Late goal gives Colaiste Mhuire Johnstown victory in Junior B Camogie Final

Coláiste Mhuire Johnstown had to pull out all the stops before they saw off the challenge of Coláiste Mhuire Ennis in this pulsating Junior B camogie final at St Rynagh’s GAA pitch in Banagher Co Offaly.

The Johnstown girls had sailed through the Leinster campaign and after an impressive opening salvo here, looked to be on their way to victory.

But in fairness to the Ennis girls they settled well and worked their way back to parity by the 50th minute, only for Johnstown to dig deep and conjure up two winning scores.

A goal from Aoife Blanchfield in the 59th minute of an intriguing final in Banagher was the score that finally killed off an excellent Coláiste Mhuire Ennis side.

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It didn’t look good for the Clare school when Johnstown opened with the first five points of the game.

The excellent Taylor Corbett, a Tipperary U-16 defender, scored four of those five points, three from frees with midfielder Leyla Ahern breaking the sequence.

However, Croía Corcoran eventually pointed frees in the 14th and 15th minutes to give Ennis a foothold in the match.

Johnstown goalkeeper Alanna Dwyer denied goals for the Ennis girls during the first half with the loss of centre back Emily Sue Daly also working against the Clare outfit.

In the second quarter there was just one further score for each team, Clea Whelan for Johnstown and Corcoran from another free for Ennis, to leave it 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.

Things livened up significantly on the restart with two quick points from Corcoran, including one from play.

Young St Lachtain’s forward Olivia Marnell came back with a point for Johnstown, but Corcoran, who roved all over the pitch, with her sixth point, closed the gap to 0-7 to 0-6 with 40 minutes gone and Ennis were now full of momentum.

Over the next ten minutes, both teams pulled shots wide and it was Olivia Marnell and Katie Conlon who then swapped scores.

Johnstown freetaker Taylor Corbett soon found her range again only for Máiréad Queally and Corcoran, from a free, to tie the teams on 0-9 each.

With the excitement now at fever pitch, Johnstown dug in at half-back and midfield.

Ciara Joyce, and team captain Katie Dunphy defended heroically while Ciara Townsend was brilliant in midfield, cementing her player of the match award. Whelan edged them ahead with a point. Then came the Blanchfield goal with three minutes playing time remaining.

It looked as if the Leinster champions had over-cooked the hand-passes inside the Ennis 13 metres’ line, but when Blanchfield took possession there was just enough room to get the shot in off her left. Apart from Townsend, Johnstown had super performers in Corbett, Ciara Joyce and captain Katie Dunphy in defence and the Ahern sisters, Leyla and Ellie.

It took a while for Corcoran to get Ennis going and her frees kept them in contention with Conlon, Queally and Máiréad McNamara others to catch the eye.

Teams and Scorers

Coláiste Mhuire Johnstown - Taylor Corbett 0-5 (4fs); Aoife Blanchfield 1-0; Clea Whelan, Olivia Marnell 0-2 each; Leyla Ahern 0-1

Coláiste Mhuire, Ennis - C Corcoran 0-7 (6fs); K Conlon, M Queally 0-1 each

Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown - Alanna Dwyer (Harps); Saoirle Newman (Emeralds), Ciara Joyce (Emeralds), Sophie Lennon (Harps); Anna Lanigan (Gortnahoe Glengoole), Katie Dunphy (Tullaroan, capt), Macy Downey (St Anne’s); Ciara Townsend (Harps), Leyla Ahern (Emeralds); Clea Whelan (St Anne’s), Taylor Corbett (Gortnahoe Glengoole), Aoife Blanchfield (Lisdowney); Niamh Gleeson (Gortnahoe Glengoole), Olivia Marnell (St Lachtain’s), Ellie Ahern (Emeralds).

Sub: Saoirse Gleeson (Gortnahoe Glengoole) for Niamh Gleeson (32 mins)

Coláiste Mhuire, Ennis - E Jones, M O’Malley, M McNamara, C McCarthy, B Hegarty, ES Daly, C Hegarty, A Kelly, H Earls, S McNamara, R Kerins, M Queally, K Conlon, E Frawley, C Corcoran. Sub: C Murray for S McNamara

Referee - Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers, Cork).