Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Free-scoring Killyon reign

DIV 3 CAMOGIE - Killyon NS 4-7 Boyerstown NS 1-2

Played in incessant rain the conditions for this Div 3 Camogie final at Trim on Saturday morning were far from ideal. Mr Blue Skies looked like he had gone on his summer holidays to Spain.

Did the inclement elements put the players from either team off? Not a of it. All the players involved in this showdown got stuck in and served up an entertaining encounter for the umbrella-protected spectators.

Killyon went home with the trophy and that was partly down to the markswomanship, from play and frees, of their midfielder Áine Ward. She ended up with a remarkable personal tally of 3-6.

Boyerstown's battling, brave warriors tried to contain Ward's surging runs. They tried to close her down when she took aim at the posts. They just couldn't stop her from getting her huge haul of scores.

She contributed 1-4 to her team's first-half tally of 2-4 with the tenacious, hard-grafting Erin McCormack getting the other goal. Áine Ward continued to torment the Boyerstown defence in the second-half with full-back Mary Ward, who was a dominant presence in front of her own goals throughout, adding a monster point from distance also just before the full-time whistle sounded.

This was a very controlled, mature display from Killyon NS who were undefeated in their march to the final. Boyerstown too won all their group games, and of course their semi-final, but they found it difficult to contain their lively opponents in this contest.

Boyerstown's second-half goal arrived after Lana Conaty made one of her characteristic surging runs. She sent a high ball into the Killyon goalmouth and there waiting to cleverly, and skilfully, flick the ball to the net was Sally Buchanan.

Kelly Smyth was another Boyerstown player to make several score-seeking runs as was Sadie Smith who capped her busy display with a fine point from a free. Hannah Callaghan also broke away from her defensive duties to fire over a super score from play.

However there was no stopping Killyon who took an early grip on this game and stayed in front - despite the rain and everything their opponents could throw at them.

Killyon NS - Lily Heneghan; Saoirse Flanagan, Mary Ward (0-1), Emily Quinn, Ella Williamson; Eilish O'Donnell, Aine Ward (3-6); Mai Brady, Lauren Heeney, Erin McCormack (1-0), Kayleigh Dowdall. Subs - Lily Gilsenan, Katie Murtagh, Aimee Dowdall, Beth Feeeney, Anna Coleman, Charlotte Hevey, Amber Victory, Evelyn Ayres. Mentors - Angela Sheerin, Michelle Brady.

Boyerstown NS - Aimee Connell; Hannagh Callaghan (0-1), Sadie Callaghan, Kate Geraghty, Erin Matthews; Lana Conaty, Kelly Smyth; Sadie Smyth (0-1 free), Katelynne O'Brien, Lucy Lynagh, Sally Buchanan (1-0). Subs - Zara Kearney, Kayla Fitzpatrick, Mia Keating, Kate Bray, Isabelle Smyth, Florence Duffy. Mentors -Margaret O'Brien, Eibheann Keegan, Cathal O Bric.

Referee - Dan Buckley (Mulhussey NS).