No final joy for brave Clann na nGael
Cuala won the Ladies Leinster JFC title with a 4-8 to 1-7 victory against Clann na nGael at Kinnegad this afternoon.
The Dublin side were worthy winners against a gallant Clann na nGael team that delivered battling performance.
Clann na nGael had an early 'goal' disallowed after referee John Bermingham brought play back for a free from which Louise O'Connor sent over to give the Meath side the lead.
Dalkey club Cuala rallied and created an early goal chance from the penalty spot, but Grainne O'Driscoll's effort was saved by Aoife Lally and the danger was cleared.
The Meath women countered with a point from Orlagh Lally for a 0-2 to 0-0 first-quarter lead.
Cuala made the scoreboard after a series of poor wides when Jennifer Dunne converted a free, but wind-assisted Clann na nGael struck for a 25th minute Vivienne McCormack goal.
The Clann na nGael celebrations were quickly subdued when Sinead Wylde found the net at the other end inside 60 seconds and then Ciara McKeown drew the sides level with a well-taken point from play, it was briefly a goal chance.
However, Clann na nGael finished the half strongly and were ahead by 1-4 to 1-2 at the interval when O'Connor sent over a brace of points.
Clann nanGael responded well to the concession of 1-1 to Grainne O'Driscoll inside two second-half minutes and were on terms through a brace of O'Connor points.
Clann na nGael didn't manage another score until added time at the end when O'Connor sent over again and they also lost McDonagh to the sin bin, it seemed harsh, and that had a significant impact on the outcome.
Cuala made the most of the 10-minute spell with an extra player and added a brace of goals from Wylde (one penalty) with the points from Jennifer Dunne (four) and Eimear Loughlin.