Piltown rise to the challenge to win first senior camogie title

Piltown are Michael Lyng Motors Senior Camogie County Champions for the first time after they defeated reigning County, Leinster and All Ireland Champions Dicksboro in UPMC Nowlan Park last Sunday. It was a repeat of the League Final, played a month earlier.

Aobha O’Gorman got the scoring underway with a point from play for the ‘Boro in the first minute. Aoife Prendergast then added another point for the city side before Ciara Phelan tacked on her side’s third point by the 6th minute.

Kellyann Doyle got Piltown’s first score with a pointed free in the 10th minute and she followed this up with another pointed free 30 seconds later.

Piltown equalised when Katie Power played the sliotar forward and Heather Phelan fielded the ball, while she was surrounded by ‘Boro defenders, she dropped the sliotar to the boot and kicked a great point.

Aoife Prendergast shot over two points for the ‘Boro in response while Katie Power and Kellyann Doyle slotted over a point each for Piltown to make it 0-5 apiece after 20 minutes.

Piltown then hit three unanswered points through Kellyann Doyle (2f) and Sophie Holden.

Heading towards the half time whistle, the ‘Boro scored two points from Orla Hanrick and Asha McHardy to leave the interval score 0-8 to 0-7 in favour of the Southern team.

Piltown got the perfect start in the second half, when Kellyann Doyle hit a free from the 50m line near the Ardan de Gras stand, it got caught in the strong wind and dropped short, but it bounced passed the ‘Boro goalie into the net.

Doyle duly added another two points for Piltown to extend their lead to six points.

Aoife Prendergast then slotted over pointed frees before Kellyann Doyle scored a great point for Piltown when Patsy Kenny’s route to goal was blocked, Pasty played the sliotar back out to Doyle and Kellyann weaved her way through the ‘Boro defence and slotted over the bar.

The ‘Boro hit three unanswered points through Aoife Prendergast (2f) and Aobha O’Gorman to leave the score 1-11 to 0-12.

In the 50th minute, Piltown fired the sliotar out of defence, Katie Power fielded the ball, laid off the perfect handpass to Sophie Holden and the net rattled.

The ‘Boro tried to get scores, but the Piltown’s defence stood strong as they frustrated the defending champions.

Then in the 56th minute, Kellyann Doyle shot towards goal, the strong wind held up the sliotar before it hopped in front of the ‘Boro keeper but Niamh Culleton pulled first time and it flew into the net, this put Piltown eight points ahead.

Aoife Prendergast fired over two pointed frees in reply for the ‘Boro, but it was too late as the referee blew the full time whistle and Piltown were crowned champions.

Piltown are out again on November 3 in the AIB Leinster Senior Club Semi Final against Glynn Barntown, Wexford.

Teams and Scorers

Piltown – Kellyann Doyle 1-8 (1-7f), Sophie Holden 1-1, Niamh Culleton 1-0, Heather Phelan, Katie Power 0-1 each.

Dicksboro – Aoife Prendergast 0-9 (9f), Aobha O’Gorman 0-2, Ciara Phelan, Orla Hanrick, Asha McHardy 0-1 each.

Piltown – Aoife Norris, Lorraine Long, Emily McCarthy, Alice Talbot, Karen Duggan, Laura Norris, Alanna Gallagher, Lorna O’Shea, Aoife Landers, Ellen O’Keeffe, Kellyann Doyle, Niamh Culleton, Sophie Holden (Vice Captain), Katie Power (Captain), Heather Phelan.

Subs – Patsy Kenny for Heather Phelan, Aine Doyle for Lorna O’Shea, Leah Cooney for Ellen O’Keeffe.

Dicksboro – Kirsty Maher, Jane Cass, Tara Clifford, Angela Carroll, Niamh Phelan, Caoimhe Dowling (Captain), Katie Byrne, Ciara Phelan, Ciara O’Shea, Asha McHardy, Aoife Prendergast, Aobha O’Gorman, Rose Kelly, Orla Hanrick, Rachel Dowling.

Subs – Amy Clifford for Angela Carroll, Tara McGrath for Katie Byrne inj.

Referee- Julian O’Dwyer (Windgap)