Kilrush 2-9 Ballindaggin 2-1

After beating Ballindaggin by a much bigger scoreline earlier in the competition, Kilrush had to avoid a massive upset when they faced a much improved side in this year’s Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Roinn A camogie final.

Key to the Kilrush success was the unerring accuracy of Shauna MacSweeney’s frees. Over the course of the hour she would put eight points over the bar, including one from play. Ballindaggin were dependent on tight marking and surprise goals. The first of these came on nine minutes when an excellent long pass over the top of the defence found Aoife Waters and she expertly finished from a narrow angle. A Libby Cullen free kept the sides level at half time.

Two quick goals in the opening two minutes of the second half gave Kilrush a massive boost. Straight from the throw in, Tilda Murphy grabbed the ball, found some space and clinically finished into the back of the net. Orla O’Rourke then chanced a long range shot that also powered its way past the Ballindaggin goalkeeper. Two Kilrush frees opened up a cavernous eight point lead but Ballindaggin did not give up the ghost.

Libby Cullen breathed some life back into the game with a cracking free from out the field. She somehow managed to place the ball perfectly into the far top corner of the Kilrush goal despite having to aim through a forest of hurleys.

True to the form of champions, Kilrush responded quickly with a Orla O’Rourke point and this, followed by two further frees, ensured that Kilrush would safely see out the remaining minutes of the final. Considering the result earlier in the season, there wasn’t a whole lot more that Ballindaggin could do. They went down swinging and were only beaten by the very best.

Kilrush: Sarah Kirwin, Leanne Walsh, Laura Kehoe, Grace Tobin, Katie Moorhead, Anna Tompkins, Eabha Guinan, Amber Walsh, Orla O’Rourke, Rachel Dee, Tilda Murphy, Ciara Kenny, Marita McCrea, Shauna McSweeney, Ellie-May Mahon, Erin Tobin, Lara Murphy, Laura Bailey, Laura Mulroe, Faye Mulroe, Maya Kavanagh, Aoibheann Butle, Kate Doran, Makayla Tobin Cosgrove, Orla MacSweeney, Jenna Scully, Roisin O’Rourke, Aoife Farrell, Maebh Mimnagh, Ashling O’Toole, Kym Dixon

Ballindaggin: Ellie Watchorn, Hannah Lawless, Aimee Neville, Charley Fitzhenry, Aoife O’Gorman, Eva Nolan, Maeve Lynch, Libby Cullen, Sarah Phylan, Heather Bolton Lee, Libby Nolan, Johanna Chapman, Kaylee Doyle, Aoife Waters, Jodi Pender, Naoise Roche, Aela Bowe, Tamsin Kavanagh, Ciana Webster, Allanah Kehoe, Róisín Dwyer, Kate Dwyer, Maura Doyle, Maeve Tobin, Nicole Cullen, Aisling O’Brien, Saoirse Delaney, Julieanne Purcell, Keelin Hipwell