Gailltír dethrone the champions after senior camogie final thriller
Gailltír joint captains Alannah O'Sullivan and Maeve Sheridan lift the Senior A Camogie cup after their win over De La Salle at Azzurri Walsh Park.
Molly Comerford crowned a remarkable week in unforgettable fashion as she inspired Gailltír to a famous victory over De La Salle in the Clannad Care Co. Senior A Camogie Final at Azzurri Walsh Park.
Just seven days after captaining Gailltír's senior footballers to county final glory against Ballymacarbry, Comerford once again produced when it mattered most, striking five points in total and delivering two crucial late scores as Gailltír completed an extraordinary senior camogie and ladies football double.
In a final packed with intensity, physicality and quality, the challengers showed tremendous composure to overturn a two-point half-time deficit against the reigning county champions. Five-time All-Star Beth Carton threatened to drag De La Salle to another title with a superb individual tally, but Gailltír refused to be rattled and finished the stronger side, outscoring their opponents 0-6 to 0-1 over the closing 22 minutes.
Playing against a strong breeze in the opening half, Gailltír settled quickly. Annie Fitzgerald created the first major opening inside the opening minute but was crowded out before she could pull the trigger, while Alannah O'Sullivan opened the scoring with a fine effort from play.
De La Salle soon found their rhythm. Abby Flynn levelled before Katie Mullane edged the city side ahead following excellent work from Carton.
Gailltír responded impressively. Laoise Forrest opened a run of three successive scores with a free before Comerford twice pointed from play, showing all the confidence that has characterised her season to move her side 0-4 to 0-2 in front.
Carton then began to exert her influence. Two frees brought the sides level before Aoife Power restored Gailltír's advantage in a fiercely contested encounter that saw both sides throw themselves into every challenge.
De La Salle nearly found the breakthrough on 19 minutes when Abby Flynn broke through on goal, but Noelle Murphy produced a vital save to deny her. The champions capitalised on that momentum, with Carton punishing a series of Gailltír indiscretions to edge her side ahead through a succession of placed balls.
Further scores from Carton, including a well-struck 45, along with another point from Katie Mullane, left De La Salle 0-9 to 0-7 ahead at the interval and seemingly well positioned with the elements behind them.
But Gailltír emerged for the second half with renewed purpose.
Ciara O'Sullivan and Forrest struck excellent points inside three minutes of the restart to erase the deficit, Forrest's score particularly impressive. De La Salle answered through two more Carton frees to reclaim the initiative, but it would prove their last sustained spell of control.
Forrest continued to drive Gailltír forward and landed two more points to draw the sides level once again. The momentum was now firmly with the eventual champions.
Annie Fitzgerald then produced a superb score to put Gailltír ahead for the first time since the 18th minute. Although Carton responded to tie the contest once more, the closing stages belonged entirely to the winners.
Forrest delivered a magnificent long-range free on 54 minutes to nudge Gailltír back in front before Comerford stepped up with another huge score from play moments later.
De La Salle desperately searched for a route back into the contest and almost found it when Katie Mullane's goal-bound effort was brilliantly saved by Murphy. Carton's resulting 45 dropped short, and the opportunity slipped away.
Comerford then provided the final flourish, splitting the posts two minutes from time to put three points between the sides and effectively seal the title.
When referee Andy Larkin sounded the final whistle, the celebrations among the Gailltír supporters were immediate and joyous. Kate Lynch's outstanding display earned her Player of the Match honours, while joint captains Alannah O'Sullivan and Maeve Sheridan proudly lifted the cup to cap a historic week for the club.
Laoise Forrest 0-5 (4f), Molly Comerford 0-5, Annie Fitzgerald 0-2, Alannah O'Sullivan 0-1, Aoife Power 0-1, Ciara O'Sullivan 0-1.
Beth Carton 0-9 (8f, 1 45), Katie Mullane 0-2, Abby Flynn 0-1.
Brianna O'Regan; Shayla Condon, Alannah McNulty, Kate Winkle; Leah Browne, Keeley Corbett Barry, Emma Kennedy; Abbie Mullane, Taylor Healy; Niamh Power, Beth Carton, Holly Ryan; Abby Flynn, Maggie Gostl, Katie Mullane.
Megan O'Connor for Taylor Healy (36), Courtney Healy for Niamh Power (48).
Noelle Murphy; Caoimhe Flynn, Shauna Fitzgerald, Maeve Sheridan; Aoife Hartley, Clodagh Carroll, Ciara Sherlock; Kate Lynch, Alannah O'Sullivan; Ali Ferguson, Aoife Power, Ciara O'Sullivan; Molly Comerford, Laoise Forrest, Annie Fitzgerald.
Emma Fitzgerald for Caoimhe Flynn (40), Maria Brennan for Shauna Fitzgerald (44).
Andy Larkin (Cork).
