Junior camogie glory for Loreto in thrilling clash with Pres

Loreto reclaimed the Leinster Junior camogie title when defeating arch rivals Pres at the second time of asking in Palmerstown last weekend.

It was Loreto’s 19th Leinster title at this level and a fourth in the last five years and they will now go forward to meet the Connacht champions in the All-Ireland semi-final in two weeks time.

An extra-time goal from Jenna Trait eventually broke the Pres resistance in a tie that just like the week previous went all the way to the wire in the midst of a deluge of wind and rain.

The Pres challenge was spearheaded by Barrow Rangers star Noa Bambrick who remarkably scored the entirety of their 1-7 tally including an extra-time penalty.

Pres had the aid of the strong wind at their back during the opening half and they opened up a three point lead by the end of the first quarter.

Noa Bambrick got all three scores as she converted a free as well as scoring twice from play. Loreto then gradually grew into the contest with Dicksboro player Emma Hogan landing consecutive frees before Meabh Kenny also scored from play.

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Pres had the final say of the half however with Bambrick knocking over two more placed ball efforts as the side in sky blue went into the break with a 0-5 to 0-3 buffer on the scoreboard.

Loreto quickly extinguished the Pres advantage within five minutes of the restart as Hogan and Kenny extended their tallies to leave the scoreboard reading 0-5 apiece.

Pres then retook the lead with a pair of Bambrick frees and they looked well placed to hold on to their provincial crown.

A point from Loreto midfielder Amy Walsh left a point between them but it wasn’t until the second minute of stoppage time that Katie Mulcahy scored from distance to ensure the game went to extra-time.

Loreto quickly took control during the extra period with Kenny landing a third point of the day before sub Jenna Trait shot to the net past Clodagh Galway.

Pres got a lifeline when Bambrick netted a penalty after Tara Rose Dunphy was fouled in the square but there was no denying the Loreto with Ruby Mullins and Ali McDonald getting late insurance scores.

Teams and Scorers

Loreto: Jenna Trait (1-0); Emma Hogan (0-3, 3fs); Meabh Kenny (0-3); Katie Mulcahy, Amy Walsh, Ruby Mullins, Ali McDonald (0-1 each)

Pres: Noa Bambrick (1-7, 4fs and 1 ’45)

Loreto: Leah Croke (Bennettsbridge); Ruby Doyle (St Martin’s), Sinead Cash (Tullaroan), Eimear Cottrell (Rower Inistioge); Katie Mulcahy (Bennettsbridge), Sian Bolger (St Martin’s), Saidhbh Farrell (Young Irelands); Amy Walsh (Dicksboro), Julia Healy (St Martin’s); Ruby Mullins (St Martin’s), Emma Hogan (Dicksboro), Rebecca Smith (Barrow Rangers); Roisin Gibbons (Emeralds), Meabh Kenny (Rower Inistioge), Holly Drennan (Young Irelands).

Subs: Maura Barton (James Stephens) for Smith, 48 mins; Ali McDonald (James Stephens) for Doyle, 53 mins; Jenna Trait (Dicksboro) for Gibbons, 58 mins.

Pres: Clodagh Galway (Thomastown); Jasmine Timmons McEneaney (James Stephens), Hannah Tennyson (Carrickshock), Mollie Rose Keegan (St Martin’s); Moya O’Shea (Carrickshock), Amy Hughes (Bennettsbridge), Eve Byrne (Bennettsbridge); Daisy Coomey (James Stephens), Colleen Byrne (Carrickshock); Noa Bambrick (Barrow Rangers), Lauren Skehan (Bennettsbridge), Elizabeth Sida (O’Loughlin Gaels); Kate Dalton (St Lachtain’s), Andrea Roche (St Martin’s), Sophie McCabe (Thomastown).

Subs: Siun Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks) for Roche, h-t; Isabel Carroll (St Lachtain’s) for Skehan, 40 mins; Tara Rose Dunphy (Lisdowney) for E Byrne, 53 mins; Grainne O’Shea (Carrickshock) for C Byrne, 70 mins.

Referee: Vivienne Holmes (Bennettsbridge)