All-Ireland Junior Club Camogie Final Replay – Lavey, Derry v St. Anne’s, Waterford

Lavey, Derry defeated St. Anne’s, Waterford by 1-13 to 0-7 in the All-Ireland Junior Club Camogie Championship Final Replay on Sunday in Donaghmore Ashbourne, Co. Meath.

Match Report

Lavey (Derry)….1-13 St Anne’s (Waterford)…0-7

Lavey took home the Phil McBride Cup for the first time following a thrilling All-Ireland Junior Camogie Club Championship final replay in Ashbourne yesterday. Having already played eighty minutes last Sunday, both teams once again showed their fitness to produce an action-packed contest. In excellent conditions and in front of a large crowd, camogie was the ultimate winner. The Ulster champs made a blistering start. Corner-forward, Paula McCloy, sent over two early points. Player-of-the-Match, Attracta McPeake, excelled for the Derry side at midfield. She never stopped working for the hour.

Lavey led at the break, 0-6 to 0-4, but it took St Anne’s just 45 seconds to register the first score of the second half. It came from a free by the very impressive Karen Kelly, who gave the Lavey defence plenty of concern. Yet the golden goal came from a Derry stick, seven minutes into the restart, as Helen O’Neill darted through and drilled in a beauty. That gave Lavey a 1-7 to 0-5 advantage. Lavey then grew in confidence, and they enhanced their work with six valuable points. Anne’s kept battling, yet openings were rare against an extremely formidable rearguard.

Defeat was no fault of Charlotte-Marie Raher (Raher), who toiled with conviction and craft in the engine room. The Saints had other aces in Carolyn Ahearn, who made a tremendous save midway through the second half. Yet, overall, Lavey’s craft and punch in attack, plus that solid defence, proved the match winning ticket. Especially outstanding were centre half-back, Ceara Cushnahan, captain and left half-back, Siobhan Convery, and the free-taking and general contribution from the gifted McPeake.

Lavey (Derry) 1-13 (A McPeake 0-6 (5f, 1 65), H O’Neill 1-0, P McCloy 0-3, M O’Kane, D McShane 0-2 each);
St Anne’s (Waterford) 0-7 (K Kelly 0-5 (all frees), M Murphy, J Simpson 0-1 each).

From Maire Ui Scolai

Match Preview

St Anne’s and Lavey return to Ashbourne on Sunday after the teams couldn’t be separated last weekend following extra time. In a game that was dictated by the elements, it took a Karen Kelly point to tie matters on 60 minutes for the Munster champions.

However, Lavey showed tremendous character to draw level in added time. There is nothing to suggest who will emerge victorious. Both teams have huge experience, and with neither side having won the Phil McBride Cup before, they will not be willing to give in too easy.

Lavey, once again, will be led by star attacker Mary O’Kane who played a major role in the drawn match. As did Kelly for the Deise. She and her fellow inter-county players will not want to lose another All Ireland title. This could well go down to the wire again.