AFTER TREMENDOUS work at under age level, and a year of long and hard preparation, The Harps camogie team won the county title, by defeating St Brigids in a high scoring and well contested county final at Raheen on Saturday.
JUNIOR CAMOGIE FINAL
The Harps 1-10
St Bridgets 2-4
This long awaited final got off to a flying start when just after one minute Ashling Phelan pointed for the Harps from play. The Harps playing with a strong breeze added two more points from Loui
se Mahony, before Eimear Delaney opened the scoring for St Bridget's with a point from a free.
When the ball was pucked out it was collected by Erinne Dunne who scored a fine point. At this point The Harps made a change- they introduced Aoife Donohue for Maeve Brophy. Ashling Phelan added a point from play, before Louise Mahony added a point from a free to bring the first half to an end and leave the Harps leading on a half time score of 0-6 to 0-1.
The second half had only started when Eimear Delaney pointed from a free for St Bridget's, it was replied to with a point from Erinne Dunne of the Larps. Louise Mahony then won a free and sent the ball over the bar.
Eimear Delaney added another point from a free, before Margaret Kelly crashed the ball to the net to score the first of the goals for St Bridget's. Louise Mahony pointed again from a free for the Harps as did Eimear Delaney for St Bridgets. Then St Bridget's won a '45' which Eimear Delaney took and it landed in the back of the Harps net to leave the sides level for the first time.
Both teams then upped their game and play went from one end to the other, both sides trying for a score. Eimear Delaney got a free which she pointed to put St Bridget's in front.
Joanne Prior added a point from play to bring the sides level again and it was looking as if this game was going to extra time as the winners were to play in the club Championship on the next day.
But the Harps had other ideas and were determined they were going to come away with a win, they won a '45' and the ball was dropped in around the square an in running Theresa Bennett struck the ball to the back of the St Bridget's net to give the Harps back a three point lead which they were not going to give up easily, and they didn't.
When the final whistle blew a few minutes later the Harps were delighted to have won their first junior county final, for which they had been trying for a few years.
The brand new junior cup which was sponsored by Colgan's Sport's was presented by Mary Donohue to the Captain of the Harps team Denise Quigley. In her presentation speech the Chairperson of the county board thanked Raheen for the use of their pitch, to Ollie Ryan for refereeing to the umpires and the other members of the County Board for their help. She praised both teams for their good sporting game and she wished St Bridget's the best before she presented the cup to the delighted Harps team.
The Harps; Aine Mahony, Joan Dollard, Michelle Fitzpatrick, Laura Mahony, Cathriona Phelan, Cathriona Phelan, Denise Quigley, Elaine Mahony, Louise Mahony, Maeve Brophy, Erinne Dunne, Elaine Cuddy, Therese Bennett, Ashling Phelan, Joanne Prior.
Subs; Margaret Prior, Aoife Donohue, Angela Hanlon, Joan Mahony, Marie Lalor, Patricia Dunphy, Martina Hyland.
St Bridget's; Laura Dunne, Kate Hyland, Emer Moynan, Emma Cuddy, Sinead Delaney, Sarah Cuddy, Karen Cuddy, Marion O'Grady, Mary Fitzpatrick, Margaret Kelly, Noreen Kirwan, Emer Delaney, Patricia Bergin, Aoife Quinlan, Lorrraine Treacy.
Subs; Sharon Moylan, Theresa Hooban, Carmel Fitzpatrick, Laura Fogarty, Linda Moylan, Mary Dowling, Miriam Dalton, Emma Dollard, Marie Bourke, Marie Delaney, Fiona O'Grady, Laura Dowling Ciara Quinlan.
Also on Sunday, The Harps defeated St Munna's by eight points in the first round of the junior Club Championship now go on to play Myshall of Carlow next weekend in Durrow at 3 pm.
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