The Harps suffer Leinster Camogie final heartbreak against Wicklow’s Knockananna

The Harps have been beaten in the Junior Leinster Camogie final by Wicklow’s Knockananna in Kilcormac-Killloughey GAA Club this afternoon. The side from Durrow had gotten to the final by virtue of a victory over Cappagh of a Kildare in last week’s semi-final.

The Mahony sisters, Louise and Elaine were immense for the Laois side while their Wicklow opponents had great talent all over the field with Aine Byrne, Aimee Maher and Ciara Byrne starring for the eventual Leinster champions.

Knockananna 3-9

The Harps 2-6

Aine Darcy would be the first player to raise a white flag as the Knockananna player opened the scoring in the first minute. The next score would be an early sucker punch for The Harps as the aforementioned Aimee Maher teed up Ciara Byrne to rifle the ball beyond Cara Henderson in The Harps net.

The Harps registered their first point of the contest in the 10th minute as Louise Mahony slotted over a free. Mahony would add to her tally soon after with another white flag from a placed ball. Knockananna replied with two scores of their own as Rachel Byrne pointed from a free while Darcy added to her earlier point to give the Wicklow side a four-point advantage.

The half ended with two more scores for Mahony while Knockananna’s Rachel Byrne slotted over a free to leave the score 1-4 to 0-4 in favour of the Wicklow champions.

The second-half began with Henderson pulling off a superb save to deny Ciara Byrne her second goal of the contest. Ciara Byrne would atone for her earlier miss a few minutes later as the full-forward struck for her second goal to push her side into a six-point lead at the beginning of the half. Mahony was to the fore again as she got her fifth point of the contest. Rachel Byrne and Catherine Kirby traded scores before Knockananna hit the front with four scores without reply.

Aimee Maher pointed twice while Darcy and Rachel Byrne both added to their tally’s as the Wicklow side looked to be well on their way to victory with a nine-point lead. The Harps to their credit kept plugging away and they were rewarded with a penalty as Mahony blasted the ball into the top-corner from the spot.

A second goal would follow soon after to only leave three between the sides as Louise’s sister Elaine Mahony raised a green flag meaning a nervy finish was to come. Knockananna sealed the victory in added-time as Darcy broke away from her marker before slotting the ball beyond Henderson in the goals.