Na Fianna fall to strong Camross side
The Meath camogie champions were soundly beaten in the Leinster Intermediate Final.
Camross 5-7
Na Fianna 1-7
Keely Burke
The concession of five goals cost Na Fianna as they fell to defeat against Camross in the Leinster Camogie Club Intermediate Final at SETU Carlow. Camross came out with intent early and led from the get-go. 23 minutes into the clash, the Laois club led by 12 points and despite the best efforts from the Meath champions, the mountain left to climb was just too high.
Camross got off to a strong start as Grainne Delaney fired to the bottom corner of the net after just four minutes before Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald split the posts with a ‘45’. Kirsten Keenan, who finished with four goals, then raised a brace of green flags in quick succession.
It wasn't until the 23rd minute that Na Fianna eventually got their tally underway when Emma Regan split the posts. Aoife Carey pulled another back for the Enfield outfit but at half-time, Camross held a commanding lead of 2-4 to 0-2.
Regan got proceedings underway after the restart, but Camross responded strongly when Keenan got her hurl on the end of a high ball in and found the net, which completed her hat-trick. Three minutes later, Aimee Collier found Keenan, and she fired to the top of the net for her fourth and Camross’ fifth.
Fitzgerald and Brodie Kelly traded scores. Fitzgerald raised another white flag before Na Fianna gathered a bit of momentum and hit 1-3 on the spin. The goal was scored courtesy of Brodie Kelly while Carey, Regan and Cliodhna Ward all raised white flags. At that stage, it was a case of too little too late for Na Fianna as the Laois side were crowned champions.
Camross - Niamh Dollard; Mairead Burke, Aisling Burke, Fiona Scully; Aoife Collier, Donnagh Mortimer, Ella Cuddy; Luisne Delaney, Aimee Collier; Leah Daly, Grainne Delaney (1-0), Andrea Scully (0-1); Erin Walsh, Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald (0-5 one free, two ‘45’), Kirsten Keenan (4-0). Subs - Tara Lowry( 0-1) for Daly 47m, Aoife Daly for Aimee Collier 51m, Ava Guilfoyle for L Delaney 55m, Sile Burke for Cuddy 58m, Aedin Lowry for Dollard 59m, Sarah Cuddy for M Burke 60m, Chloe O’Riordan for A Scully 61m.
Na Fianna - Katie Mulvihill; Sophia Payne, Clare Coffey, Aisling Byrne; Niamh Mulvihill, Gracie Grehan, Eimear Fagan; Leah Devine, Aoife Carey (0-2 one free); Brodie Kelly (1-1), Erin Leddy, Aedin Slattery; Brooke Flynn, Emma Regan (0-3), Katie Kelly. Subs - Anna Carey for Flynn 16m, Meabh Downey for Fagan half-time, Cliodhna Ward (0-1) for K Kelly 44m, Orlagh Ryan for N Mulvihill, Isabelle Killoran for Byrne both 56m.
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).