Conahy overcome brave St Martins to claim Under 21 B crown

U21B Camogie County Final

Conahy 3:7 Vs St Martins 2:4

By Conahy Camogie PRO

Conahy and St Martins played an exhilarating camogie final in a cold but bright Sunday morning in Castlecomer GAA Grounds. Local rivals and close friends this had the hallmarks of a pulsating final. Both teams lined out with very young teams full of talent.

Conahy got off to a good start with two points from frees by corner forward Danielle Morrissey. But St Martins hit the next two points through danger woman full forward Edel Coonan. A well taken point off her a left and a free in front of the goal. Then Conahy scored their first goal of the game, a long ball hit in by the hard-working Aishling Maher went over the head of Danielle Morrissey and as it bounced she struck it first time to the back of Niamh Butlers net. The game had sprung to life and moments later Edel Coonan raced through the Conahy defence and hand passed to the back of the Conahy net. Midfielder Katie Brennan then got on the scoresheet through some intelligent play by Danielle Morrissey. Conahy had won a free on the side-line and instead of going for her score, Danielle put a pin point ball into Katie Brennans hand on the far side of the field who slotted it over the bar from thirty meters out. In the dying moments of the first half County star Katie Nolan broke forward from centre back and struck a long ball towards Niamh Delaney’s goal and it deceived the goalie and went straight to the net. On the restart referee Liz Dempsey blew the whistle for the end to a pulsating thirty minutes of Camogie. Half time score St Martins 2:2 Vs 1:03 Conahy.

Both teams would go into half time happy with their performance and the goal on the stroke of half time was a huge boost to the St Martins woman. Conahy made two changes at half time with the introduction of the Randle twins, Carrie and Megan. Conahy started the second half the same way they started the first with two points to bring the game back level. Martins struck back into the lead with well worked scored from midfielder Laura Tynan.  But Conahy dug deep and after some good defensive work by the impressive half back line of Siobhan Mullan, Roisin Phelan and Emma Cahill Conahy struck with a goal through the lively Hannah Murphy. Points from Zara Gunner and Danielle Morrissey gave Conahy a four-point lead with twelve minutes remaining. The Conahy defence came under serious pressure from the hard-working Kelley Comerford and danger woman Edel Coonan but lead by the Phelan sisters the Conahy defence only conceded one score from a free by Katie Nolan.

The fitness of the Conahy woman began to prove a significance difference and a goal in the last few minutes by number fourteen Zara Gunner put the game beyond the St. Martins woman. This was a very competitive game between two hard working and committed sides and the standard of camogie by both teams was a joy to watch in December. Liz Dempsey made the presentation to joint captains Sarah Molly and Niamh Delaney.

This win capped a great year for the Conahy woman who claimed an historic double winning a Minor A and U21B title.

Scorers:

Conahy: Danielle Morrissey 1:05 (0:3 frees), Zara Gunner (1:01), Hannah Murphy (1:0), Katie Brennan (0:01)

St Martins: Edel Coonan 1:02 (0:1 Frees), Katie Nolan 1:1 (0:1 Frees), Laura Tynan 0:1.

Teams
Conahy
1. Niamh Delaney
2. Amy Morrissey
3. Evelyn Phelan
4. Sarah Molloy ©
5. Siobhan Mullan
6. Roisin Phelan
7. Emma Cahill
8. Katie Brennan
9. Meabh Delany
10. Hannah Murphy
11. Aishling Maher
12. Rebecca Brennan
13. Danielle Morrissey
14. Zara Gunner
15. Caoimhe Bergin
16. Lorriane Kennedy (Inj)
17. Megan Randle
18. Carrie Randle

St Martins
1. Niamh Butler
2. Annie Dowling
3. Eilis Regan
4. Amy Nolan
5. Trish Buggy
6. Katie Nolan
7. AIne Murphy
8. Grace Deevy
9. Kelley Comerford
10. Claire Moore
11. Laura Tynan
12. Roisin Kealy
13. Aoilean Hennessy
14. Edel Coonan
15. Grainne Kenny
16. Orlaith Cahill
17. Emma Kenny
18. Mary Buggy
19. Kirsten McCormack
20. Katie O Neill