All-Ireland final heartbreak for Ballincollig as Camross take over in second half at Croke Park
Linda Dorgan of Ballincollig in action against Fiona Scully of Camross at Croke Park. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Heartbreak for Ballincollig as Camross were crowned AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie champions in Croke Park.
Despite a spirited effort, Ballincollig will know that their failure to score from play in a second half where they only managed three frees, was costly.
Opting to play against the strong wind in the opening half, Camross trailed at the interval by a point, a Leah Hannigan goal on eight minutes giving the Cork side a lead they held to the short whistle.
In an even opening quarter, the sides were level twice. Aimee Collier clipped a lovely score before Ailish Scanlon replied with a Ballincollig free. Erin Walsh edged the Laois winners back in front before Niamh Dollard denied Ballincollig a goal after Linda Dorgan set up Tara Goulding.
Scanlon converted a free before Goulding's clever pass allowed Hannigan raise a green flag.
While Camross hit back with two points without reply, Collig were beginning to gain the upper hand. Three scores in a row from Linda Dorgan, Scanlon and the lively Sorcha McCarthy had them four clear.
With a sweeper at both ends, Camross were finding it hard to get the ball to their inside line. Long-range points from Kristine Keenan and Collier kept them in touch.
Scanlon's frees put the Village back in control before the outstanding Sarah Ann Fitzgerald nailed two efforts to leave just a point in at the break and the Laois side had the wind to come.
Camross applied massive pressure from the restart. Twice Collig keeper Ana Hartnett denied them with two excellent saves as Camross while at the other end, Scanlon converted a tricky free after Hannigan was fouled.
The goal finally arrives when Sarah Ann Fitzgerald struck first time to the net when a clearance was blocked down to edge Camross in front after 39 minutes.
Beginning to gain the upper hand around the middle and driven on by Premier Junior Player of the Year Aimee Collier, Camross extended their lead with a Collier point from play. A Scanlon free kept Ballincollig in touch but they couldn't get enough quality possession in the attacking third.
Fitzgerald slammed over a long-range effort before Camross hit their first wide. They were more clinical than Ballincollig overall, who twice missed efforts to narrow the gap as both teams gave everything but began to tire.
Upping the pace once more, with Grainne Delaney and Erin Walsh doing huge work around the middle, Camross pressed and points from Player of the Match Fitzgerald and Andrea Scully put the Leinster champions in the box seat.
Scanlon bagged another free but we entered the three minutes of added time, Camross led by four.
Ballincollig pushed forward. However, they needed a goal and couldn't engineer an opening.
SA Fitzgerald 1-7 (0-6 f), A Collier 0-3, E Walsh, G Delaney, A Scully, K Keenan 0-1 each.
A Scanlon 0-7 f, L Hannigan 1-0, S McCarthy 0-2, L Dorgan 0-1.
N Dollard; M Burke, A Burke, F Scully; A Collier (c), D Mortimer, E Cuddy; L Delaney, A Collier; L Daly, G Delaney, A Scully; E Walsh, SA Fitzgerald, K Keenan.
S Burke for L Daly (56), A Gulifoyle for M Burke (62), T Lowry for E Walsh (63).
A Hartnett; A Cotter, M Healy, C O’Sullivan; O Keating, L Weste, E Hickey; A Scanlon, S Healy; K Goulding, L Dorgan (c), O O’Leary; S McMcCarthy, T Goulding, L Hannigan.
B Cunniffe for O O’Leary (42), N O'Brien for S Healy (42), I Fleury for S McCarthy (60).
Joe Mullins (Clare)
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