Lough Lene Gaels convincing winners in Division 2 final
Lough Lene Gaels won their first Minor Camogie Championship Division 2 Cup title, and their ninth overall Westmeath club championship title in the U18 age category when overcoming the group team of Brownstown/Cullion in a onesided decider, played at Multyfarnham on Friday evening.
Prior to this final, the eight previous successes for the Purple and Golds were all Minor Camogie Championship Division 1 Cup wins but they found themselves in Division 2 this year.
At half-time, Lough Lene Gaels held the match lead by a margin of 19 points, and while the application of Brownstown/Cullion, as regards their attitude could never be questioned, it was an all too powerful Lough Lene Gaels team that emerged as empathic winners on the evening. The Minor Grade Division 2 Camogie Championship Cup was presented to Lough Lene Gaels team captain Reanna Kennedy.
Lough Lene Gaels opened match scoring with a Caoimhe Ginnell point, followed a minute later with Lauren Sullivan scoring the first Lough Lene Gaels goal. That opening phase of play set the trend for the match action to follow. A second goal came courtesy of Reanna Kennedy, with Caoimhe Ginnell adding a point, leaving Lough Lene Gaels 2-2 to o score ahead after 10 minutes of play. Prior to the midway point of the first half, Keala Nolan and Reanna Kennedy each scored a point for Lough Lene Gaels. Lough Lene Gaels scored a third goal early in the second quarter of play, Caoimhe Ginnell the finisher. Then it was Brownstown/Cullion next to score, a point coming from Lauren Henry. That score though did not start a change in the general trend of play, Lough Lene Gaels quickly replying with a Caoimhe Ginnell point. Seven scoreless minutes of play then followed, a scoring lull ended with four minutes of normal playing time remaining in the first half when Lauren Sullivan pointed for Lough Lene Gaels. Reanna Kennedy quickly added a point, followed quickly in turn with a fourth Lough Lene Gaels goal from Caoimhe Ginnell. Keala Nolan pointed for Lough Lene Gaels to end first half match action.
At the break it was Lough Lene Gaels 4-8, Brownstown/Cullion 0-1.
Obviously Brownstown/Cullion needed a very good start to the second half, if the group team was to have any chance, slim as that scenario may have seemed at half time, if they were to achieve the comebacks of all sporting comebacks. However, Lough Lene Gaels continued where they had finished in the first half, Jenny O'Neill firing in a goal for the Purple and Golds, followed quickly by a Ellie Fitzsimons point. Alesha Harte then added to an already impressive score total by scoring a goal. Prior to the midway point of the second half Caoimhe Ginnell with a point, and a goal from Lily O'Farrell had further scores for Lough Lene Gaels. The margin dividing the teams was further increased with Caoimhe Ginnell's third goal of this Minor Camogie Championship Division 2 Cup final. By this moment in second half play, Lough Lene Gaels had already made a number of positional and personnel changes to their 15. A player involved in one of those positional changes, goalkeeper Aine Brennan, scored point number 11 for Lough Lene Gaels. Brownstown/Cullion then broke the sequence of Lough Lene Gaels scores when Lauren Henry scored her team's second point. It was Lough Lene Gaels though that continued to further add to their lead immediately thereafter as Alesha Harte (point), Lauren Sullivan (goal) and Caoimhe Ginnell (point), were on target in quick fire type succession. Brownstown/Cullion then closed out their scoring contribution to this fixture with a Lauren Henry point six minutes from the end of normal playing time, leaving the match scoreline Lough Lene Gaels 9-13, Brownstown/Cullion 0-3. Lough Lene Gaels defender Grace Costello, by now playing in an attacking role, ably demonstrated her attacking capabilities by scoring two goals in quick succession, and then quickly added a point for good measure. Lauren Sullivan closed out match scoring with the 15th Lough Lene Gaels point.
Scorers - Lough Lene Gaels: Caoimhe Ginnell 3-5, Lauren Sullivan 2-2, Grace Costello 2-1, Reanna Kennedy 1-2, Alesha Harte 1-1, Jenny O'Neill 1-0, Lily O'Farrell 1-0, Keela Nolan 0-2, Ellie Fitzsimons 0-1, Aine Brennan 0-1.
Brownstown/Cullion Scorers: Lauren Henry 0-3
Lough Lene Gaels: Aine Brennan, Lauren Kavanagh, Sophie McCabe, Grace Costello, Caitlin Masterson, Orlaith Dolan, Maggie Bartley, Alesha Harte Lauren Sullivan, Ellie Fitzsimons, Caoimhe Ginnell, Grace Murtagh, Jenny O'Neill, Reanna Kennedy, Keala Nolan. Subs: Ellie Fitzsimons for Caitlin Masterson, Shona Gilsenan for Keela Nolan, Lily O'Farrell for Jenny O'Neill, Orlaith Dolan for Grace Murtagh.
Brownstown/Cullion: Chloe Henry, Natasha O'Brien, Edel Sheerin, Emily O'Hanlon, Anna Reilly, Aine Harry, Grace Doyle, Eve Cawley, Alannah Guirke, Eleanor Corcoran, Holly McCormack, Katie Glennon, Rachel Molloy, Lauren Henry, Sarah Cawley. Subs: Robyn Breen, Emily Rennicks, Aine Curran, Ciara Gavigan, Abby Geraghty.
Ref: Paul O'Malley (Raharney).