Strong start leads Tullaroan to Under-16 camogie championship glory
Tullaroan 3-10 St Lachtain’s 5-2
There was a real sense of anticipation as near-neighbours St Lachtain’s (Freshford) and Tullaroan took to the well-appointed Jenkinstown pitch, both teams eager to claim local bragging rights.
In what was a keenly contested encounter, this Roinn C final was very much a game of two halves - Tullaroan made full use of the wind to dominate the opening half, while St Lachtain’s roared into action on the restart.
Tullaroan opened the scoring, with the lively Ruth Walsh hitting the net after just two minutes, before Tara McGree followed this up with a pointed free. The St Lachtain’s defence were under immense pressure in these opening minutes and found it hard to deal with the Tullaroan forwards as Tullaroan continued to score with points from Juliette Mulligan, Sinead Cash (free), Jennifer Holmes and Ruth Walsh.
The wind was playing a big part in the game and Tullaroan launched in two more goals to increase their control on the game; the first a high ball from Jennifer Holmes at wing-forward and the second from Juliette Mulligan.
It took St Lachtain’s much of the first half to settle into this game. Kate Walsh and Isabel Carroll worked hard at midfield but Tullaroan’s forwards continued to press hard and were rewarded with more points from Ruth Walsh at full-forward and Jane Coogan in the corner.
St Lachtain’s Olivia Marnell responded with a point for her side but as the first half came to a close, there was no doubt who the dominant team were (T 3-7, SL 0-1).
The second half was a completely different affair, as St Lachtain’s emerged a rejuvenated side, seemingly having woken from their slumber. They showed far greater aggression, determination and intent, bringing a renewed energy to their game and making life much more difficult for Tullaroan.
From the throw-in, St Lachtain’s gained control and after one minute, Olivia Marnell bagged her first of three goals in this second half.
As in the first half, the wind continued to play a significant role, favouring the team playing with it. St Lachtain’s made the most of this advantage, hitting the ground running and driving towards the Tullaroan goal. Kate Dalton was instrumental in the revival, winning tough ball at full-forward and showing great determination and skill to rattle the net twice from difficult angles, breathing new life into the St Lachtain’s challenge.
Shortly afterwards, Olivia Marnell struck for her second goal, sending a looping shot over the goalkeeper and into the net to leave just six points between the sides and further fuel St Lachtain’s comeback. Tullaroan, however, were far from finished and continued to work tirelessly across the field.
Two well taken points from frees by Tara McGree at crucial moments helped steady the ship and maintain a cushion between the sides. The closing 10 minutes were intense, with the tension rising as St Lachtain’s continued their fightback. Olivia Marnell pointed from a free before completing her hat trick with a superb third goal, the result of tremendous hard work from the St Lachtain’s forwards, to leave just a single point between the sides.
However, Tullaroan showed great composure under pressure and held firm until the final whistle. A crucial point from a free in the dying minutes sealed the victory for Tullaroan in a thrilling finish to a fiercely contested encounter.
Tullaroan: Emily O’Shea, Eve O’Sullivan, Laura Millea, Anne Delaney, Alana Russell, Sinead Cash, Emily O’Flynn, Ailish Doheny, Lily Sweeney, Juliette Mulligan, Tara McGree, Jennifer Holmes, Emma Coogan, Ruth Walsh, Jane Coogan.
St Lachtain’s: Maddison Walsh, Roisin Hickey, Nessa Gibbons, Caoimhe Butler, Niamh Butler, Eimear Murphy, Faith Long, Kate Walsh, Isabel Carroll, Kate Hickey, Kate Dalton, Chloe Gleeson, Keelin Walsh, Olivia Marnell, Lucy Dalton.