Strong finish wins the day for Brian Borus who claim county league title victory
Brian Borus defeated Kiladangan in the County Junior A Camogie final
Junior A County Camogie League Final
Brian Borus 2-13
Kiladangan 2-8
By Liam Hogan
A better all-around Brian Borus side claimed victory over a game Kiladangan side following an exciting Junior A League final played at a sun-drenched County Camogie Grounds, The Ragg last Friday evening.
The winners outscored the North Tipp side 1-6 to 0-1 in the final thirty-three minutes, including fourteen minutes of additional time, when two late scores put daylight between the teams in those closing minutes.
Those two late scores put five between the teams, the biggest margin between the sides in what was up to then a tight affair up to the end of the hour, with scores level seven times in the opening forty minutes.
The teams were level three times in the opening dozen minutes after Aisling Ryan equalised to make it Brian Borus 0-6 Kiladangan 1-3. Ryan was Brian Boru’s best forward as the right wing forward had scored two of her team’s first half dozen points, with Rebecca Burke posting two from frees, while Mary Barrett (free) and Caoimhe Ryan scored a point each forward line five of the starting six scored.
At the other end, Kiladangan’s opening 1-2 had come from frees by Sinead Meagher, her goal from a forty-five metre free in the tenth minute had Kiladangan 1-2 to 0-4 in front. Meagher was Kiladangan’s best forward, with Caoimhe Noonan providing good backup.
But they were up against a well-organised defence where Emily McGrath, Ava Caplice and Shauna Maher led the way while Mary Barrett caught the eye at midfield.
With continued pressure, they almost scored a goal in the 18th minute when Kiladangan goalkeeper Karen Seymour and Meadbh Ryan took turns in producing great saves when denying Aisling Ryan from close in.
Having survived the scare, Kiladangan, led by Eadaoin Hackett, Meadbh Ryan in defence, plus a hard-working midfield duo of Emma Gavin and Theresa Collins, helped keep the supply for their attack where three unanswered points came between the 27th and 29th minutes Caoimhe Noonan scoring her second and Sinead Meagher adding two more frees.
However, Brian Borus managed a response when broken play, close to the Kiladangan goal, allowed Aisling Ryan to weave past the cover to goal, making the sides level for the fifth time. Seconds later, Rebecca Burke gave them the lead with her third free to see Brian Borus lead 1-7 to 1-6 at the break.
Caoimhe Noonan’s point seconds into the new half had Kiladangan back level. The North side continued their good momentum and in the 38th minute they regained the lead through Niamh Kell,y who blasted home from close range.
However, the idea of a Kiladangan takeover were quickly dashed in the next few minutes as the South side hit three unanswered points through Mary Barrett from long range, followed by a Burke free, before full forward Shona Lang levelled matters 2-7 to 1-10 and seventeen remaining.
Brian Borus came again and Aishling Ryan was involved in another move, and her intention for a point fell kindly for corner forward Alannah English to lob the ball over the head of the advancing Karen Seymour.
There was more as substitute Holly Fox showed a clean pair of heels when racing down the wing to increase the lead to four with forty-four minutes gone.
Three minutes later, the game was held up over nine minutes as two Kiladangan players, Aoibhean Ryan and Nicola McGrath, collided and had to be replaced. Their absence was sorely felt. From there, play became stop-start but Sinead Meagher revived Kiladangan’s hopes with a free their first score in twenty-one minutes.
However, Brian Borus' greater balance was telling, and a Burke (free) plus a second Holly Fox score helped stretch the lead to five as the game was in the fifth minute of added time.
Injury time stretched another nine minutes with play very much stop-start due to substitutions and treatment to players down with cramp because of exhaustion caused by a very warm sun. The game continued, but neither side were able to add a score before full time arrived. Boru’s were deserving winners.
Scorers: Brian Borus: Aisling Ryan 1-2; R Burke 0-5f; Alana’s English 1-0; H Fox and M Barrett 0-2 each; C Ryan and S Lang 0-1 each.
Kiladangan: S Meagher 1-5f; N Kelly 1-0; C Noonan 0-3.
Brian Borus: Rachel Doyle; Emily McGrath, Ava Caplice (Capt), Rosaleen O’Gorman; Erin Brennan, Shauna Maher, Caitlin O’Gorman; Helen Burke, Mary Barrett; Aisling Ryan, Caoimhe Ryan, Roisin Maher; Alannah English, Shona Lang, Rebecca Burke.
Subs used: Holly Fox for R Maher (39); Shelly Ryan for A Ryan (68); Leah Caplice for English (69).
Kiladangan: Karen Seymour; Olivia Mulhall, Eadaoin Hackett, Nicola McGrath; Aoibheann Ryan, Meadbh Ryan, Eimear Meagher; Emma Gavin, Theresa Collins; Jane Minehan, Caoimhe Noonan, Sadhbh Fogarty; Maria Minehan. Niamh Kelly, Sinead Meagher.
Subs used: Cara Mulcahy for E Meagher (47); Aoife Sharkey for A Ryan (56, inj); Caoimhe Hayes for McGrath 56, inj); Margaret Hayes for J Minehan (68).
Referee: Kieran Slattery (Knockavilla Kickhams)