Borris-Ileigh edge Boherlahan in Minor Camogie Final thriller

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Minor ‘A’ Championship Final

Borris-Ileigh 4-10

Boherlahan-Dualla 3-12

Report: Geraldine Kinane at the County Camogie Grounds

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Maria Groome (Borris-Ileigh)

SCORERS – Borris-Ileigh: Maria Groome 2-3; Grace Stapleton 2-1; Aoife Ryan 0-3 (2 frees); Lucy Rabbitte 0-2 (1 free); Ella Groome 0-1.

Boherlahan-Dualla: Doireann Ryan, Abbie Horgan (frees) 0-5 each; Evanne Gleeson, Neasa Dwan, Caoimhe Lacey 1-0 each; Aoife O’Donnell, Sarah Rose Meehan 0-1 each.

Borris-Ileigh were crowned County Minor ‘A’ Camogie champions for the first time in their history following a thrilling final against Boherlahan-Dualla on Tuesday of last week.

Both clubs have been standard-bearers for underage camogie in recent years, and they once again produced a cracking contest in front of a huge crowd, with the destination of the title remaining in doubt right until the closing stages.

Despite a lively opening, it took six minutes for the first score. Borris-Ileigh had a glorious goal opportunity after four minutes but Chloe O’Dwyer produced a wonderful save from a Maria Groome shot.

Two minutes later, Abbie Horgan opened the scoring from a free, kick-starting a spell of pressure from Boherlahan. Doireann Ryan got on the scoresheet following a brilliant run, before Sarah Rose Meehan added another point.

Borris-Ileigh responded with a point from a difficult angle before a foul on Ailis Stapleton gave Aoife Ryan the opportunity to reduce the deficit from a free. Immediately from the puck-out, Doireann Ryan won possession and added her second point.

Further points from Horgan stretched the Boherlahan advantage, but Borris-Ileigh responded superbly. A lovely one-two between Grace Stapleton and Maria Groome resulted in a foul, with Aoife Ryan converting.

Ella Groome then got on the scoresheet before Borris-Ileigh struck for the first goal of the game. A superb ball from Ailis Stapleton was gathered by Grace Stapleton who turned her marker before burying the sliotar in the back of the net, 1-4 to 0-6.

It was almost ten minutes before the next score, but the period was packed with superb defending and intensity. Ava Fanning, Zara O’Donnell, and Tara Maher were to the fore for Borris while Evanne Gleeson and Leah Maher were excellent for Boherlahan.

Borris-Ileigh eventually found the breakthrough when a surging run by Olivia Looby resulted in the ball being delivered into the danger area where Maria Groome pulled to the net.

Abbie Horgan responded with a free but Borris-Ileigh struck for another goal soon after. Olivia Looby saw her initial effort saved and when she struck the rebound it was again brilliantly kept out by Chloe O’Dwyer, however, the ball fell to Maria Groome and she made no mistake to put Borris 3-4 to 0-7 ahead.

Boherlahan's response was excellent. Aoife O'Donnell got a fine point from play before Caoimhe Lacey found the net with a well-taken goal. Good play involving Horgan, Aoife O'Donnell and Doireann Ryan resulted in another point, leaving just a single point between the teams at half-time, with Borris-Ileigh leading 3-4 to 1-9.

The second half continued in the same high-tempo fashion with both teams’ showing huge intensity, producing superb scores, and defending with great determination.

Doireann Ryan got Boherlahan off the mark before Evanne Gleeson, who had pushed forward from the half-back line, exchanged a pass with Doireann Ryan before finishing a superb move with a goal.

Maria Groome then added a point for Borris-Ileigh as the champions-elect continued to look for another goal. A brilliant passage of play involving Aoife Ryan, Ailis, Stapleton and Olivia Looby saw Borris attack with pace. Olivia Looby ran directly at the Boherlahan defence, created an overlap and found Grace Stapleton, who finished emphatically to the net to put Borris 4-6 to 2-10 ahead.

Once again, Boherlahan responded brilliantly. The excellent Doireann Ryan created the opportunity for a further goal, which was finished to the net brilliantly by Neasa Dwan.

Both sides introduced substitutes as the intensity remained relentless. Lucy Rabbitte made an immediate impact for Borris, scoring two points, from a free and from play.

Maria Groome added another point before Doireann Ryan replied for Boherlahan-Dualla, leaving the score level at 4-8 to 3-11 as the game entered its final ten minutes.

Sophie Meehan was tireless for Boherlahan throughout while there were heroes all over the field as both teams refused to give an inch. A superb point from Aoife Ryan put Borris-Ileigh back in front with just four minutes of normal time remaining.

Abbie Horgan responded with a point from a free on 58 minutes before substitute Emma Bevans caught a great ball passing it to Grace Stapleton to edge in front.

There was still time for one more score, and Aoife Ryan held her nerve to fire over another free to seal the win for Borris-Ileigh.

It was heartbreak for Boherlahan-Dualla who contributed enormously to what was a brilliant final and can take huge credit for the quality of camogie they produced.

However, Borris-Ileigh were able to find the crucial goals at key moments, with outstanding attacking play and immense work rate from both teams making this a final worthy of the occasion.

TEAMS - Borris-Ileigh: Emily Healy, Zara O’Donnell, Ava Fanning, Tara Fitzgerald, Sinead Cowan, Tara Maher, Amy Maher, Shauna Looby, Abi Kelly, Ella Groome, Olivia Looby, Ailis Stapleton, Aoife Ryan, Grace Stapleton, Maria Groome.

Subs used: Lucy Rabbitte, Emma Bevans, Kate Ryan Begley, Grace Groome.

Boherlahan-Dualla: Chloe O’Dwyer, Brid Quirke, Leah Maher, Saoirse Maher, Evanne Gleeson, Neasa Dwan, Grace Power, Abbie Horgan, Aoife O’Donnell, Mae Kennedy, Doireann Ryan, Leah Hickey, Sarah Rose Meehan, Sophie Moynihan, Caoimhe Lacey.

Subs used: Michelle Meehan, Faye Bourke.

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels).