CORN UI MHAOILAN
Inse Chor and Loreto share silverware in a classic after late point leaves sides tied
GS INSE CHOR…………………………2-1
LORETO GNS, DALKEY……………….2-1
Daire Walsh
BEIBHINN O’Donnell came to the rescue of Loreto GNS, Dalkey on Tuesday afternoon as her point in time added on ensured the southside school claimed a share of the spoils with Gaelscoil Inse Chor in the Corn Uí Mhaoilan final.
While there was little to separate the teams for the majority of the contest, Inse Chor looked like they had done just enough to prevail.
Having come from behind on a couple of occasions, the Irish-language side found themselves a point in front with the final whistle fast approaching.
There was an opportunity for a late twist in the tale, however, and it was O’Donnell who provided it. This meant that Inse Chor and Loreto emerged as joint-winners of the silverware and given how committed both sets of players had been throughout, it was perhaps fitting that it would end in this manner.
There was only four minutes gone on the clock when Loreto broke the deadlock in this camogie showpiece with inside forward Francesca Lee scrambling home from close-range.
Inse Chor were calm and composed in their efforts to address this three-point deficit with skipper Mia Ní Cholmáin very much leading their charge. They had some near misses, before Ellen Ní Ghadhra de Grae eventually opened their account with a long-distance point on 17 minutes.
This was a much-needed confidence boost for the Islandbridge-based outfit and Keela Davido Ní Dhonnabháin’s subsequent goal from a tight left-hand angle gave them a slender 1-1 to 1-0 buffer at the interval.
A Lucy McCarthy goal from close-range squeezed Loreto back in front four minutes into the second period, but the tables were turned on them once again as, for the second time in the game, Davido Ní Dhonnabháin fired home along the ground to squeeze her side into the ascendancy.
With just six minutes of normal time remaining (matches of this nature are played over 20-minute halves), Loreto pushed hard for a way back into contention. They were camped inside the opposition ’45’ for an elongated spell and got their just rewards when O’Donnell slotted a shot between the posts in clinical fashion.
SCORERS – GS Inse Chor: K Davido Ní Dhonnabháin 2-0, E Ní Ghadhra de Grae 0-1. Loreto GNS, Dalkey: F Lee, L McCarthy 1-0 each, B O’Donnell 0-1 each.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Keela Davido Ní Dhonnabháin (GS Inse Chor).