Gutsy Anne’s capture title
Junior ‘B’ camogie final win
ST. ANNE’S are the Junior ‘B’ camogie champions after a hardfought victory over gutsy Taghmon-Camross in Grantstown recently.
Both sides put on a defensive masterclass, with both rearguards clearly on top.
Captain Dee Cunningham led by example for the champions, with Marica Cullen rock-solid at full-back and Niamh Crosbie in inspired form ahead of her.
Further up the field, Fiona and Emily Rochford were influential for the champions with the Bennett twins, Rachel and Ann Marie, causing serious problems for a resilient Taghmon-Camross defence.
Their opponents got a great performance from netminder Róisín Breen, who pulled off some great saves to keep her side in the game. She was helped by defenders Tishy Doran, Aoife Dunne and Becky Doyle.
Further forward the Morrisseys, Colfers and Banvilles all tried their best to keep their side in the game and Kara Delaney was impressive, taking some lovely scores along the way.
Taghmon-Camross scored the opening point in the first minute from Delaney, but Emily Rochford levelled it for the Anne’s.
When Sarah Banville put over another point, her side seemed to be winning the early battles.
However, St. Anne’s equalised again, with Fiona Rochford scoring a fine point.
Niamh Breen put Taghmon-Camross 0-3 to 0-2 up but scores were hard to come by.
Late in the half Rachel Bennett sent over two more minors to leave just a point in it at half-time (0-4 to 0-3).
The sides battled it out again, with the first score of the second-half a lovely point from Ciara Banville after five minutes.
Yet, St. Anne’s slowly turned the tables. Fiona Rochford and Ann Marie Bennett pointed and the former found the net as they moved 1-6 to 0-4 clear.
Taghmon-Camross got back in the game when Kara Delaney replied with a goal on the 54th minute, and they almost added another soon after when St. Anne’s netminder Cliona Power pulled off a great save from Marie Kelly.
St. Anne’s survived and still had time for one more attack, ending when Fiona Rochford slotted over a point two minutes from time to complete the win. This was a heartbreaking loss for Taghmon-Camross after being beaten in the final last year.
However, proving that sport is sport and life is much, much more important than that, it was a still a special day for the club, as they welcomed their team-mate Emma Shannon back on the panel after being in a serious car crash earlier this year.
St. Anne’s: Cliona Power; Dee Cunningham (capt.), Marica Cullen, Tríona Gaul; Modge White, Niamh Crosbie, Grace Brennan; Leanne Moore, Fiona Rochford (1-3, 0-1 free); Emily Rochford (0-1), Ann Marie Bennett (0-1), Niamh Bennett; Clara Ryan, Rachel Bennett (0-2), Joanne Jordan. Subs. - Anna O’Driscoll for Jordan (25), Ciara Moore for Ryan (52), also Annie Breen, Louise Walsh, Nicola Cullen, Tríona Doyle, Fiona Bennett.
Taghmon-Camross: Róisín Breen; Tishy Doran, Cathy Colfer, Aoife Dunne (joint capt.); Ciara Banville (0-1), Becky Doyle, Aoife Morrissey; Elaine Morrissey, Julie Colfer; Claire O’Gorman, Annie Stafford, Ailish Sinnott; Kara Delaney (1-1), Sarah Banville (joint capt., 0-1), Niamh Breen (0-1). Subs. - Marie Kelly for A. Morrissey, also Emma Shannon, Katelyn Maher, Kasey McGrath, Mairéad Nolan, Jessie Doyle, Méabh Dolan, Rebecca Banville, Ruth Colfer, Niamh O’Gorman, Jennie Marshall, Ciara Dunne.