Donna delivers the key scores
Rapparees pipped at post
D’TOWN-C’CUDDY RAPPAREES
A WELL-WORN saying in G.A.A. parlance rang true in Monageer on Sunday as Davidstown-Courtnacuddy claimed the Under-16 camogie Roinn 2B championship title with a 3-3 to 2-4 victory over Rapparees in a highly-competitive twelve-a-side county final.
Any youngster learning their trade in the game has surely been indoctrinated into the belief that ‘goals win games’, and that certainly proved the case as Davidstown-Courtnacuddy edged the verdict by virtue of registering three green flags among their six scores as opposed to two from Rapparees’ similar tally.
In hindsight, the Bellefield girls will look back on the game with regret, as they compiled far more wides than the victors, some within scoring range too when the game was there for the taking.
Rapparees captain Eabha Farrell was a reliable presence throughout, and she opened the scoring from a free on two minutes before a similar effort from further out the field floated all the way to the net as they made early headway.
Lauren Delaney pegged a free back for Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, but play was largely encamped in their half as Rapparees generally dictated the tempo without making their presence felt on the scoreboard.
In fact, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy capitalised on that lack of killer instinct at the other end when they found the net on 26 minutes as Norah McGinty swiped home Donna Delahunty’s teasing delivery.
However, a point from a tricky angle by Anna Kavanagh, and another submission from the excellent Ciara O’Connor after she stole a puck-out, meant that Rapparees held sway by 1-3 to 1-1 at half-time.
Despite Ciara Boland extending that advantage with a point after the break, Delahunty grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck when she embarked on a solo run before firing to the net on 37 minutes to level matters at 2-1 to 1-4.
And the drama began to unfold down the home straight, as Rapparees stole in front for the final time after 46 minutes when Boland beat goalkeeper Taragh Cooper in a foot-race before pulling first-time to the net.
But they were destined not to score again as instead Davidstown-Courtnacuddy built up a head of steam to seal the deal.
A ‘45 from Delaney moved them within striking distance before Delahunty’s attempt from distance bounced off the sod and into to the net as the verdict swung back in Davidstown-Courtnacuddy’s favour with ten minutes left to play.
And Delaney put the cherry on the cake with a nice point six minutes from time as Davidstown-Courtnacuddy rather deservedly took the honours after a gruelling encounter amid mass celebration from their loyal band of followers.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Taragh Cooper; Nadine Power, Ellie Jevens; Hollie Kelly (capt.), Anna Jevens, Jade Power; Mairéad Crean, Donna Delahunty (2-0); Lauren Delaney (0-3, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Lucy Kehoe; Norah McGinty (1-0), Amy Murphy. Subs. - Aoibhinn Crean for Murphy, Beth Murphy for McGinty, also Lucy Egan, Eva O’Connor, Martha Dunne.
Rapparees: Ria Murphy; Méadbh Foley, Megan O’Connor; Ciara O’Connor (0-1), Eabha Farrell (capt., 1-1 frees); Erin Cahill, Cliona Dixon; Aine Murphy, Leah Kidd, Ciara Boland (1-1); Erin Peoples, Anna Kavanagh (0-1). Subs. - Jessie O’Brien for Dixon, Cliona Dixon for Peoples, Kasey Owens for O’Brien, also Aibhe Harrington, Rachel Harrington-Buckley.
Referee: Pédraig Byrne (Tara Rocks).