Meet the 11 deserving winners of the County Wicklow People of the Year Awards 2018
KNOCKANANNA 3-12 DONARD-THE GLEN 2-8
KNOCKANANNA came into this final as back to back Senior Camogie champions for the past two years.
They were seeking the magical three in a row. Their opponents Donard/Glen were champions seeking three in a row when Knockananna knocked them from their pedestal in 2016.
The scene was set for a battle royal when piper Martin Hickey led the teams round the field in the pre-match parade at Baltinglass on Sunday last, September 15th.
Donard had won the earlier championship engagement in Knockananna but that counted for nothing now. This was ‘winner takes all’ territory.
The strong breeze blowing downfield toward the road end goal on the fine hurling sod that was Baltinglass on Sunday last favoured Donard in the first half. They laid the gauntlet to the champions early on.
Ciara Byrne got Knockananna on the scoreboard in the first minute.
In the third minute Donard responded with the first goal of the game.
A long ball right in the Knockananna goalmouth broke down favourably to Kelly O’Neill, who left handed to the net from close in.
Almost from the puck out, the champions came back and Erin Moules shot across goal and inside the post for the first Knockananna goal. Back came the Donard/Glen.
They were playing well at this stage in the middle third of the field with Lizzie Brophy, Katie Anne O’Neill, Sive Byrne, Claire Whelan and Nora O’Neill very strong on the ball and getting in some long shots into the Knockananna goalmouth.
In the seventh minute one of these shots was saved by goalie Macayla Murphy but her clearance was blocked by the incoming Claire Whelan and the broken ball was kicked to the net by Chloe Dwyer. 2-0 to 1-2 at this stage and Knockananna had a battle on their hands. And battle they did.
They were now getting their passing and possession game going. Another important factor from here on was the display of Laura Hogan at centre half back.
Laura began to shore up the middle of the champions defence. Her reading of situations and positioning led to Knockananna now taking the game to Donard/Glen. Sinead Byrne got a lucky break when she lined up to a scorable free in the eleventh minute. She shot for a point but the ball dropped short close to crossbar and post meeting point.
Goalie Lyndsey Walsh blocked down but the green flag went up as the ball was adjudged to have crossed the goal line.
Knockananna were now 2-1 to 2-0 ahead. Four goals evenly divided in the first eleven minutes. Sarah Byrne added a point from play.
Donard-The Glen responded with a pointed Claire Whelan free. Sinead Byrne and Claire Whelan exchanged pointed frees.
Another Kelly O’Neill point from play left the score at 2-4 to 2-3 in favour of Donard-The Glen after 20 minutes.
However, Donard-The Glen faded in the final ten minutes of the half and Knockananna established a five-point lead.
Ciara Byrne goaled and Derbhla Byrne, Sinead Byrne and Erin Byrne had points from play.
However Kelly O’Neill from play and Claire Whelan from a ’45 left the half time score at 3-6 to 2-6 in favour of the champions.
Knockananna were now turning over to play with the advantage of the strong breeze but it was the Donard-The Glen side which got off to the better start.
Claire Whelan pointed a free after four minutes and Kelly O’Neill, although gaining possession while on her knees, reduced the lead to the minimum a minute later.
However, this was as good as it got for the challengers. They were not to score again.
Laura Hogan went forward and scored Knockananna’s first point of the half.
Hogan continued to give a master display at centre back and her colleagues appeared to take the lead from her.
Sinead Byrne, Amee Maher, Erin Moules, Claire Byrne and Amee Maher again brought their final tally to 3-12 as against 2-8 for Donard/Glen.
The Knockananna team used their superior speed and fitness around the field plus their understanding of each other’s play to run out comfortable and deserving winners.
Donard-The Glen continued to battle – Sive Byrne had one spectacular catch from a puck out – but they were unable to stay with their opponents when the pressure came on.
After the game Breda Byrne, Cathaoirleach of the Wicklow Camogie Board, presented the trophy to the captain of the three in a row champions, Sinead Byrne.
Scorers – Knockananna: Ciara Byrne 1-2, Erin Moules 1-2, Sinead Byrne 1-3, Sarah Byrne 0-1, Derbhla Byrne 0-1, Laura Hogan 0-1, Amee Maher 0-2.
Donard-The Glen: Kelly O’Neill 1-4, Chloe Dwyer 1-0, Claire Whelan 0-4.
Knockananna: Mycala Murphy; Emily Hadden, Aine O’Keeffe, Sarah Tallan; Shannagh Godden, Laura Hogan, Orla Keeley; Claire Byrne, Jessica Byrne; Ciara Byrne, Aimee Maher, Sarah Byrne; Erin Moules, Derbhla Byrne, Sinead Byrne. Subs: Niamh Mullin, Niamh Byrne.
Donard-The Glen: Lyndsey Walsh; Katie Daynes, Jenny Tyrell, Amy Barrett; Carmel Whelan, Lizzie Brophy, Aoife Grace; Katie Ann O’Neill, Sive Byrne; Claire Whelan, Nora O’Neill, Chloe Dwyer; Samantha Mills, Kelly O’Neill, Amy Switzer. Subs: Holly Cullen Dunne, Zena Carey, Lilly May Cullen Dunne.
Referee: Catherine Boggan (Wexford).