Sixth County Final Win For Lismore in eight seasons.

Lismore are County Senior Camogie Champions for 2017 after they came out on top with five points to spare in this year’s championship decider at the WIT Arena on Saturday afternoon last.

When the same two sides met at the same stage of the competition twelve months ago, it was the Barony Ladies that won a first County Final at this grade since 2008 and they like Lismore before them on a number of occasions in recent years went on to capture the Munster Intermediate title a few weeks later.

From the side that won twelve months ago Gailltir this time around fielded without Áine O’Keeffe, Clara Hogan, Aileen Cummins, Sally Ann O’Grady, Sinead Cunningham and Aisling Flood from the start and also had Trish Jackman who was away for much of the summer months amongst their subs for this game, but she made an appearance coming in for Annie Glavey during the course of the game.

Lismore also had changes from the side that lost out twelve months ago, but in their case it could be argued that they were a stronger XV this year as Marie Russell, Sharon Williams and Grainne Kenneally were all back in the starting team this year.

Aoife Hannon who was sorely missed for Lismore last year finished as top scorer in this game with seven points, six of which came from place balls (5 frees and 1 ’45), while for the Barony Ladies it was Annie Fitzgerald in her first senior county final was their top scorer with half a dozen points, four of which came from placed balls, while inter county player Áine Lyng put over one point less from frees for the Sky Blues.

But not for the first time it was Caithriona McGlone that was the hero of the hour as she struck two goals for her side, including the ensuring winning score deep in stoppage time in this action packed final.

She has made a habit of scoring goals on the big stage and she called on all her experience again in this game to help her side to victory, but the win was by no means a one woman performance for the winners as Aoife Hannon, Shona Curran, Marie Russell, Shauna Kiernan and team captain Nicola Morrissey showed great leadership for the side who had former inter county goalkeeper Brendan Landers over the team this year.

No final is a one team affair and for Gailltir young Annie Fitzgerald was hugely impressive as was inter county player Emma Roche.

The first half of this game proved to be a very even contest. The sides were locked together on the scoreboard on five occasions in the opening 30 minutes, but it was the side from the west of the county that turned around holding a 1-5 to 0-7 advantage showing.

Aoife Hannon traded early points with Áine Lyng and Annie Fitzgerald before Nicola Morrissey and Grainne Kenneally got their names on the score sheet.

Annie Fitzgerald kept Gailltir in touch with some impressive shooting, but the 2016 champions would go in at the break behind, as Lismore on the half hour mark netted the games first goal when Aoife Hannon and Ruth Geogheghan linked up with Caitriona McGlone and when she had the sliotar in hand she had just one thing on her mind as she beat Ciara Jackman with an unstoppable drive into the corner of the net.

Caitriona McGlone went from score getter to score provider at the start of the second had as she set up Aoife Hannon for a fine score. Annie Fitzgerald pointed from a free following a foul on Áine Lyng after which Aoife Hannon put over a free following a foul on Sharon Williams.

Further points from Aoife Hannon and Shona Curran followed for the victors, meaning that Caitriona McGlone goal at the end of the first half was to be the difference between the sides (1-9 to 0-9) with nine minutes remaining.

Conversions from Áine Lyng and Clodagh Carroll followed for Gailltir to make it a one point game meaning that the side that showed the most hunger would win the game that is if there was to be a winner.

In the time that remained Lismore showed that greater hunger as they won a sixth county final since 2010.

Not for the first time and certainly not for the last time in her career Caithriona McGlone stepped up to the mark once more as she got inside the Gailltir defence late on in this game to hit a second goal to put her side four in front and they ensure victory was going to be late at the end of this game when Aoife Hannon put over her seven point of the game.  

Lismore: Tanya Morrissey; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Ellen Curran; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Marie Russell; Shona Curran, Sharon Williams; Ruth Geogheghan, Grainne Kenneally, Nicola Morrissey; Aoife Hannon, Caithriona McGlone, Johanna Houlihan. Sub: Emma Power for Johanna Houlihan.

Scorers: Aoife Hannon 0-7 (5fs, 1 45’), Caithriona McGlone 2-0, Grainne Kenneally, Nicola Morrissey, Shona Curran 0-1 each.

Gailltir: Ciara Jackman; Eilis Cullinane, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne; Emily Mahony, Emma Roche, Jenny O’Grady; Shauna Fitzgerald, Ciara O’Sullivan; Kate Lynch, Annie Glavey, Áine Lyng; Emer Walsh, Róisín Flood, Annie Fitzgerald. Subs: Trish Jackman for Annie Glavey, Clodagh Carroll for Róisín Flood, Leah Sheridan for Eilis Cullinane, Áine O’Keeffe for Emer Walsh.

Scorers: Annie Fitzgerald 0-6 (4fs), Áine Lyng 0-3 (3fs), Ciara O’Sullivan, Clodagh Carroll 0-1 each.

Referee: Liz Dempsey