The weather was perfect for camogie playing conditions, a sunny autumn day with a cold nip in the air, there was no strong breeze to detect and the pitch was in pristine condition.

A great day for a championship final against the two rivalring teams, not only in sport but also between family, with two brothers being on opposite management teams. John Murphy (St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh) and Donal Murphy (Cuala).

There was no change to St. Oliver Punkett Eoghan Ruadh (Plunketts) and no. 17 Hannah O’Dea started instead of no. Saoirse O’Donnell on the Cuala side.

Plunketts had a strong start with a goal by Jody Couch in the middle of the field and a point by Rebecca Keating in corner forward. Cuala answered  those scores by scoring two points one from a free by Blaithin Lane and from play by Sinead Wyld.

The first 15 minutes had some great battles especially between Wyld of Cuala and Aisling Caolan of Plunketts.

After a quick water break Cuala were back out with the first score of the second quarter from their number 15, Jennifer Dunne, which open a good run of scores for them with a point from number 12, Juilette O’Flynn and a goal from their center forward Sinead Wyld, with Cuala dominating this period of the game, with the sweeper system they put in place working. They took advantage of the wides Plunketts had racked up.

Plunketts switched their team up by putting Niamh Donlon in the middle of the field, which was effective as the next few scores came from Plunketts. A 45 converted from their captain Caolan and a goal in the 23rd minute from number 15, Aoife Bugler.

Cuala made a change in the 25th minute subbing in number 19, Roisin O’Toole, for number 2, Cara Sullivan. 

But that couldn’t stop Niamh Donlon and Jody Couch for scoring a point each before the half time whistle.

The second half started with no changes but the teams had switched around with Aisling Carolan going in full forward and Ciara Carolan going out to the half forward line.

Cuala started well with great pressure that resulted in a goal in the 3rd minute of the second half. At this point the atmosphere changed with the tension rising between both sidelines.

The game went into a lull with a point from Wyld for Cuala, there was a change on the Plunketts side with number 2, Alice Leahy coming off for Roisin O’Neil Cunningham, the both defense where strong which gave for a great battle in the middle of the field with every strike of the ball counting.

There was a 45 awarded to Cuala which was converted by Wyld, and number 10, Amy Darcy for Plunketts was taken off for Plunketts after a great performance by number 17, Eimear Murphy.

Aisling Carolan for Plunketts was back in center back after the water break with Cuala making a sub with number 18, Niamh Collopy coming on for number 4, Shaunna Curtis.

Both Carolan sisters opened up the last quatuar by scoring a point each, and not long after Buglar shook the back of the net once again with a goal assisted by Jody Couch.

However, Cuala never gave up with a point from Sinead Wyld to answer the goal just scored. But that couldn’t stop Jody Couch going up and scoring a point.

The last period of the game saw a comeback from Cuala, after converting a penalty by Wyld it was followed by another goal that was flicked in the back of the net by Wyld again there was only 2 points in it by the 32nd minute.

But a win or a draw was prevented when Buglar scored a point in the 33rd minute with the final whistle blowing up. The final score 4-08 (Plunketts) to 3-08 (Cuala).

Jenny Byrne made a speech on behalf of the County Broad. The player of the match trophy was presented to Rebecca Keating by her mother Linda Keating, and the trophy presented to captain Aisling Carolan by her mother Siobhán.   

Report by Ruth King