Down see off valiant Royals to seal inaugural crown

Down are the winners of the inaugural All-Ireland u-23 C Camogie title after a comfortable win over Meath in the final last Saturday in Castleblayney.

The Ulster side went into the final as clear favourites having won the round-robin game in Trim a fortnight earlier, but Meath made them fight for the title.

The Royals were in well in contention at the break and scored the opening point of the second-half inside 14 seconds to close the gap to 2-5 to 1-6. However, Down dominated the third quarter, hitting the next eight points in succession to put themselves in control.

Down’s defence was strong throughout while Niamh Savage and Clonduff pair Niamh McConville and Orlaith McCusker dominated the middle third. Ahead of them Niamh McGrath, player of the match Grace Cunningham and Shanna Fettis showed for every ball and caused the Meath defence huge problem.

Daire O’Shea, who went on to claim nine points, hit the first three scores, two from '45's and one from play, before three minutes were up. However, a point from Royal free-taker Emma Hannifin steadied her team and Down’s attacking play slowed up as Hazel O’Reilly-Higgins, Rachel O’Neill and Grace Connolly became prominent in the game.

It was 0-4 to 0-2 after 18 minutes when McGrath burst through and found Fettis for an easy finish for the opening goal. Within 20 seconds Niamh McConville had added a point.

However a minute later Amy Boyle chased in to block the sliotar off Clodagh Kelly’s stick into the net. That goal wrestled the momentum away from the eventual winners.

There was also a bit of luck with the second Down goal scored a couple of minutes later when Sophie McGrath’s hopeful shot from 50 metres went all the way to the Meath net.

However Down didn’t really build on that bit of fortune and Meath finished the half with points each from Hannafin (free), captain Lauren Woods and Boyle to trail by 1-5 to 2-5 at the break.

Emma Regan opened the second half scoring with a point inside 14 seconds, but the next score from Meath was in the 47th minute when they were already 10 points down.

O’Shea was deadly accurate with five placed balls while Cunningham (two) and Sophie McGrath piled on the pressure for Down.

Hannifin fired over three frees during the final quarter as the Royals pushed up for scores, but the Mourne defence remained in control to see out a comfortable win.

Down - Clodagh Kelly; Orla Brown, Emily Fitzpatrick, Katie Morgan; Erin Daly, Dearbhla Coleman, Ellen Shields; Niamh McConville (0-1), Orlaith McCusker; Daire O’Shea (0-9 eight frees), Sophie McGrath (1-1), Niamh Savage; Grace Cunningham (0-3), Niamh McGrath, Shanna Fettes (1-0). Subs - Ellie McCabe for N McGrath 43m, Katie Quinn for S McGrath 47m, T Cowan for Coleman 52m, Caoimhe Dorrian for McCusker, Charlie Kelly for Fitzpatrick both 61m.

Meath - Sheefra Deegan; Katie Mulchrone, Hazel O’Reilly-Higgins, Rebecca Horan; Sarah Brien, Rachel O’Neill, Grace Connolly; Alex Donoghue, Isabel O’Connor; Emma Hanifin (0-5 frees), Lauren Woods (0-2), Amy Boyle (1-1); Katie Connolly, Emma Regan (0-1), Liz Lawless. Subs - Ciara Flanagan for Lawless 25m, Blathnaid Hughes for Donoghue 42m, Ciara Mulligan for Mulchrone 55m, Mia McCann for Horan 61m.

Referee - John Burke (Galway).