Under 16 ‘B’ League Cup Final.

Ahane and Na Piarsaigh took to the field in Old Christian’s on Thursday 9th May to contest the League Cup Final. There was a strong breeze blowing into the dressing room goal and although the sun was shining it was still a cool evening. But the supporters on both sides were not long warming up once the game started as both teams hit the ground running. From the get-go both teams fought for every ball and the standard of camogie on display was top class.

Éle Madigan scored Ahane's first point from a free in the third minute. Éle then added to Ahane's tally by scoring a fantastic point from a free out near the sideline. Na Piarsaigh got their scoring off to a start in the sixth minute when they penetrated the Ahane defence and scored a goal. Both teams caught some great ball out the field. Ahane's Rachaell Donnellan who played center forward made some fantastic catches throughout the game. Similarly, Na Piarsaigh's midfield duo of Áine O Tiarnaigh and Liz Anna Boylan caught and distributed some great ball into their forward line. Ahane had some lovely pieces of passing play and both teams used the width of the field to spread the ball.

In response to Na Piarsaigh's goal, Ahane won the ball from the puckout and got the ball into their full forward line, Ciara Oliver got the ball into her hand and scored a great goal that shook the Na Piarsaigh net. In keeping with the end to end theme of the game, Na Piarsaigh scored their second goal of the game in the sixteenth minute. Both teams fought for every ball and there was some superb hooking and blocking from both sides. Ahane scored some great points and one of these came from Sarah Cosgrave who scored a wonderful point from a very tight angle. The teams went in at half time on a score line of Ahane 1-05 Na Piarsaigh 2-00.

Na Piarsaigh came out in the second half all guns blazing and scored a goal within the first thirty seconds. They then added on a point from play, which Ahane's Fiona Herbert responded to with a point of her own getting Ahane's scoring for the second half off to a start. Éle then added on a point from a free in the third minute which leveled the game. Na Piarsaigh broke through the Ahane defence line again in the fifth minute and scored their fourth goal of the game. In the fifteenth minute Ahane got a penalty which Sarah Cosgrave put over the bar to bring the gap back to two points. In the 29th minute Na Piarsaigh got their fifth goal of the evening. Ahane never let their heads drop and although their back line continued to be put under pressure they managed to keep the Na Piarsaigh forwards at bay for the rest of the game. A ball that was cleared from the defence by Aoife Whelan to Molly Hussey, who drove it down the wing to Niamh Brennan who scored Ahane's second goal of the evening which brought the deficit back to four but unfortunately for the Ahane girls time was not on their side and referee Phil Dee blew the final whistle. The game ended on a score line of Ahane 2-09 Na Piarsaigh 5-04.

On behalf of Ahane Camogie we would like to thank the girls and their mentors, Anne Madigan, Kevin Donnellan, Eugene Ryan, and Vera Mulcahy for all they do for the girls, and the always loyal supporters who come out every game and support the girls.

Ahane Team: Kate Clohessy; Áine Conway, Aoife Whelan, Lauren McGill; Molly Hussey, Áine Herbert, Ella Ryan; Éle Madigan, Fiona Herbert; Sarah Cosgrave, Rachael Donnellan, Ciara Keavney; Sarah Hogan, Ciara Oliver, Niamh Brennan.

Substitutes: Lucy Cusack (On for Sarah Hogan), Alison O'Hanlon (On for Ciara Oliver ), Ava Corrigan, Ciara Slattery Wright, Tara Madigan, Abby Murrihy (On for Lauren McGill), Hazel Coulter.

Referee: Phil Dee