Two in-a-row as triumphant ‘Town toast another title

Marble City Travel Senior County final

Thomastown 3-10

Dicksboro 2-5

A fast scoring start helped Thomastown see off Dicksboro’s challenge and retain their Senior Camogie County crown

The champions won the toss on Sunday and decided to play with the strong Callan breeze at their back. The tactic quickly worked, as Eimear Donnelly got them on the scoreboard in the third minute when she fired over a point from 30metre out on the right wing

It got better for the ‘Town as they quickly jumped even further in front. Jenny Reddy collected the sliotar in the middle of the field a minute later and making one of her trade mark runs, tore at the opposing defence

She sprinted clear, pausing only to hand pass the ball to the net

Dicksboro were stunned, but were quick to rally. From the puckout, the Dicksboro were awarded a free and Orla Hanrick shot it between the posts to get her side off the mark with five minutes played

The girls in blue continued to force the pace and pushed further ahead with points from Catherine Walsh and Niamh Donnelly

The ‘Boro remained resolute and picked off scores whenever they could. A throw-in on the Thomastown 20 metre line broke kindly for Hanrick, who snapped up a fine point to keep the city side going

However, the next 15 minutes belonged to Thomastown. They shot over three points via Anna Farrell from a 30-metre free and the Donnelly sisters.

Approaching half time both sides exchanged points, Orla Hanrick from a free and Niamh Donnelly to leave the score reading 1-7 to 0-3 in favour of the champs

After the restart, the southern side piled on the pressure. The ‘Boro had to work hard to keep them at bay, but their resistance cracked when ‘Town found the net through Sinead Brennan after four minutes

Shelly Farrell kept them going in attack, picking off the resulting puck out and racing goalward to split the posts from 25 metres

Two minutes later, the ‘Boro were awarded a free and Orla Hanrick shot over the bar from 50 metres

Then came what appeared to be the killer blow for the city side. Jenny Reddy went for goal when she shot low and hard. The sliotar was beaten out, only for Eimear Farrell to latch on to the rebound and return it to the back of the net

With the game at the three-quarter stage, Thomastown were comfortably ahead (3-8 to 0-4) but their never say die attitude saw the ‘Boro fight back. Orla Hanrick grabbed a point before Danielle Kenny pounced on a breaking ball to plunder a goal

I t was a good rally, but points from Catherine Walsh and Niamh Donnelly (free) steadied the ship

Aisling Morrissey did bag a late goal for the ‘Boro, but there was no catching the winners by then

Scores – Thomastown – Niamh Donnelly (0-4, 1 free), Jenny Reddy, Sinead Brennan, Eimear Farrell (1-0 each), Eimear Donnelly, Catherine Walsh (0-2 each), Anna Farrell (0-1, free), Shelly Farrell (0-1)

Dicksboro – Orla Hanrick (0-5, 4 frees), Danielle Kenny, Aisling Morrissey (1-0 each)

Thomastown – Dearbhail O Keeffe, Eimear Corr, Ailish Butler, Aoife Holden, Ciara Farrell, Meighan Farrell, Sarah Walsh, Jenny Reddy (Capt), Anna Farrell, Eimear Donnelly, Sinead Brennan, Shelly Farrell, Niamh Donnelly, Catherine Walsh, Eimear Farrell

Subs – Sally Teehan for Ciara Farrell, Aine Lannon for Eimear Donnelly, Laura Quigley, Nicole Corrway, Lisa Donnelly, Lisa Carey, Joanne Fitzpatrick, Laura Tennyson, Ailish O Shea, Chloe Corrway, Maeve O’Connor, Blaithnaid Galway, Niamh Quigley, Caoimhe Kelly, Ciara Morrissey, Tara O’Neill, Niamh O’Shea

Dicksboro – Leah Dunne, Jane Cass, Ciara O’Shea, Aine Maher, Kate Dempsey, Tara Clifford, Sonia Buggy, Aobha O’Gorman, Niamh O’Donoghue, Ciara Phelan, Caoimhe Dowling, Orla Hanrick, Aisling Morrissey, Jenny Clifford, Lisa Hanrick

Subs – Danielle Kenny for Aine Maher, Emma Bawle, Grainne Hennessy, Orlaith Moore, Eadaoin Doheny, Bronagh Doheny, Catriona Gough, Aine Fennelly, Caoillin Horgan, Aine Trait, Elaine Cullinane, Issey Carroll, Aoife Prendergast, Ciara McPhillips, Annie O’Connor, Leah Raggett