St Lachtain’s made to battle for minor silverware against Barrow Rangers

It was a titanic struggle, St Lachtain’s (Freshford) emerged as Minor B camogie championship winners after a big battle against Barrow Rangers (Paulstown, Goresbridge) on the Kells Road.

After a weekend of heavy rain, the elements were more favourable on the Sunday afternoon with sunshine and a strong breeze throughout the match. The match itself was very much a case of small margins which could have been won by either side in normal time; indeed Barrow Rangers looked the more likely winners at half-time in extra-time with a narrow lead with the elements in their favour for the final period.

However, St Lachtain’s have displayed a strong never-say-die spirit throughout this season and this, as well as a well-taken goal from Mia Phelan in the last period of extra-time, proved to be enough to get them over the line.

Defeat was tough on the Barrow Rangers girls who more than held their own for long periods of this very competitive final but the phrase ‘goals win matches’ best summarised why it didn’t work out for them in the end.

Barrow Rangers opened backed by the wind elements but scores were hard to come by in the keenly fought opening stages and St Lachtain’s tactic of playing Aoibhinn McCarthy as a sweeper certainly helped curtail the Barrow Rangers attack.

Barrow Rangers had forged a three point lead by the 15th minute through Lily Rose Maher, a Noah Bambrick free and Ella Maher before St Lachtain’s rallied with two points from Michelle Killeen (Free) and Abi Whitty.

Defenders were still largely on top throughout this period although Barrow Rangers had moved 0-6 to 0-2 clear by the 27th minute through three further frees from the impressive Noa Bambrick but they were rocked in the 28th minute when Katie

Dalton broke free inside the Barrow Rangers defence and found the net from close range to reduce it to a one point match.

Barrow Rangers did add two further scores from Ella Maher and a Noa Bambrick free to lead 0-8 to 1-2 at the interval, but this lead did not look likely to be enough with the elements in favour of St Lachtain’s after the break.

The second half was again an intense battle all through. No scores were added in the opening 12 minutes of the half with both defences on top - for Barrow Rangers, their backline led by Rebecca and Jessica Smith were offering stern resistance to the St Lachtain’s attack.

Two Michelle Killeen frees had reduced the deficit to two points (0-9 BR to 1-4 SL) in the 53rd minute before St Lachtain’s managed to get a run of scores from three Michelle Killeen frees, one from a penalty approaching full-time, to edge one point clear (1-7 to 0-9). However, Barrow Rangers did mount a final attack which saw them win a close range free which Noa Bambrick converted to send the match to extra-time.

Barrow Rangers had the better of the opening period of extra time and had eked out a narrow one point lead (0-12 to 1-8) at the end of the first period of extra-time. With wind elements to come, they looked the more likely winners, but St Lachtain’s redoubled their efforts. After Michelle Killeen drew them level with a free, Mia Phelan struck for the all-important second goal which created daylight between the teams. A further point from a free from Michelle Killeen ensured there would be no way back for the gallant Barrow Rangers girls.

Overall, a fine match despite the relatively low scoring which fierce commitment all through by two evenly matched sides.

St Lachtain’s - Katelyn O’Connor (captain), Sarah Hickey, Emma O’Connor, Saoirse Hickey, Katie Burke, Ciara Hickey, Nessa Gibbons, Isobelle Carroll, Ruby Campion, Caoimhe Nolan, Michelle Killeen, Aoibheann McCarthy, Abby Whitty, Mia Phelan, Katie Dalton.

Subs: Keelin Walsh, Abigale O’Kane, Chloe Gleeson.

Barrow Rangers - Tierna Power, Ava Barcoe, Rhianna Scott, Ellen Brennan, Alice Maher, Jessica Smith, Ellie Fenton, Rebecca Smith, Ada Bambrick, Ella Ryan, Noa Bambrick, Ella Maher, Amy Kavanagh, Ella O’Reilly, Ava Medlar.

Subs: Arwen Donnellan, Katie Sweeney, Ellen-Beth Murphy, Emma Havelin, Emma Kavanagh, Lily Maher, Nicola Healy, Chloe Dunne, Lucy Jordan, Caitlin Wade, Isabelle McCreery, Mia Healy, Emma Delaney, Sophie Brennan, Emily Waters, Eva O’Keeffe.

Referee - Vivienne Holmes (Bennettsbridge).