Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Bright start sets Kiltale NS up for victory

DIV 3 CAMOGIE

What a game this Div 3 Camogie final turned out to be at Trim on Friday. What scores. What skills. What commitment and dedication to the cause demonstrated by both teams - from start to finish.

Kiltale NS showed a propensity to score goals and that laid the foundations for their victory, the cornerstone. That and the scintillating opening half, when assisted by the breeze on a humid afternoon, they built on a 3-2 to 0-0 interval advantage.

Their goals came from a variety of sources with Maebh Gallagher, Erin Rooney and Nicole Lawless all finding the net in the opening half. Erin Rooney displayed her unerring instinct for taking the chances that came her way when she slotted home a second goal after the break. The two points the winners tagged on were notched up by Gallagher ('45') and Kayla Rooney, who swept the ball confidently over the bar from play.

Kiltale NS led from start to finish with an early Gallagher goal setting them on their way but it wasn't all about their attacking play.

Defensively the winners were strong too as they had to be to the withstand a spirited Boyerstown revival in the second-half with players such as Andrea Lourens and Aoibheann Dolan all making vital clearances.

Boyerstown looked well out of it at the interval but what a second-half they had, their display full of energy and drive.

Chloe Lynagh really gave them hope with a splendid goal early in the second-half. She added three more superbly-taken points, one from a '45', and also went close to bagging a second goal. Skipper Emily Comerford provided plenty of inspiration to her colleagues with a neatly-taken point and also forced a super save from the Kiltale goalkeeper Andrea Lourens.

While they gave Boyerstown plenty to think about they just couldn't make up the deficit as the second-half unfolded. Instead the hard-grafting Kiltale NS players stayed in front to claim the silverware and the warm congratulations from their delighted mentors and supporters.

Kiltale NS - Andrea Lourens; Aoibheann Dolan; Emma-Mae McCormack, Lara Molloy, Eve McMahon; Nicole Lawless (1-0), Maebh Gallagher (1-1, '45'); Lily Murray, Méabh Donoghue (1-0), Erin Rooney (2-0), Kayla Rooney (0-1). Subs - Caragh McGuirk, Lexie O’Connor, Fiadh McGuirk, Leyla McKay, Parsa Durrani. Mentors - Úna McCormack, Colin McElroy, Catherine Fitzsimons.

Boyerstown NS - Sadie Smith; Cara Conaty, Hannah Callaghan, Maisie Regan, Rose Martin; Emily Comerford (0-1), Lauryn Comerford; Chloe Lynagh (1-3, one '45'), Caoimhe Conaty, Lucy Callaghan, Lilianna O’Brien. Subs - Rachel Smyth, Ava Callaghan, Gabriella Vermeulen-Fullam, Zara Kearney, Kate Geraghty, Aimee Connell, Jessica Lawless. Mentors - Margaret O’Brien, Eibheann Keegan, Cathal Ó Bric.

Referee - Nigel Ryan (St Oliver Plunkett’s NS, Navan).

More photos in this week's paper!