AIB Leinster Senior Club Final
St. Martins 2-10 Thomastown 1-6
Photos: iLivePhotos.com
The Kilkenny girls were aiming for a three-in-a-row of titles but a fiercely determined St. Martins brought the crown home to Wexford for the first time since 2015 captained by Ciara O'Connor. The turning point may have come as early as the 6th minute when the attention of referee Ray Kelly was called to an off-the-ball incident which saw Thomastown full-back Ailish Butler red-carded.
Chloe Foxe (seen here being chased by Catherine Walsh) was a constant thorn in the Martin’s attack and as the Thomastown side adjusted to the loss of a player, the Wexford intercounty star had popped over three more points to give Martins a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.
It took Thomastown 17 minutes to open their account on a perfect day for camogie with a point from Niamh Donnelly. But Linda Bolger nailed a good response from the Wexford girls. Thomastown were not going to roll over and it took a stupendous diving save from Mags D’Arcy to deny the Kilkenny girls a goal in the 25th minute. That ensured that St. Martins led at the break by 0-6 to 0-2.
But champions are champions for a reason and despite the numerical difference, Thomastown roared back into contention after the restart thanks to three points from Eimear Farrell and a monster free from Meighan Farrell left just one point between the sides by the 43rd minute. Martin’s were in trouble but they soon got out of jail when a shot for a point from Linda Bolger dipped under the bar for a goal against sun-blinded Dearbhail O’Keeffe in the Thomastown goals. It was a decisive blow.
Captains Katie O'Connor (red and white), St Martins, and Jenny Reddy, Thomastown listen to guidelines from referee Ray Kelly prior to throw in.
Second half substitute Eva Hynes was outstanding and carried the fight but the Martin’s defence was strong and with five minutes to go a point by Amy Cardiff looked like the insurance score. But not so – said Thomastown. A free from Róisín O’Keeffe also dipped under the bar in the 56th minute but it was now the extra player began to tell. Substitutes like Niamh Dunne and Lisa Firman with their pace continued to harass an overworked Thomastown defence.
The St. Martins defence held up with Ciara O’Connor, Noeleen Lambert among those to shine and with Thomastown committed to all-out attack, a breakaway left Chloe Foxe clean through on goal and the Player of the Match doesn’t miss chances like that.
St. Martins: Mags D’Arcy, Aisling O’Connor, Noeleen Lambert, Maire Clare Morrissey, Áine Ennis, Ciara O’Connor, Mary Barrett, Katie O’Connor, Ella O’Connor, Linda Bolger (1-1), Chloe Foxe (1-7), Amy Cardiff (0-1), Anna Hennessy, Lettie Whelan, Emma Codd
Subs: Aisling Cronin, Lisa Firman, Niamh Dunne, Amy Ryan and Lauren Carty
Thomastown: Dearbhail O’Keeffe, Eimear Corr, Ailish Butler, Kate McDonald, Sally Teehan, Meighan Farrell (0-1), Catherine Walsh, Jenny Reddy, Ciara Farrell, Eimear Donnelly (0-1), Sinéad Brennan, Joanne Fitzpatrick, Eimear Farrell (0-3), Chloe Corrway, Niamh Donnelly (0-)
Subs: Róisín O’Keeffe (1-0),
Referee: Ray Kelly