Castleknock Camogie take Senior 6 title
(02 Nov 2014)

Castleknock 1-7 Ballyboden St Endas 2-3

Castleknock took another step on the camogie ladder with an exciting win over Ballyboden St Endas who pulled the game back to the minimum with the second last puck of the match before time ran out.

Bronagh Quinn, left half forward on the Castleknock had a powerful influence on the game and was the most dangerous forward on the field. She gave her side the lead after 2 minutes with a well-struck free. But Boden went one better and Ciara Lambert first-timed to the net after good work by Ciara Scallan in the 6th minute.

But Bronagh Quinn had the appearance of a player who could do damage. While her side struggled for much of the first half to break down a sound Ballyboden defence where Cliodhna McNamara, Aisling Hayes and Emma Seery were doing well, Quinn kept her side in touch with two placed balls and had the sides level by the 22nd minute.

Ballyboden would have been satisfied with with matters at this stage with the aid of the breeze to come in the second half. However Castleknock put in a storming closing 6 minutes and notched three superb points from play from Bronagh Quinn after a great pass from Julie Rodgers, Eilish Andrews and Louise Mahony courtesy of an excellent line ball by Bronagh Quinn.

Three points was by no means a safe lead but Castleknock’s spirits rose two minutes after the restart when Bronagh Quinn pointed a difficult free to give her side a psychologically important lead. The defence in the first half looked capable of containing the Boden attack and for the first 20 minutes of the second half limited the Firhouse Road crew to a fine point from their most dangerous forward Ciara Lambert.

The game’s crucial score came in the 48th minute when Castleknock were awarded a free from 30m. A safe point seemed in the offing but Bronagh Quinn showed tremendous self-belief and hammered to the net. Boden were now in serious trouble and needed to respond but the Castleknock defence was excellent from the very composed ‘keeper Hannah Hanlon, full back Eimear Stynes aided by the tireless work of Louise Mahony and Claire Murray.

Ciara Scallan fought defiantly for Boden as did Ceara Daly and they were rewarded with a point from a free by Anne Hogan to reduce the deficit to four points. A great clearance by Emma Seery found Cliodhna McNamara and her delivery was superbly pointed by Ciara Lambert. Ciara Scallan was narrowly wide before Boden were awarded a free in the 61st minute. Anne Hogan’s low shot hit the net to leave only a solitary point between the sides but on the puck out referee Pat Denieffe blew the final whistle to end a thoroughly enjoyable game.

Player of the Match: Bronagh Quinn (Castleknock)

Referee: Pat Denieffe