Narrow win for St Finbarr's in titanic battle with Loughgiel Shamrocks to book All-Ireland final spot
FINAL BOOKED: St. Finbarr's Méabh Cahalane blocks a shot from Roisin McCormick of Loughgiel Shamrocks. Picture: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes
A late point from Ciara Golden was the crucial score for the Barrs as they won an unbelievable game to see them advance to the final of the AIB All-Ireland senior camogie championship.
Just like their Munster semi-final it took extra extra time to separate the sides with Golden scoring late on to see her side win by the narrowest of margins.
It was a game that the large crowd present won’t ever forget as both sides gave it everything with just the narrowest of margins in it at the end.
Sorcha McCartan opened the scoring for the Barrs in the first minute as they were playing with a slight wind advantage.
She had the chance to add a second but her effort from a free was blocked by the Antrim’s side keeper, Emma McAlister.
Eight minutes in and the Barrs got the opening goal from Orlaith Cahalane.
A long ball in from a sideline by Keeva McCarthy was caught superbly by Cahalane who turned to fire to the back of the net, to make it 1-1 to no score.
Loughgiel Shamrocks opened their account when Roisin McCormick scored from a free and they added a second form the restart, with Marie Laverty pointing.
Cahalane put three between them again when she pointed with McCormick replying from a free at the other end.
With 16 minutes gone it was 1-3 to 0-3, with McCormick missing a chance to narrow the gap from a free.
Loughgiel Shamrocks first goal chance came after 21 minutes when Amy Boyle played Caitrin Dobbin in, but Ciara Hurley was quickly off her line to block and send it out for a 45.
McCormick pointed from the 45 but from the restart the Barrs had their second goal. A long ball out of defence was caught by McCartan who gave McAlister no chance of saving, to make it 2-3 to 0-4.
A great run up the wing by Lucia McNaughton saw her point for Loughgiel Shamrocks to reduce the deficit.
It proved to be the last score of the half as the Barrs led by 2-3 to 0-5 at the break, with it still all to play for as there was nothing between the sides at this stage.
Less than a minute into the second half and the Barrs had Hurley to thank again, this time denying Katie McKillop a goal.
With 33 minutes gone there was only three between the sides when Dobbin pointed as Loughgiel Shamrocks were now making use of the wind.
Another long goal shot was stopped by Hurley, with McCormick pointing the resulting 45 to make it a two point game.
The Barrs needed a score to settle into the second half and McCarthy duly obliged but the momentum was with Loughgiel Shamrocks at this stage.
Annie Lynn put two between the sides again and with 50 minutes gone the Antrim side led for the first time.
McCormick picked up the ball from the restart, burst past several defenders to score a goal and put her side in front, 1-8 to 2-4.
McCarthy pointed from another free and with seven minutes to go the sides were level, 2-5 to 1-8.
Cahalane put the Barrs back in front as the game proved to be what most expected – a battle to the end.
Another McCarthy free stretched the Barrs lead to two, before a 45 from McCormick has one between the sides with two minutes left.
Deep into injury time Boyle levelled it to take it to extra-time.
A superb point from McCartan put the Barrs back in front, after she blocked a defender’s clearance to regain possession and score.
Five minutes into extra time and Loughgiel Shamrocks got their second goal, with Lynn scoring to make it 2-10 to 2-8.
McCarthy replied for the Barrs with McCartan on target again to see the sides level at half time of extra time, 2-10 apiece.
McCormick put her side back in front before Dobbin got Loughgiel Shamrocks third goal.
McCarthy put three between them with seven minutes to go and a minute later they were level. Cahalane set up Eimer Hurley for their third goal and extra extra time was looking a possibility.
Another McCarthy free put the Barrs back in front with just 20 seconds left.
But two minutes into injury time saw it level again to take it to extra extra time.
Neither side scored in the first half of extra extra time as players were visibly tiring.
Hurley put the Barrs in front with McCormick replying at the other end and with a minute left the sides were still level.
McCormick put her side back in front with Cahalane levelling it again.
Deep into injury time Ciara Golden pointed for the Barrs to see them win an epic battle.
: O Cahalane, S McCartan 1-3 each E Hurley 1-1, K McCarthy 0-7 (6f), C Golden 0-1.
R McCormick 1-9 (6f, 0-2 45), A Lynn, C Dobbin 1-1 each, M Laverty, L McNaughton, A Boyle 0-1 each.
: C Hurley; S Punch, A Egan, A O’Neill: G Cahalane, M Cahalane, S Daly; K Wall, K McCarthy; A Shannon, C Golden, N Olden; O Cahalane, S McCartan, H O’Leary.
L O’Donovan for S Daly (37), E Hurley for N Olden (39), E Wigginton Barrett for K Wall (55), K Wall for H O’Leary (75), K Cahalane for A Egan (80).
: E McAlister: C Campbell, M McGarry, K Lynn; L McNaughton, E McFadden, C McKillop; A Boyle, A Connolly; K McKillop, R McCormick, C Laverty; C Dobbin, A Lynn, M Laverty.
: K McKendry for C Laverty (44), O Laverty for K McKillop (70), M O’Hara for C Campbell (75), K McKillop for M Laverty (80).
Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).
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