Galmoy/Johnstown claim standout Kilkenny schools camogie crown
Galmoy/Johnstown 5-5 Bennettsbridge NS 4-1
History was made in Nowlan Park last week when the first ever Schools Camogie final to be played under the auspices of Cumann na mBunscoileanna Chill Chainnigh took place.
The girls from the Galmoy/Johnstown Schools came from six points behind to finish with aplomb and take the spoils in the Roinn D Cumann na mBunscol Camogie County Final in UPMC Nowlan Park.
The Bennettsbridge girls won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the strong breeze in the first half but their opponents struck first when midfielder Maeve O’Loughlin burst forward straight from the throw in and split the posts from 45 metres.
In the sixth minute Catherine Moran sent a long delivery forward for the Bennettsbridge girls with Emily Maher doubling to the net for the opening goal of the game.
Ella Mai Drennan responded for the Galmoy/Johnstown girls off her left in the 10th minute.
Despite playing against the breeze, the Galmoy/Johnstown girls were winning a lot of possession but they hit a total of six wides during this period.
Eventually ,they found the equalizer through Ella Bergin in the 14th minute,0-3 to 1-0.
Belle Tobin was excellent in defence at this stage while Emily Fagan also made some good interceptions.
For Bennettsbridge, Laoise Greene was very active on goal while Lucy Selmon was strong on the full back line. It was Emily Maher again who put the ‘Bridge girls back in front when she first timed a ground shot to the net in the 18th minute.
In the 22nd minute Maeve O’Loughlin put over a good free for the Galmoy/Johnstown side but within a minute it was Emily Maher who struck back for the ‘Bridge with a point to leave the half time score : Bennettsbridge 2-1 Galmoy/Johnstown Schools 0-4.
Goalkeeper Laoise Greene brought off a cracking save from Ella Bergin on the stroke of half time to keep her goal intact.
Within four minutes of the restart, the Bennettsbridge girls went further ahead with yet another goal from their best player Emily Maher.
The deficit was now six points but the Galmoy/Johnstown girls were not giving up. They had moved Zoe Power from defence into attack for the new half.
Two quick fire goals from strong forward Ella Bergin levelled up the game after just nine minutes of the half, 3-1 to 2-4.
The intensity of the exchanges increased now with both sides really giving it their all.
Having achieved parity ,it was the Galmoy/Johnstown girls who now had the better momentum and when Emily McEvoy soloed forward to hit a sweet point, they were now brimming with confidence.
Twelve minutes into the half, Róisín Doherty pulled first time and her shot went straight to the corner of the Bennettsbridge net.
In fairness, the Bennettsbridge team responded well and were rewarded, when Niamh Dooley got on the end of a long delivery and reduced the margin to the minimum, 3-5 to 4-1, with a timely goal.
Adele Carroll and Belle Tobin were now excelling for the combined schools as they cleared their lines with conviction. In the 18th minute of the half ,Ella Mai Drennan worked hard to win the ball out on the right and her probing shot from 35 metres went all the way to the Bennettsbridge net, 4-5 to 4-1.
The final score of the game came when Róisín Doherty fielded a Belle Tobin delivery and struck to the roof of the net to seal victory for Galmoy/Johnstown.