Camogie champions St Finbarr's retain title with after huge test from St Catherine's
St Finbarr's celebrate their win against St Catherine's at MTU Stadium. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
St Finbarr’s made it back-to-back SE Systems Senior Camogie titles with six points to spare over St Catherine's after a tough final at MTU on Sunday.
The Barrs were made fight hard for it by Catherine's, who turned in a magnificent second-half display. They pinned the favourites in and narrowed the gap to just one point, but the Blues rallied and wore them down in the fourth quarter.
The underdogs will look back and rue their 15 wides struck over the hour. They looked nervous in the opening half and allowed St Finbarr’s rule proceedings, but their second-half display was one of spirit and passion.
Barrs led by six points at the interval, 0-9 to 0-3, but St Catherine's were guilty of hitting 10 wides in that period as they squandered some good scoring chances. Their opponents were much sharper with just two wides as they availed of almost every opportunity.
Inside 21 seconds, Orlaith Cahalane had St Finbarr’s in front. Keeva McCarthy added their second point before Aoife Hurley opened St Catherine’s account from play.
Catherine’s were winning possession, but were wasteful and with Sorcha McCartan (2), Orlaith Cahalane and Kate Wall clinical at the other end the gap was five points.
St Catherine's had a goal chance go narrowly wide before Sorcha McCartan stretched the Barrs' lead to six points with a free. The East Cork side then hit three wides in a row as they continued to press but couldn't make it count.
Twice the sides swapped points. St Catherine’s were beginning to settle.
Ali Mulkerrins fired over two points while Orlaith Cahalane and Nicole Olden had one each for St Finbarr's. Olden’s effort was a magnificent strike from a tight angle to send them to the dressing rooms six in front, 0-9 to 0-3.
Catherine’s came out for the second half full of fire. Niamh O’Regan had a point inside 20 seconds of the restart.
Olden responded but the Barrs were now on the back foot with Cork star Laura Hayes driving her side on.
Catherine's were winning possession all over the field and it took a good save from Barrs keeper Ciara Hurley to deny Aoife Hurley a goal. They kept pushing and now in the driving seat they hit five points without reply as they held Barrs scoreless for 14 minutes.
Three points from Orla Cotter and one each from Laura Hayes and Aoife Hurley had just a point between the sides.
Olden steadied the Barrs' nerves with a point and with McCartan moving out around the middle, they got a grip on possession and began to rally.
She hit a long-range point to edge the Barrs three ahead and boosted by this score, they pushed for more.
McCartan converted a long free and while St Catherine's were battling to find a response, St Finbarr’s defence held firm.
Kate Wall pointed from play to push the margin to four. With the full-time whistle looming, the Barrs earned a free which McCartan sent between the posts to ensure the title was retained.
With a six-point contribution, McCartan was named The Echo Player of the Match.
Special mention must go to the Cahalane sisters, who helped Éire Óg to their first senior ladies football title on Saturday in the replay against Aghada, before securing the camogie silverware again a day later.
S McCartan 0-6 (0-4 f), N Olden, O Cahalane 0-3 each, K Wall 0-2, K McCarthy 0-1.
O Cotter 0-3 (0-1 45), A Mulkerrins, A Hurley 0-2 each, L Hayes, N O'Regan 0-1 each.
C Hurley; S Punch, S Daly, G Cahalane; A O’Neill, M Cahalane, C Golden; E Olden, A Shannon; S McCartan, K Wall, K McCarthy; O Cahalane, N Olden, H O'Leary.
E Hurley for H O'Leary (37), L O‘Donovan for E Olden (40), E Wiggington-Barrett for N Olden (58), A Egan for G Cahalane (59).
Y O’Neill; M Murphy, C Motherway, C Hayes; F Sheehan, L Hayes, F Neville; E O’Brien, M O’Keeffe; A Hurley, O Cotter, M Fitzgerald; N O’Regan, A Mulkerrins, T Murphy.
SM Clancy for F Sheehan (46).
Diarmuid Kirwin (Éire Óg).
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