Leah leaves a lasting impact
Rapps rule in Junior ‘B’ final
CAPTAIN LEAH Walsh left an indelible impression as she guided Rapparees to the Junior ‘B’ camogie championship title when they scored 1-5 without reply to consign hearbreak on Taghmon-Camross in Saturday’s this end-to-end county final in St. Patrick’s Park.
Spectators were treated to a shoot-out between the respective number 11s, with Walsh central to everything for the Bellefield side.
And Sarah Banville was equally as effective for Taghmon-Camross, as she scored three brilliant points from play and was generally a thorn in the side every time she had a chance to run at the defence.
Rapparees had to do it the hard way when a 34th-minute goal from Clare O’Gorman developed what looked like a significant 1-6 to 0-3 lead for Taghmon-Camross four minutes into the new half.
But Walsh really stepped up the mark when it was required, either setting up or registering all bar two of her side’s scores before the end as they secured the honours in dramatic circumstances.
The ball seemed to gravitate towards Walsh in the first-half too, as she opened the scoring from a fourth-minute free, before assisting Nicola Davitt a minute later, while Walsh’s handpass teed up Davitt to double her tally by the tenth minute.
Niamh Breen pegged back a free on 19 minutes, while a nice point from mid-range by Banville moved Taghmon-Camross within 0-3 to 0-2 two minutes later.
And despite Walsh swooping in on a break for Rapparees’ fourth point on 24 minutes, Taghmon-Camross finished the half strongly, with Banville registering from play either side of Breen (free) and Clare O’Gorman to open up a useful 0-6 to 0-3 advantage at the break.
That O’Gorman goal arrived not long after the re-start when she floated to the far top corner of the net. But Rapparees’ response was admirable, as Trish Doyle’s powerfully-struck shot squirmed to the net via the inside of the post to restore parity with seven minutes left (1-6 apiece).
Walsh then emerged in space to fire over the lead point, and added an outlandish effort for good measure as the trophy made the short journey across town.
Rapparees: Sara Murphy; Kathleen Redmond, Gina Murphy, Taylor Kinnaird; Siobhán Fanning, Jess Flood, Anna Flood; Aoife McCrea, Leanne Hore; Tina Russell, Leah Walsh (capt., 0-6, 3 frees), Nicola Davitt (0-3); Orla Doyle, Trish Doyle (1-0), Bonnie Kinnaird. Subs. - Kate Cullen for T. Kinnaird (35), Louise Hore (0-1) for O. Doyle (37), Angela Russell for T. Russell (50), Aoibhe Donohoe for B. Kinnaird (52), also Sarah Doyle, Niamh Nolan, Lauren Whitney, Rachel Breen, Melissa Kenny, Elaine Redmond.
Taghmon-Camross: Róisín Breen; Tishy Doran, Cathy Colfer, Gemma Doran (joint capt.); Jessie Doyle, Aoife Dunne (joint capt.), Becky Doyle; Julie Colfer, Ciara Banville; Ailish Sinnott, Sarah Banville (0-3), Annie Stafford; Clare O’Gorman (1-1), Niamh Breen (0-3, 2 frees), Kara Delaney. Subs. Clodagh Kent for O’Gorman (48), also Marie Kelly, Emma Shannon, Clodagh Dunne, Kasey McGrath, Rebecca Banville, Niamh O’Connor, Ruth Colfer, Niamh Kelly, Caitlin Maher.
Referee: Aiden O’Brien (Cloughbawn).