Loreto fend off Ursaline comeback to win junior camogie title
Loreto Kilkenny 3-11 Ursaline Thurles 1-12
Loreto wrapped up and a junior and senior All-Ireland camogie double when running out five point winners over Ursaline Thurles in the junior decider in Jenkinstown this afternoon.
It's the seventh time that the Kilkenny school have secured the unique double success but they had to survive a second half onslaught from their opponents.
Two first half Emma Hogan goals initially gave the Loreto the edge and with Amy Walsh and Jenna Trait also in flying form, the side in black and amber took a 2-7 to 0-3 lead into the interval
Two Mel Flannery frees and a sole Emma Bevans score from play was all that Ursaline could muster in that opening period but the second half proved to be a much different affair.
With the wind at their backs, the Tipperary side piled on the pressure and with 1-5 without reply inside the third quarter, they certainly had Loreto rattled for a period.
Jessie Shanahan got the goal in between four placed ball efforts from Mel Flannery and a score from distance by Rosie O'Brien.
Loreto then steadied the ship with a Maura Barton score and although the James Stephens player pointed again either side of a Emma Hogan effort, there was still only the minimum between the sides after Flannery, Sophie Moynihan and Orla Pamplin scored in succession for Ursaline.
Crucially though, the Thurles school never got level and a Emma Hogan free a minute from time settled the Loreto nerves before super-sub Maura Barton brought her second half tally to 1-2 when finding the net with the last puck of the game to see her side home on a 3-11 to 1-12 final scoreline.
Teams and Scorers
Loreto Kilkenny: Emma Hogan (2-3, 2fs); Maura Barton (1-2); Amy Walsh, Jenna Trait (0-2 each); Rebecca Smith, Meabh Kenny (0-1 each)
Ursaline Thurles: Mel Flannery (0-8, 6fs and 2 '45's); Jessie Shanahan (1-0); Emma Bevans, Rosie O'Brien, Sophie Moynihan, Orla Pamplin (0-1 each)
Loreto Kilkenny: Leah Croke (Bennettsbridge); Ruby Doyle (St Martin's), Sinead Cash (Tullaroan), Eimear Cottrell (Rower Inistioge); Katie Mulchay (Bennettsbridge), Sian Bolger (St Martin's), Saidbh Farrell (Young Irelands); Amy Walsh (Dicksboro), Julia Healy (St Martin's); Ruby Mullins (St Martin's), Emma Hogan (Dicksboro), Rebecca Smith (Barrown Rangers); Holly Drennan (Young Irelands), Meabh Kenny (Rower Inistioge), Jenna Trait (Dicksboro).
Subs: Maura Barton (James Stephens) for Kenny, 40 mins; Ali McDonald (James Stephens) for Kenny, 45 mins; Roisin Gibbons (Emeralds) for Smith, 55 mins.
Ursaline Thurles: Lara Shanahan; Lorna Ryan, Laura Millea (Tullaroan, Kilkenny), Anna Hackett; Claire Fitzgerald, Rosie O'Brien, Rosanna King; Kate Duffy, Shona Murray; Meadbh Lonergan, Emma Bevans, Jessie Shanahan; Mel Flannery, Orla Pamplin, Molly Jones.
Subs: Emer Purcell for Hackett, 29 mins; Sophie Moynihan for Lonergan, 35 mins.
Referee: Bernard Heaney (Meath)