Another title for Kilmessan

A goal from substitute Ann Marie Dennehy in the final minutes was the insurance score needed to help Kilmessan retain their Senior Camogie Championship title in what was an excellent second-half display from both sides at Ashbourne on Saturday. The first-half was one to forget for the Trim side as they were completely dominated in all areas of the pitch by a sure-firing Kilmessan team. Experience was crucial for the winners and they hit the ground running with a point from Stephanie Horan inside two minutes. They added a second shortly after from Lisa Tyrrell after good play from full-forward Aisling McLoughlin. They ended the first quarter with a three-point advantage when Aileen Donnelly added her first of seven points from a free. Kilmessan dominated the middle of the field and Frances Lynch deservedly got her name on the scoreboard after picking up a loose ball in the middle of the pitch and firing over the bar. Kilmessan were five points up after 20 minutes when a poor Trim clearance fell kindly to the unmarked Donnelly and she comfortably slotted over to extend the champions lead. Donnelly then added a brace of points from a free and a '45'. It took Trim until four minutes before the break to eventually register their first score, and what a score it was. Brid Guy played a delicate ball over the Kilmessan defence and found Lynn Winters in acres of space. After controlling the ball brilliantly with one touch she blasted the volley into the net past the helpless Noreen Sheridan. On the stroke of half-time Donnelly yet again pointed to give Kilmessan a five point advantage at the interval, 0-8 to 1-0. It was an excellent first half-performance from the champions and their impressive defence cleared any dangerous ball that came their way. Trim woke from their slumber in the second-half and made the perfect start when Guy found the unmarked Christine Fagan who finished brilliantly to the net to boost the Trim team into life. Fagan then added a score from a free to cut the deficit to a single point. Donnelly added her first score of the second-half with another '45', but another Fagan free ensured the minimum between the sides at the end of the third quarter. The final ten minutes were pulsating as both teams threw the kitchen sink at one another. Horan added her second point of the match for Kilmessan after collecting the puck out and slotting over. The crucial score for the winners came with eight minutes remaining when substitute Dennehy found the corner of the net after confusion in the Trim defence. A minute later Donnelly expertly converted a free to open up a six point advantage. Trim replied in excellent fashion and less than a minute later they closed the deficit to three points when Winters got her second goal after a superb run down the right wing from corner-forward Fagan. The final few minutes were very tense and spectators could barely look. Both teams went hell for leather in the dying moments and it was Kilmessan who got the final score of the match when Katie Ni Coileain scored her first point after good play from Donnelly. When referee David Gaughan blew the final time whistle it was jubilation for Kilmessan but heartbreak for Trim who played an outstanding second-half with a superb never-say-die attitude. Kilmessan half-forward Donnelly, who contributed seven points to Kilmessan's total, collected the player of the match award sponsored by Tom Walsh. Meath Camogie Board chairperson Valerie Curtis presented the Fay O'Regan cup to the winning captain Sarah Ross who paid tribute to winning manager John Watters and described him as "unbelievable" and "the main man". Best for the winners were Ciara Ni Coileian, Tracey King, Caoimhe O'Leary, Frances Lynch, Stephanie Horan, Aileen Donnelly and Katie Ni Choileain, Emma McNally, Guy, Fagan and Winters excelled for Trim. SCORERS Kilmessan - A Donnelly 0-7, three frees, two '45's; A M Dennehy 1-0; S Horan 0-2; L Tyrrell 0-1; K Ni Coileain 0-1; F Lynch 0-1. Trim - L Winters 2-0; C Fagan 1-2, two frees. THE TEAMS Kilmessan - N Sheridan; C Ni Coileain, K Ward, E Doyle; S Ross, A Lynch, T King; C O'Leary, F Lynch; S Horan, L Tyrrell, A Donnelly; M Ni Choileain, A McLoughlin, K Ni Choileain. Subs - A M Dennehy for McLoughlin 45mins, L Irwin for Tyrrell 54m, M Horan for M Ni Coileain 58m, A Lynch for S Horan 62m. Trim - A Cole; N Guy, E McNally, D Smyth; R Winters, B Guy, A Walsh; C Ashe, E Guy; Aisling Fagan, K Hackett, Ann-Marie Fagan; C Fagan, S Hillard, L Winters. Subs - S Campbell for Ashe half-time, S Hayes for Smyth 50m, M Andrews for Aisling Fagan 61m. REFEREE - David Gaughan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne).