Costelloe. Some resolute defending from Avril Quinn and Julie Kelly in the full-back line, which was marshalled well all day by Captain Emma O’Flynn, kept their opponents away from goal, though they did strike a further point to ensure the nerviest of finishes for the travelling support. The crucial moment came a minute into injury time, as Finnegan found space just outside the Joeys’ square, a goal to win it, surely. But Jessica Condron heroically intervened, stretching to hook the dangerous forward at the last second, allowing O’Flynn to clear the lines. Jessie McClelland won possession of the ball and ran for Dublin Bay. The whistle sounded and Joeys were crowned Senior A Champions for the second time in their history.
Joeys: Nicole Fitzgibbon; Avril Quinn, Emma O’Flynn, Julie Kelly; Méabh Dowler, Jessica Condron, Laura Morgan, Orlaith Murphy (0-1), Laura O’Mahony (1-0), Orla Sadlier (1-0), Samantha Fitzgerald (0-1), Aoife McKearney (0-3), Katie Feeney, Laura Quinn, Abby Lawlor, Emma Ryan, Emily McIntyre (1-0), Yasmin Kilduff, Kate Britton, Jessie McClelland, Aoife O’Kane.
Report provided by Post Primary Schools Association PRO, Dave Kirwin