Cumann na mBunscol Finals: St Pat’s find their form on big day
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Baconstown NS’s Sara Bagnall and Emma Wall tussle with Cannistown’s Lauren Cooney during Saturday’s Div 1 Camogie final at Trim. Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 4
The Baconstown players for the Div 1 Camogie final (from left) were: back - Saoirse O’Rafferty, Grace O’Rourke, Roisin Ward, Millie Killoran, Paige Healy, Sara Bagnall, Rosie Dorgan, Anna Cole, Maebh Flynn; front - Ellie Connelly, Zoe O’Brien, Willow King, Kayla Wall, Emma Wall, Abbie Counihan, Clara Lynam, Lauren Connelly, Erin O’Brien. David MullenImage 3 of 4
The Cannistown players for the Div 1 Camogie final (from left) were: back - Aine McNerney (mentor), Chloe McLoughlin, Mia Dowdall, Jane O’Brien, Katie Talbot, Camille Snow, Mia Marzec, Lauren Cooney, Ella Taaffe, Robyn Kelly, Lilly-Anne McLoughlin, Kaylee Quinn, Eva Kieran, Jenny McDonagh (mentor); front - Shayla Gibney, Edith McConnon, Aoife Reilly, Daire Coffey, Niamh Maguire, Ellie Cassidy, Branagh Foley, Hannah McKeigue, Molly Sinnott, Niamh Murnaghan. David MullenImage 4 of 4
Baconstown NS captain Anna Cole and Sara Bagnall receive the Div 1 Camogie Cup from Maire Keogh. David MullenOne of the requirements of any title-winning team is to perform well in the final. The players who wore the colours of St Patrick's NS, Baconstown at Trim on Saturday certainly did that to claim the Div 1 Camogie crown.
Powered on by quality performs positioned all over the field the Baconstown team - captained by Sara Bagnall and Anna Cole - took a firm grip early on before pulling away to win with relative comfort. Cannistown, to their eternal credit, never gave up battling but on this occasion they just found their opponents that little bit sharper.
The Baconstown cause was greatly helped by a startling, in-the-zone start. The contest was barely 30 seconds old when Baconstown found the net with Millie Killoran driving home with the kind of confidence that distinguished her team's display.
Shortly afterwards the team in maroon and white struck again. This time it was another of Baconstown's contingent of star players - Emma Wall - who hit the target with a neat finish and with the richly talented Anna Cole clipping over a point Baconstown could afford to be content going into the break. They led after all, 2-1 to 1-0.
The pattern of the second-half was a mirror-image of the first with Baconstown doing most of the attacking and a further goal from Paige Healy - who fired to the net in the midst of a goalmouth scramble - really put the Maroons on the road to glory. Cole capped a top-notch display with a further three quality points from play. Abbie Counihan also lofted over a score that came from the top drawer.
Many other teams would have collapsed in the face of Baconstown's relentless attacks. Cannistown didn't. Their defence was truly heroic at times with players such as Chloe McLoughlin, Katie Talbot and 'keeper Mia Marzec getting vital touches to stop scores.
The Cannistown goal had something special about it too. Captain Ella Taaffe showed true leadership by arrowing the ball from distance to the net. It was a spectacular strike yet nothing could stop brilliant Baconstown from securing victory and the silverware.
Baconstown NS - Paige Healy (1-0); Zoe O’Brien, Willow King; Saoirse O’Rafferty, Rósie Dorgan, Sara Bagnall; Kayla Wall, Anna Cole (0-4); Róisín Ward, Millie Killoran (1-0), Emma Wall (1-0); Maebh Flynn, Abbie Counihan (0-1). Subs - Grace O’Rourke, Erin O’Brien, Ellie Connolly, Lauren Connolly, Clara Lynam. Mentor - Máire Keogh.
Cannistown NS - Mia Marzec; Chloe McLoughlin, Katie Talbot; Branagh Foley, Jane O’Brien, Ella Taaffe (1-0); Kaylee Quinn, Camille Snow; Lauren Cooney, Hannah McKeigue, Robyn Kelly; Molly Sinnott, Lilly-Anne McLoughlin. Subs - Shayla Gibney, Edith McConnon, Eva Kieran, Ellie Cassidy, Niamh Maguire, Aoife Reilly, Dáire Coffey, Mia Dowdall Govern, Eva Harding, Heidi Gillespie, Niamh Murnaghan. Mentors - Áine McNerney, Jenny McDonagh.
Referee - Chris Lynagh (St Paul’s NS, Navan).