Leinster Camogie final awaits St Brigid's as they knock out reigning champions Na Fianna

St Brigid’s made the journey up to Baconstown GAA grounds to face the Meath Champions, Na Fianna, in the Intermediate Leinster Club Championship semi-final. Na Fianna are the reigning Leinster champions and reached the All-Ireland Intermediate final last year.

St Brigid’s never let Na Fianna's success get to them as they took charge from the throw-in. The visitors led by five at break having racked up three late points before half-time and dealt superbly with the pressure Na Fianna brought in the second half. 

St Brigid’s 0-9

Na Fianna 0-6

Eimear Hasset got the scoring underway after two minutes as she was on the end of a Clodagh Tynan free landed into the danger area. Na Fianna’s Kerrie Cole had an attempt drop short which was dealt with superbly by Laura Dunne in the greasy conditions. 

The ball went end to end for the following ten minutes with St Brigid’s having two goal opportunities go astray as they tried to get q grip on the ball. The next score came in the 15th minute when Clodagh Tynan’s free landed on the stick of Na Fianna goalkeeper Katie Mulvihill, she tapped the ball down and Grainne Hyland mopped it up raising a white flag. 

The St Brigid’s defence were clearing every ball the home side attempted to land in as searched for their first score. Tynan set up yet another scoring opportunity as she found Amy Daly from a placed ball, Daly found Hyland who turned and pointed her second. Brodie Kelly came at pace for the reigning champions but drilled the ball wide of Dunne in the nets. Kelly minutes later pointed her sides first score in the 29th minute. 

It was an admirable finish for the Laois champions as they pointed three scores in the space of the three minutes of injury time. Aisling O’Dea converted two while Hassett added to her previous score. St Brigid’s led by five at the interval, 0-6 to 0-1.

Na Fianna came out in the second half all guns blazing but St Brigid’s were aware this would happen and held their defence as tight as ever. Aoife Carey and Hasset tragedies scores as they pointed from a placed ball for their respective sides. 

St Brigid’s were quiet in their attack for the following 17 minutes as Na Fianna held the majority of possession. Carey pointed from play before converting two frees as a result of a slip up in St Brigid’s discipline as they attempted to keep a hold on the game. 

With only two points separating the sides it was all to play for, but St Brigid’s stepped up another gear as Hassett pointed a 45’ with five minutes to play. Tynan stepped up for her side to remarkably split the posts from long-range. 

Deep into injury time, substitute Leah Dixon found herself in the face of Dunne who had been exceptional defending her goal all day, Dunne made a huge save which saw the ball go out for a 45’. Carey landed the ball into the square, but it was well dealt with and sent up the field. 

In the 65th minute, Carey stepped up to take a free for the home side but the call from the sideline was to pop it over the bar and press the puck out which she did. Dunne's puck-out was won by Laura Finlay and sent up the field which saw referee Barry Nea blow the full-time whistle. 

St Brigid’s advance to the Intermediate Leinster final to face Kildare champions Naas in two weeks time.