Kilrush 2-5 Bunclody 2-2

There was only a goal to separate Kilrush and Bunclody in this year’s Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Roinn A camogie final, as both teams battled it out over the hour in a very tough and skilful top grade final. This was a close one to call beforehand as Bunclody held the Roinn A title as reigning champions, meanwhile Kilrush were optimistic after their Roinn C camogie win last year and their football final win before Christmas.

Conditions made this match a slow burner as the opening ten minutes were marred by simply awful conditions that made long striking and quick ball impossible. This benefited both defences who made chances hard to come by. The opening score came on ten minutes from Kilrush forward Sadhbh Buttle. She reacted first to sweep in from close range when the ball broke following a good period of pressure on the Bunclody goal. Rachel Kavanagh nearly doubled this newfound lead but Bunclody netminder Emma Murphy made a good save to clear her line.

As the half progressed, the free taking ability of Emma Tomkins came in handy when she not only tapped over a point but saw one of her long range efforts sneak into the Bunclody net. Bunclody fought back bravely before the break to recover a goal through Caoimhe Jordan and they nearly had a second instantly after. Somehow Kate Butler and the Kilrush defence kept the ball off the line following a titanic struggle and this left the scores at 2-1 to a 1-0.

The second half began at a much brighter pace as the weather improved and the girls slipped into top gear. Once again, both defences began on top and it was eleven minutes before the half got a score. This time it was an Aoibhe MacSweeney free and a great Rachel Kavanagh score that added to the Kilrush total. Once again, Bunclody got back into the game and Tracey Furlong did well not only to score under pressure herself but set up her teammate Rachel Kehoe for a goal to bring the game back to two points.

Substitute Eimear Byrne proved her worth to the Kilrush cause when she came on and scored an important point in the closing stages of the game and Rachel Kavanagh struck once again to put some daylight between the teams. Fittingly, it was superb defender Karen Tomkins who stole the ball off an onrushing attacker to clear her lines as Kilrush closed out the game. This sealed a nice Rackard League double on the evening following the Kilrush boys’ success in the Roinn B hurling final.

Kilrush: Kate Butler, Edana Mimnagh, Karen Tomkins, Niamh O’Rourke, Abbie Walsh, Emma Tomkins, Aoibhe MacSweeney, Zoe Tobin-Cosgrave, Amy Tobin-Cosgrave, Sadhbh Buttle, Rachel Kavanagh, Millie Mulroe, Aine Doran, Ellie Hadden, Amy Corrigan, Eimear Byrne, Amy Kehoe, Aoife Kinsella, Mary-Clare McCrea

Bunclody: Emma Murphy, Aoife Farrell, Ola Bialko, Riona Mahon, Naomi Kavanagh, Jacqui Kehoe, Tracey Furlong, Rachel Kehoe, Caoimhe Jordan, Laoise Kearney, Pauline Farynik, Katie Moynihan, Roise Dunbar, Sorcha O’Rourke, Aoife Murphy, Aoibhe Redmond, Corie Fitzgerald, Leah Morris, Catherine O’Connor, Rebecca O’Connor, Doireann Ni Bhroin, Mollie Kinsella, Katie Butler, Amelia Murphy, Ella Keane, Rachel Black, Rebecca O’Neill, Karen Armstrong, Ella McDonald, Mairéad Mahon, Sadhbh Murphy