All-IRELAND CLUB CHAMPIONS as Christmas comes early for Camross Camogie

Camross Camogie's Christmas has come early after they were crowned AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie in Croke Park on Sunday.

Camross had trailed by a point at half-time before they caught fire in the second period to put Ballincollig to the sword and win by four points to seen a Laois camogie team claim silverware in Croke Park for the second time in 2025.

Camross got off to a dream start as Aimee Collier split the posts inside the opening minute for Arien Delaney's side. The Cork team replied soon after, as Ailish Scanlon pointed a free. Erin Walsh scored a splendid point that crept inside the post. Camross keeper Niamh Dollard then made a great save to deny Tara Goulding. 

Scanlon levelled the game with her second free before Ballincollig raised the game's first green flag. Goulding, having been denied by Dollard earlier, played Leah Hannigan in on goals and she buried the ball into the bottom corner. Camross' response was excellent as they got the next two points from Grainne Delaney and a monstrous free from Sarah Anne Fitzgerald on her own 65'.

Ballincollig would go four points ahead with 19 minutes played as they scored three points on the trot. Scanlon got a third free while Linda Dorgan and Sorcha McCarthy scored from play. Fitzgerald got Camross back within three points when she pointed her second free. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

McCarthy's second point in as many minutes pushed them four in front again, but Camross ended the half with four points to Ballincollig's one. That saw Ballincollig lead by a single point at the break. Kirsten Keenan, two frees from Fitzgerald and a point from Collier that required the use of Hawk-Eye, were the scorers of the Camross' points while Scanlon's fourth free saw Ballincollig go into the dressing rooms ahead, 1-7 to 0-9.

Camross came out after the break and almost got off to a perfect start, but Ana Hartnett denied Andrea Scully with a great save. Scanlon pushed Ballincollig two in front with another free before Hartnett once again made a great point-blank save from Erin Walsh. Camross were determined to get a goal, and their persistence paid off as Fitzgerald pulled on the ball after a great block from Kirsten Keenan. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Aimee Collier pointed shortly after, as Camross now led by two points with 15 minutes to play. Scanlon (free) and Fitzgerald traded scores, her first point from play, as Camross were ahead by two points with 13 minutes to go. Andrea Scully pushed Camross three up with five minutes to play, and the fairytale looked to be coming through. Fitzgerald, having gone off the field for a blood sub, came back on to slot a free between the posts and Camross were almost there.

Scanlon replied with a free before Fitzgerald did likewise to maintain that four-point advantage still as the game ticked into three minutes of added time. Camross kept Ballincollig at bay to see them crowned AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie champions.

SEE ALSO: Fantastic photos from Croke PARK

FINAL SCORE

Camross 1-14

Ballincollig 1-10

SCORERS– Camross: Sarah Anne Fitzgerald 1-7(0-6 frees), Aimee Collier 0-3, Grainne Delaney, Kirsten Keenan, Andrea Scully and Erin Walsh 0-1 each. Ballincollig: Ailish Scanlon 0-7 (frees), Leah Hannigan 1-0, Sorcha McCarthy 0-2, Linda Dorgan 0-1.

CAMROSS: Niamh Dollard; Mairead Burke, Aisling Burke, Fiona Scully; Aoife Collier, Donnagh Mortimer, Ella Cuddy; Luisne Delaney, Aimee Collier; Leah Daly, Grainne Delaney, Andrea Scully; Erin Walsh, Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald, Kirsten Keenan. Subs: Tara Lowry for Fitzgerald (51 mins- 55 mins blood), Sile Burke for Daly (56 mins), Ava Guilfoyle for M Burke (63 mins), Tara Lowry for Walsh (64 mins)

MORE BELOW PHOTO

BALLINCOLLIG: Ana Hartnett; Aoife Cotter, Miriam Healy, Cara O'Sullivan; Orla Keating, Leah Weste, Ella Hickey; Ailish Scanlon, Susanna Healy; Keeley Goulding, Linda Dorgan, Olivia O'Leary; Sorcha McCarthy, Tara Goulding, Leah Hannigan. Subs: Blaithin Cunniffe for O'Leary (42 mins), Niamh O'Brien for S Healy (49 mins), Izzy Fleury for McCarthy (60 mins)

Referee: Joe Mullins (Clare)