Tremendous comeback by St Patrick's secures Munster camogie title

St Patrick’s 3-10 Castlemartyr 3-5

St Patrick’s Camogie Club capped a memorable year on Sunday afternoon when they captured the Munster Mai O’Connell Junior C title with a 3-10 to 3-5 victory over Cork’s Castlemartyr in Cappamore. It was a performance full of character, determination and clinical finishing from the Tipperary side, who had been building momentum all season.

Castlemartyr, playing with a strong breeze at their backs in the opening half, settled more quickly into the contest. Their sharp forward Ava McAuliffe opened the scoring with two confidently-struck frees to give the Cork outfit the early advantage.

Minutes later a long-range free from Niamh Keane struck the upright, but the Tipperary forwards reacted quickest to recycle possession. When Keane regained control, she found the back of the net, sending the travelling St Patrick’s support into full voice.

READ NEXT: Sensory grotto at Tipperary arts centre

Castlemartyr, however, responded impressively. A well-taken goal from Ellen Hayes Nally restored their lead and with McAuliffe proving a constant threat, the Cork side pushed on again. The lively forward added three points in quick succession—one from a 45 and two from play—to open a 1-5 to 1-0 advantage after just 12 minutes. 

Despite Castlemartyr’s dominant spell, St Patrick’s refused to let the game slip away from them. Led superbly by Emily Fox at centre back, the Tipp side showed tremendous character and workrate to steady themselves. Then, against the run of play, a long-range effort from Millie Cleere dropped dangerously in the square and found its way to the net, suddenly cutting the Cork side’s lead to manageable proportions.

SEE MORE: Tipperary community champion is honoured

Castlemartyr, however, continued to apply sustained pressure, and their efforts were rewarded with a second goal to stretch the gap back to five. St Patrick’s responded with determination, and a well-struck free from Niamh Keane kept them in touch as both sides battled ferociously for every ball in an increasingly physical contest.

However, Castlemartyr’s goal threat remained a major factor. Despite the tireless defending from the St Patrick’s backline, the Cork girls broke through once more for their third goal of the half. It was a blow to St Patrick’s just before the interval, leaving the scoreline reading 3-5 to 2-1 at the break. 

St Patrick’s emerged for the second half with renewed energy and determination, bolstered now by the advantage of the breeze. What followed was a remarkable turnaround as Castlemartyr—so sharp and clinical in the opening half—were held scoreless for the entire second period, thanks to immense work from the St Patrick’s defence and midfield.

At the heart of the comeback was the experienced Niamh Keane, whose leadership and accuracy proved instrumental. She landed three early frees to settle her side and pile pressure back onto the Cork champions.

Moments later, Keane added a superb point from play, drifting into space before splitting the posts to narrow the deficit to 3-5 to 2-5 by the 38th minute and ignite real belief among the Tipperary supporters.

With Rosie O’Brien and Ailise Fitzgerald on top in the middle and Claire Fitzgerald now doing an excellent marking job on Ava McAuliffe, St Patrick’s really began to dominate and Castlemartyr were struggling to create any scoring opportunities of their own.

The result of this dominance was a third goal, this time from Érin Moroney, and the sides were level. Further pointed frees from the excellent Keane and a point from Claire Fitzgerald sealed a memorable victory, with the Tipperary champions running out five-point winners after a highly entertaining contest. 

St Patrick’s: Rachel Kelly, Keelin Ryan, Gemma Gahan, Claire Fitzgerald (0-1), Kate Fox, Emily Fox, Dawn Moroney, Rosie O' Brien, Ailise Fitzgerald, Dearbhla Morrissey, Milly Cleere (1-0), Niamh O'Brien, Niamh Keane (1-9, 6fs, 2 45s), Éabha Hogan, Érin Moroney (1-0).

Subs: Érin O Brien for Éabha Hogan (inj), Jess Strappe for Dearbhla Morrissey, Grace Noonan for Niamh O’Brien, Laura Murphy for Erin Moroney.

Subs not used: Sophie O’Brien and Aoibheann Sugrue.