Published: Wednesday, 25th November, 2009 6:00pm

Lough Lene Gaels defeat St. Munna's to

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L.L. Gaels 2-5 St. Munna's 0-1

2009 Westmeath Minor Camogie Championship Final

Lough Lene Gaels and St. Munna's served up a very entertaining final of the 2009 Westmeath Minor Camogie Championship on the old pitch at the St. Loman's G.A.A. grounds last Sunday afternoon, November 22. This final was due to have been played on the main pitch at St. Loman's. Through no fault of the camogie authorities in Westmeath, this contest was switched for the main pitch to the old pitch. Nevertheless, the pitch held up superbly in the far from ideal weather conditions, a strong wind blowing across the pitch in a blustery manner throughout the full duration of the contest, with light rain and drizzle falling from time to time.

As for the contest, Lough Lene Gaels brought great pressure to bear on the St. Munna's rearguard in the early stages of the first half. But a combination of wayward shooting by Lough Lene Gaels players in attacking situations coupled with very good defending on the part of St. Munna's kept scores at a premium in the opening quarter of play. St. Munna's came more into the contest in its second quarter, showing a major improvement in an attacking contest, bringing pressure to bear on the Lough Lene Gaels defence. But the purple and golds defended superbly when called upon to do so during the contest's second quarter, thwarting the scoring ambitions of the reds. Just before half time the Gaels scored a vital goal directly form a dead ball situation. As a result of scoring that goal, Lough Lene Gaels held a priceless six points lead at half time.

St. Munna's sparkled brightly at the start of the second half, putting together a very good attacking move that ended with the scoring of a fine point. For all intents and purposes, St. Munna's looked set to make significant inroads into the match lead held by the Gaels. However, the Purple and Golds responded both very quickly and in a decisive manner, scoring their second goal right out of the blue, before going on to add a point to their tally. At the midway point of the second half St. Munna's had an opportunity to haul themselves back into contention when they were awarded a penalty. But the penalty was saved and the ball was cleared to safety by the winners defence. St. Munna's in particular failed to avail of the scoring opportunities that they created. Having struck three wides in rapid fire succession the purple and golds eventually opened match scoring with a Michelle Murtagh point. The Gaels then went onto immediately double their lead when Aoife Higgins availed of a good pass from Michelle Murtagh to strike over a point.

Aoife Higgins (free) was off target for Lough Lene Gaels before a swift, free flowing attacking move by the purple and golds was successfully concluded when Nicola Fagan fired over a point. Three further wides followed before St. Munna's attacked and won a free about 40m from the Lough Lene Gaels uprights. That free was taken by Sinead McGrath, who lobbed the ball towards and into the Lough Lene Gaels goalmouth. However, the ball passed through a crowded goalmouth, going out of play, and wide without any player, Lough Lene Gaels or St. Munna's getting a touch to the ball.

The Gaels attacked, the ball eventually found its way into the possession of Caitriona Murtagh who was deemed to have been fouled by the St. Munna's goalkeeper, resulting in the awarding of a penalty. Michelle Murtagh struck the ball low and hard to the back of the net to score a vital goal. In the first half match action that remained thereafter, Lough Lene Gaels had the last attacking move of note in the first half. But that attacking move failed to result in a score for Lough Lene Gaels, the ball travelling wide. Half time score: Lough Lene Gaels 1-3 St. Munna's 0-0.

It was St. Munna's who looked very bright and clever in the early minutes of the second half, the reds number 11 Sandra McGrath picking up possession of the ball in the midfield area, before sending the ball via a hurley struck pass towards Sinead McGrath. The St. Munna's number 16 quickly claimed possession of the ball, before going on a surging solo run. She finished that solo run by firing over a splendid point for the reds. The minutes of action that immediately followed were scoreless, defences dominating general play.

That mini-scoring lull was ended by Lough Lene Gaels and was ended in a fashion that was a statement of their intent to win this Minor Camogie Championship decider, namely the scoring of their second goal. The second Gaels goal came when a free taken by Aoife Higgins was lobbed

into the St. Munna's goalmouth. Caitriona Murtagh judged the flight to perfection before driving the ball past Denise Egan to the back of the St. Munna's net to claim her team's second goal.

The Gaels were quickly back on the offensive following the scoring of their second goal. The purple and golds ended that particular attacking move by adding to their lead with a Caitriona Murtagh point. Defences then proceeded to dominate the minutes of action that followed before a determined spell of attacking play on the part of St. Munna's resulted in the reds winning a penalty at the midway point of the second half.

St. Munna's goalkeeper Denise Egan came forward to take the penalty for her team. Facing her were the Lough Lene Gaels trio of Kelly Dobson, Sinead Lynch and Aoife Higgins. The St. Munna's number 1 stuck the ball superbly form that penalty award, aiming it towards the top right corner of the Lough Lene Gaels net. But Aoife Higgins was equal to the situation that faced her, making a superb save. A goalmouth scramble finished with the Gaels defence clearing away the ball to safety from their viewpoint.

As this contest moved into its closing quarter St. Munna's were clearly improving. The reds were starting to ask serious questions of the purple and golds rearguard putting together a number of promising looking attacking moves. However, Lough Lene Gaels defended very well successfully answering the questions posed to them by St. Munna's. But Lough Lene Gaels did have a lucky escape in defence with a little over five minutes of normal playing time remaining, the ball from Sinead McGrath's dipping shot, aim angled drive, cum centre, going across the Lough Lene Gaels goalmouth and wide. Had another St. Munna's player got to all important touch to the ball as it travelled across the Lough Lene Gaels goalmouth then the reds would surely have scored a goal. Shortly afterwards, St. Munna's again attacked again, winning a free about 45m from the Lough Lene Gaels uprights. The free was taken by Fiona Glynn who struck the ball superbly. But he ball drifted wide of the Lough Lene Gaels uprights. Lough Lene Gaels finished the contest brightly closing match scoring in stoppage time with a point that was scored by Caitriona Murtagh. Final score Lough Lene Gaels 2-5 St. Munna's 0-1.

Following the final, Elizabeth Shaw, the 2009 Chairperson of the Westmeath Camogie Board, presented the Minor Camogie Championship cup to Lough Lene Gaels team captain Sinead Lynch. Lough Lene Gaels now have the unique record of winning two Westmeath Minor Camogie Championship titles in the same calendar year as the purple and golds defeated Brownstown in the final of the 2008 Minor Camogie Championship in April 2009.

Lough Lene Gaels: Kelly Dobson, Sinead Connell, Sinead Lynch, Corina Murtagh, Dawn Buckley, Shauna Briody, Laura Tierney, Aoife Higgins (0-1), Ciara Cosgrave, Niamh Lynch, Michelle Murtagh (1-1, goal penalty), Ashley Hill, Caitriona Murtagh (1-2), Avril Fagan and Nicola Fagan (0-1).

St. Munna's: Denise Egan, Donna Egan, Bernice Halloran, Laura Heffernan, Andrea Glynn, Sinead McGrath (0-1), Emma Carroll, Caitriona Egan, Nicola Heffernan, Edwina Gilroy, Sandra McGrath, Sandra Carey, Fiona Glynn, Ciara Keogh and Laura Geoghegan. Subs used: Lynda Heffernan and Sarah Poynton.

Referee: Tom Hackett (Crookedwood Camagie Club).