O’Brien leads by example for Ballinagore girls

Cumann na mBunscol Westmeath Division 1 Camogie Division 2 final: St Patrick’s NS, Ballinagore 6-3, St Feichin’s NS, Fore 4-5

St Patrick’s NS, Ballinagore won the first silverware on offer in TEG Cusack Park on Monday week last (June 13), edging out St Feichin’s NS, Fore by a four-point margin in a thrilling Division 2 camogie contest.

Aided by a useful breeze, St Feichin’s raced into an eight-point lead by the tenth minute, courtesy of a brace of Emily Nolan points, and a goal apiece from Alesha Kennedy (long-range) and Arsenal Briody (close-range).

However, they only added one more point to their tally, via a Kennedy free, during the remainder of the first moiety, as St Patrick’s took control with goals from Sinéad O’Brien (two – both frees) and Grace Moloney (a flicked effort), and a point each from the same two players. This left the side in blue, white and maroon ahead by 3-2 to 2-3 at the interval.

The winners extended their lead courtesy of two Georgia Finnane goals (the first coming just 40 seconds after play resumed). Briody’s second three-pointer and a converted free from Nolan kept the blue and green-clad outfit in touch, but a soft goal from Moloney gave the Ballinagore girls some breathing space.

Briody completed her hat-trick from a free, before a wonderful game concluded with a point exchange between the respective number 5s, O’Brien (a ‘35’) and Nolan (open play).

After the match, Cumann na mBunscol chairman, Derek Butler presented the trophy to the winning captains, Sinéad O’Brien and Therese Daly.

Scorers – St Patrick’s: S O’Brien 2-2 (2-0f, 0-1 ‘35’), G Moloney 2-1, G Finnane 2-0. St Feichín’s: A Briody 3-0 (1-0f), A Kennedy 1-1 (0-1f), E Nolan 0-4 (1f).

St Patrick’s NS, Ballinagore panel: Ellie Hogg, Robyn Gordon Walker, Therese Daly (joint capt.), Kayla McGrath, Sinéad O’Brien (joint capt.), Rachel Ennis, Aisling O’Connor, Deirdre O’Brien, Grace Moloney, Georgia Finnane.

St Feichin’s NS, Fore panel: Clodagh Gallagher, Shona Gilsenan (capt.), Skye McCormack, Aoibhinn Nolan, Emily Nolan, Alesha Kennedy, Amelia McCabe, Arsenal Briody, Mia Rose Styles, Niamh Louise Ledwith Byrne, Muireann Finn, Aoibhe Mulvaney, Molly Collins, Nyla Jane Fagan, Evelyn Darroch, Karla Mulvey.

Ref: Paul O’Malley (Killucan).

Player of the match: Sinéad O’Brien (St Patrick’s NS, Ballinagore).