Rathnure 3-2 Ballyhack 1-2

Rathnure and Ballyhack contested a high standard final in this years Allianz Cumann na mBunsol Rackard League MiniSevens Camogie final. The high fielding and long striking was a joy to behold as these two spirited teams battled it out for glory on a fine Tuesday evening in St. Patrick’s Park.

Mary Kate Doyle struck over a free to get the games first score. Following an intense battle, the Ballyhack girls got the games first goal when Aoife Connolly caught and belted the ball into the Rathnure net in the fifth minute. Mary Kate scored her second point to put the one between the teams but Ballyhack continued to get the big scores when Ella Dalton squeezed a second goal in for her team. Ella also got a point just before halftime to bring the scores to 2-1 to 0-2.

Rathnure emerged for the second half visibly more confident in themselves and determined to improve. Almost immediately they got a goal from Shauna O’Leary to put themselves right back in the game. Minutes later they were ahead when it looked like Fiona Guiney got the final touch to the back of the net after the Rathnure forwards once again worked together to get a vital score.

With the large share of the half still remaining the game became an immense tussle between two very determined and well drilled sides. Ballyhack refused to give in and their tenacious defending kept Rathnure at bay for long periods. Rebecca Bawden and Aoife Connolly in particular cleared a lot of ball in the face of intense Rathnure pressure. Similarly, Rathnure were refusing to budge at the back and led by goalkeeper Sophie Roche they made sure the sliotar continued to bombard the Ballyhack end of the field. Eventually, Fiona Guiney once again got an important goal when she scored from close range in the seventh minute to give Rathnure a more comfortable four point lead which they held until the end.

Rathnure: Sophie Roche, Amy Cahill, Kellie Byrne, Shauna O’Leary, Eva Mooney, Mary Kate Doyle, Fiona Guiney, Amy Foley O’Connell, Ella Lyng, Roisin O’Connor, Aoife Wickham

Ballyhack: Roisín Lyons, Rebecca Bawden, Sinéad Murphy, Brid Walsh, Aoife Connolly, Ciara Walsh, Ella Dalton, Aoife Nolan, Anita Byrne, Erinn Shannon, Sophie Dundon, Ciaradh Connolly, Ava White Keating, Orla O’Connor