Junior Camogie- Kilkenny city stalemate as Pres snatch late draw with Loreto

Loreto and Pres met in a Kilkenny city derby for the second week running and this time the Leinster junior camogie title was the prize on offer.

Both teams produced a cracking contest despite the pouring wind and rain throughout the final in Palmestown and the two schools will have to do it all again after a long distance Noa Bambrick free landed to the net past Leah Croke in the 5th minute of additional time as Pres grabbed a share of the spoils.

A first half goal from Barrow Rangers star Rebecca Smith gave Loreto a 1-5 to 0-6 lead at the break and they looked primed to seal a Leinster double until Pres struck in the dying stages to force aother day out.

Noa Bambrick not only got the game saving goal but she also contributed 1-6 of the Pres entire tally in a superb individual display and she got the scoring underway with an early free.

Loreto responded well with centre-forward Emma Hogan pointing from play and a free but Pres were really growing into the contest and three points on the spin of which all came from the hurl of Bambrick meant the Loughboy based outfit led 0-4 to 0-2 after 19 minutes on the clock.

Read Next- PICTURES: Kilkenny secure their first piece of silverware in 2026

The rest of the half was largely dominated by the Loreto with Hogan landing a free and a 65 in succession and the Dicksboro star was also part of a series of goal opportunities when her shot was well saved by Clodagh Galway before a Rebecca Smith attempt was then blocked wide.

The Loreto goal was still only around the corner and it was of the fortunate variety after Rebecca Smith’s effort rolled past the hapless Pres goalkeeer and over the line as the Aoife Norris managed side moved into a 1-4 to 0-4 lead.

Pres replied with Bambrick’s fifth point of the half which came in advance of an excellent Sophie McCabe score from play.
Loreto’s Meabh Kenny then landed the final score of the half from a difficult angle as the side in black and amber moved two clear at the change of ends.

The weather worsened throughout half-time and at the start of the second half so free-flowing camogie became much more difficult as a result. A Noa Bambrick 45 narrowed the deficit back to the minimum but Pres then went through a scoreless 22 minute spell as Loreto began to take control.

Three points on the spin between the 38th and 52nd minutes via Hogan, Rebecca Smith and Meabh Kenny soon pushed Loreto four to the good and they looked like they were within touching distance of victory.

Pres refused to go away quietly however and when Rebecca Smith pointed to leave a puck of the ball between the sides, they still had a fighting chance.

Bambrick’s late goal then ensured a replay was required.

Teams and Scorers

Loreto: Emma Hogan (0-5, 2fs and 2 45’s); Rebecca Smith (1-1); Meabh Kenny (0-2)

Pres: Noa Bambrick (1-6, 4fs and 1 45’); Sophie McCabe (0-2)

Loreto; Leah Croke (Bennettsbridge); Ruby Doyle (St Martin’s), Sinead Cash (Tullaroan), Eimear Carroll (Rower Inistioge); Katie Mulcahy (Bennettsbridge), Sian Bolger (St Martin’s), Saidhbh Farrell (Young Irelands); Amy Walsh (Dicksboro), Julia Healy (St Martin’s); Ruby Mullins (St Martin’s), Emma Hogan (Dicksboro), Rebecca Smith (Barrow Rangers); Roisin Gibbons (Emeralds), Meabh Kenny (Rower Inistioge), Maura Barton (James Stephens).

Subs: Holly Drennan (Young Irelands) for Barton, 58 mins; Jenna Trait (Dicksboro) for Mullins, 63 mins.

Pres: Clodagh Galway (Thomastown); Jasmine Timmons McEneaney (James Stephens), Hannah Tennyson (Carrickshock), Mollie Rose Keegan (St Martin’s); Moya O’Shea (Carrickshock), Amy Hughes (Bennettsbridge), Eve Byrne (Bennettsbridge); Daisy Coomey (James Stephens), Colleen Byrne (Carrickshock); Noa Bambrick (Barrow Rangers), Lauren Skehan (Bennettsbridge), Elizabeth Sida (O’Loughlin Gaels); Kate Dalton (St Lachtain’s), Andrea Roche (St Martin’s), Sophie McCabe (Thomastown).

Subs: Tara Rose Dunphy (Lisdowney) for Roche, h-t; Siun Shefflin (Shamrocks Ballyhale) for Skehan, 43 mins; Isabel Carroll (St Lachtain’s) for Coomey, 53 mins; Ava Walsh (Danesfort) for Byrne, 61 mins; Grainne O’Shea (Carrickshock) for Rose Keegan, 63 mins.

Referee; Owen Beehan (Fenians)