Cumann na mBunscol Finals: O’Neill and O’Reilly fire Kilmessan to title
Division 2 Camogie
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Kilmessan’s Lilymae O’Reilly battles with Kildalkey’s Daisey Birmingham during Saturday’s Div 2 Camogie final at Trim. Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 4
The Kildalkey NS players who were on duty for the Div 2 Camogie final (from left) were: back - Danielle McNally, Lauren Dunne, Caoimhe Collins, Marina Hamill, Sophie Way-Pike, Laoise Hayes, Daisey Birmingham, Aine Masterson, Alexandra Evans, Ciara Keogh, Erin Delaney, Juliet Grant; front - Shauna O’Brien McGee, Meabh Hayes, Emma Monaghan, Leah Farrelly, Ruth Potterton, Holly Evans, Carys Heverin, Daisy Johnson, Maria Muldoon, Eabha-Marie Walsh, Callie Corrigan. David MullenImage 3 of 4
The Kilmessan NS players who were on duty for the Div 2 Camogie final (from left) were: back -Lilymae O’Reilly, Chloe O’Neill, Hannah Morgan, Aoife Shine, Shannon Reaney, Katie Keena, Niamh Horan, Finley Clarke; front - Katie Martin, Niamh Duignan, Hallie O’Reilly, Ella Smith, Aoife Reilly, Hannah McDonnell, Aoibheann Fletcher, Evie Rose Clarke, Sophie Treacy. David MullenImage 4 of 4
Kilmessan NS captains Chloe O’Neill and Hannah Morgan receive the Div 2 Camogie Cup from Cumann na mBunscol’s Brian Mullins. David MullenWinning a final is one thing. Winning a final with flair and style is another thing completely. The players who wore the blue and white of Kilmessan Mixed NS certainly showed they had plenty of what was needed to secure the Div 2 Camogie title at Trim on Saturday.
What skill, what energy, what hunger for success, was displayed by all the players on the Kilmessan Mixed NS team with Chloe O'Neill and Lilymae O'Reilly making a midfield combination that was simply unstoppable.
The St Dympna's combination deserve great praise for the way they kept working and battling against a wonderful Kilmessan side. The Saints could have thrown in the towel, they could have given up but they didn't - and in that respect they did their school proud.
They just found O'Neill and O'Reilly in particular in top, top form. Between the two of them these supremely talented camogie players scored a massive 5-11 and they could have had more. O'Reilly, for example, watched as the sliotar rebounded off the post in the second-half after she had unleashed a powerful shot.
As it was she helped herself to five goals. Just about every time she took a pot at the posts the ball seemed to end up in the net. No defence could have stopped her shots, they were unleashed with such power and accuracy. She also helped herself to two points for good measure while O'Neill displayed nerves of steel to clip over a series of scores with unerring striking. Another to make her mark was Katie Martin who also neatly slotted to the net as well as clipping over two points.
Yet this was very much a team display from Kilmessan with goalkeeper, back and forwards all grafting from start to finish to secure the trophy. A classic team display too.
St Dympna's NS had their own heroines from Aine Masterson in goals who made some brave stops to Ruth Potterton who popped over a memorable point from play while Daisy Birmingham was another who typified her team's never-say-die attitude.
On this occasion they just found themselves up against a team bang on form. A team who were not going to be stopped.
Kilmessan NS - Niamh Horan; Aoife Shine, Hallie O’Reilly, Hannah Morgan, Niamh Duignan; Chloe O’Neill (0-9 three '25's, one free), Lilymae O’Reilly (5-2); Katie Keena, Katie Martin (1-2), Shannon Reaney, Evie Rose Clarke. Subs - Ella Smith, Finley Clarke, Sophie Treacy, Hannah McDonnell, Aoife Reilly, Caoimhe Byrne, Caragh Byrne, Aoibheann Fletcher. Mentors - Ciara Grehan, Róisín Carolan, Brian Mullins.
Kildalkey NS - Áine Masterson; Caoimhe Collins, Ciara Keogh, Lauren Dunne, Daisy Johnston; Daisey Birmingham (0-1), Ruth Potterton (0-2 one '25'); Sophie Way-Pike, Erin Delaney, Leah Farrelly, Alexandra Evans. Subs - Marina Hamill, Éabha-Marie Walsh, Danielle McNally, Callie Corrigan, Carys Heverin, Emma Monaghan, Méabh Hayes, Esmé McCarthy, Holly Evans, Maria Muldoon, Juliet Grant, Shauna O’Brien-McGee, Laoise Hayes. Mentors - Katie McGowan, Hannah Kealey.
Referee - Louise Codd (St Mary’s NS Enfield).