Second Junior 'A' League title for Kiladangan

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior ‘A’ League Final

Kiladangan 1-13

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-7

Report: Liam Hogan at the Camogie Grounds, The Ragg

Photos: Marty Ryan/SportsFocus

A brilliant exhibition of free-taking by Sinead Meagher saw Kiladangan win their second County Junior ‘A’ Camogie League title in defeating a battling Gortnahoe/Glengoole side on Friday.

The former Tipperary All-Ireland junior winner converted ten out of eleven attempts in a game that was spoiled by constant blowing of the whistle.

Meagher played well from play but it was far from a one player showing as Jane Minehan, Roisin Connolly, Theresa Collins, Emma Gavin, and Sadhbh Fogarty played their part in front of a very reliable Hannah Quirke in goal.

Before the game there was a minute’s silenced observed in memory of Liz Howard, the former President of the Camogie Association who passed away the previous day.

The game’s opening score came in the third minute when Grace Campion, Gortnahoe’s best player, raced through the middle to score a point. Sinead Meagher’s equalising free came on three minutes. Thirty seconds later, Emma Gavin gave Kiladangan the lead after a nice intercept.

From there it was all Kiladangan with Meagher scoring three unanswered frees in an eight minute spell. Sadhbh Fogarty increased the lead with a point from play in the 20th minute.

Kiladangan continued to press and had two chances of scoring a goal with Niamh Kelly denied by Gortnahoe keeper Aoife Lanigan before she was on hand to strike for goal a second time but brave play by full back Ciara Hogan kept the Gortnahoe net in tact.

With play approaching half time there was another chapter or two as Sinead Meagher increased the lead to six before the Kiladangan defence had a momentary lapse allowing wing forward Sophie Pembroke to score a goal in the 27th minute.

More Gortnahoe pressure saw Hannah Quirke make a good save but Niamh Gleeson managed to pick off a point before Meagher completed the scoring with her sixth placed ball.

The second half was just ten seconds old when Laoise Ryan had the Gortnahoe net bulging after a delivery by Emma Gavin. Sinead Meagher increased the lead two minutes in.

However, there was a response from Gortnahoe with the Mid side hitting three unanswered points in as many minutes with Sophie Pembroke converting two frees either side of a Grace Campion point from play.

There was more to come but the upright came to Kiladangan’s rescue before they came back with points from Meagher (free) and Sadhbh Fogarty from play in the 44th minute.

With Grace Campion continuing to run the show, Gortnahoe were on top as she and Pembroke were on target as they cut the margin to four, 1-11 to 1-7 with four minutes remaining.

However, Kiladangan had a little in reserve with two Meagher frees, in the final minutes, bringing joy to the Blue & Gold as they bridged a four year gap to their first success.

After the game co-captains Sinead Meagher and Theresa Collins, accepted the cup before paying tribute to the late Laura Kennedy of Burgess/Duharra who died in a tragic car accident two weeks ago.

Player of the Match: Sinead Meagher (Kiladangan)

Kiladangan: Hannah Quirke; Eimear Meagher, Jane Minehan, Eire Ryan; Roisin Connolly, Aoibheann, Theresa Collins (J Capt); Maedbh Ryan, Emma Gavin (0-1); Laoise Ryan (1-0), Sinead Meagher (J Capt 0-10f), Sadhbh Fogarty (0-2); Caoimhe Noonan, Niamh Kelly, Muireann Sheahan.

Sub: Emma Cahalan for Kelly (53).

Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Aoife Lanigan; Eimear Nolan, Ciara Hogan, Aoife Gleeson; Therese Rockford, Aine Slattery, Katie Dooley; Grace Campion (0-3), Niamh Lanigan; Sophie Pembroke (1-3, 0-3f), Leah Bird Anna Lanigan; Sarah Rockford, Kate Laffan, Niamh Gleeson (0-1).

Subs: Hannah Cooke for Nolan (48); Eimear Nolan for A Gleeson (56 inj).

Referee: Kieran Slattery (Knockavilla-D Kickhams)