Kilmessan crowned senior camogie champs

Kilmessan stormed back to the top when they made amends for last year's defeat with a match-winning 4-7 to 0-8 performance against Na Fianna in the Senior Camogie Championship decider at Trim on Saturday.

Na Fianna won the title at the same venue 12 months ago at the expense of a Kilmessan side that was bidding for an 11th successive senior crown.

That reversal was a major setback for the Kilmessan women and they were determined to make amends this time around.

Kilmessan made a tentative start as Na Fianna burst from the traps and had three unanswered points on the scoreboard in as many minutes.

Na Fianna extended the lead to 0-4 to 0-1 by the first water break and they continued in the ascendancy with another point when play resumed.

However, when a high ball from Nadine Doyle was cleared by Na Fianna goalie Kate Mulvihill it was Kelly Gorman who gained possession and fired to the net for her first goal.

Na Fianna were rocked again soon after when Doyle got through again and finished to the net to establish a 2-3 to 0-5 interval advantage for Kilmessan.

The belief from last year's win kept Na Fianna going and they had a strong performance throughout the team, especially from Shauna Ennis, Claire Coffey and Niamh Kirby who both fought hard to keep the Kilmessan chances to a minimum.

Despite Na Fianna's best efforts there was no stopping Gorman who took full advantage of space to bag her hat-trick of goals.

Two second-half points just wasnt enough to sustain Na Fianna and Leah Dennehy found the net for Kilmessan's fourth goal and that effectively finished the game as a contest.

Kilmessan gave a solid performance once they settled into the game and were worthy champions with Tracy King collecting the player-of-the-match award.

Kilmessan - Tara Murphy; Ciara Ní Coileain, Raychel Kelly, Aisling Walsh; Tracy King, Maeve Lally, Aileen Donnelly; Leah Dennehy, Megan Thynne; Aisling Lochlainn, Nadine Doyle, Megan Ní Coileain; Kelly Gorman, Carrie Doyle, Katie Ní Coileain. Subs - Abbye Donnelly for McLoghlin, Michelle Horan for Gorman, Aibhin Lally for Dennehy, Rachel O'Neill for Ní Coileain; Ann Marie Dennehy, Georgia Dennehy, Maeve Lally, Shannon Thynne, Laura O'Neill, Nicole Conlon, Katie Connell, Rachel Duffy, Aoibheann Kiernan, Eve Harlin, Emma Fitzgerald, Stephaine Horan.

Na Fianna - Katie Muvihill; Ellen O'Hara, Niamh Mulvilhill, Meabh Downey; Niamh Kirby, Leah Devine, Aisling Byrne; Aedin Slattery, Emma Regan; Sophia Payne, Erin Leddy, Shauna Ennis; Maire Kirby, Claire Coffey, Sophie Healy. Subs - Hazel Higgins-O'Relly for Payne, Eimear Fagan for Healy; Leah Dixon, Emear Clarke, Liz Forde, Annette Parkes, Aine Kirby, Caoimhne Slattery, Orla Murray.

NOTE

Due to all the GAA action at the weekend the Meath Chronicle had no reporter available to attend the senior camogie final. Thank you to the Meath Camogie Board PRO team for the report,