Emily Cooney and Grace Farrell the match-winners in all-Tipperary Munster camogie final

Scoil Mhuire Carrick-on-Suir 3-9 St Mary’s Nenagh 2-9

Scoring all but one of their side’s scores between them, Emily Cooney and Grace Farrell, from neighbouring clubs Mooncoin and Piltown, proved to be the match-winners for Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir in their Munster Colleges Senior B Camogie Final victory over St Mary’s, Nenagh at Mooncoin on Saturday.

Cooney hit 1-8, all bar the goal coming from placed balls, with Farrell hitting two goals, as the Greenhill girls just edged a hugely competitive final over a Nenagh side that battled to the final whistle.

Scoil Mhuire – featuring players from Mooncoin, Piltown, Clonea, Windgap and Portlaw but none from a Tipperary club - won the Junior B title two years ago and now, with much the same side, have added the senior crown and will bid for further success when they compete in the All-Ireland series.

While Cooney and Farrell were the top scorers, Scoil Mhuire had winners all over the field, with Cliodhna Malone a pillar of strength at the heart of the defence; joint captain Ava Sutton and Sarah Connolly proving a formidable partnership at midfield; and Ruby Norris and Moya Egan also prominent in attack.

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Following their long journey to the south Kilkenny venue, St Mary’s put in a huge effort and will see this as a game they might have won. The sides were level at half-time, and again nine minutes from the end when Farrell’s second goal, following a flowing move that involved Moya Egan and Ruby Norris in the build-up, proved to be the decisive score.

St Mary’s had outstanding players in Carly Walsh, Éimhear Troy, Grace Cleary, Kara O’Carroll and Isabelle Kingston.

After Amy O’Dwyer had given St Mary’s the lead in the first minute, Scoil Mhuire hit back to lead 1-2 to 0-1 within seven minutes. Emily Cooney from a free equalised before Grace Farrell hit her first goal, showing great reaction to shoot to the net when a Cooney free came back off the upright. A super point from Ruby Norris on the touchline stretched the lead to four points.

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Grace Cleary and Cooney from a free exchanged points before the Nenagh side regained the lead with two goals inside four minutes. The first came from Isabelle Kingston after a great run down the wing from Emma Costello, and then a lofted ball from Carly Walsh deceived the Carrick goalkeeper Rachel Tennyson to nestle in the net for a 2-2 to 1-3 lead.

Scoil Mhuire hit back with three pointed frees from the unerring Cooney, before Amy O’Dwyer set up captain Éimhear Troy for the Nenagh leveller at half-time, 2-3 to 1-6.

St Mary’s started the second half in fine form, hitting the first two points from Kingston and Cleary, before Cooney pointed a Scoil Mhuire free. The sides exchanged two further points, a Nenagh free from Cleary that was brought closer to goal for dissent, and Cooney responding for the Carrick side after she had been fouled herself.

Apart from her free-taking, Cooney was also a huge threat in open play and she demonstrated that when she intercepted a loose St Mary’s pass and burst through to score her side’s second goal in the 46th minute for a 2-8 to 2-6 lead.

Back came St Mary’s to level again with two superbly pointed frees from Cleary, but Scoil Mhuire replied with their third and decisive goal, brilliant play from Egan and Norris setting up Farrell for a superb team score. That goal was still the difference following pointed frees from Cleary and Cooney.

The Nenagh girls laid siege to the Carrick goal in the closing minutes but the defence held firm, with Katelyn Moore making vital interceptions, and goalkeeper Rachel Tennyson composed under pressure.

Scoil Mhuire: Rachel Tennyson (Piltown), Emma O’Shea (Piltown), Caitlyn Moore (Piltown), Eilish Norris (Clonea), Amy Lynch (Clonea), Cliodhna Malone (Piltown), Aine Hogan (Mooncoin), Sarah Connolly (Clonea), Ava Sutton (Mooncoin), Ruby Norris (Piltown) 0-1; Emily Cooney (Mooncoin) 1-8, 8f; Blaithnaid Keane (Mooncoin), Grace Farrell (Piltown) 2-0; Moya Egan (Windgap), Riona Shankey (Portlaw). 

Subs: Maggie Curran (Mooncoin) for Emma O’Shea (45), Laura Doyle (Windgap) for Aine Hogan (56), Saoirse Barry (Piltown) for Blaithnaid Keane (61).

St. Mary’s: Ava Conneally (Burgess/Duharra), Robyn O’Dwyer (Silvermines), Kellie O’Dwyer (Silvermines), Ella O’Brien (Éire Óg Nenagh), Carly Walsh (Éire Óg Nenagh) 1-0; Jane Ryan (Silvermines), Katie Hayes (Moneygall), Ailbhe Treacy (Silvermines), Clodagh Spain (Éire Óg Nenagh), Éimhear Troy (Toomevara) 0-1; Grace Cleary (Éire Óg Nenagh) 0-6, 4f; Emma Costello (Moneygall), Amy O’Dwyer (Burgess/Duharra) 0-1; Isabelle Kingston (Kiladangan) 1-1; Kara O’Carroll (Burgess/Duharra). 

Subs: Malwina Dziewiatka (Burgess/Duharra) for Clodagh Spain (HT), Sailí O’Connor (Éire Óg Nenagh) for Amy O’Dwyer (46), Rhiannon Jones (Éire Óg Nenagh) for Ella O’Brien (46).

Referee: Denis Motherway (Cork).