Limerick claim All-Ireland U16 ‘A’ camogie title after epic battle against Galway:

By Paul Shaughnessy Limerick Leader Sport

THE Limerick U16 camogie team created history on Saturday evening in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny by becoming the first Limerick team to win an All-Ireland camogie title in the grade.

Rachel O’Grady was the hero for Limerick after she sent over a point deep into the injury time which proved to the difference between the sides.

Captain Ornagh Barrett and Mia Smith were the standout performers for this victorious Limerick side.

Both sides deserve massive massive credit for the enthralling contest they produced.

It was Galway who started brightly and the Tribeswomen raced into a 0-2 point lead after four minutes with Nina McKeown and Katelyn Walsh on target.

After that, Limerick defended heroically putting huge pressure on the Galway attackers forcing them to make mistakes. On eight minutes Caitlin Ryan reduced the gap to the minimium and that was followed up by a neat point from Mia Smith to have the sides level.

The lively duo of Mia Smith and Caitlin Ryan were begining to get into their flow and both players pushed the Treaty County 0-4 to 0-2 ahead.

Galway sharpshooter Katelyn Walsh quickly made it a one point game on 27 minutes.

Diarmuid Ryan’s side finished the first half strongly when Aoibhinn O’Connor played a spectacular ball into Mia Smith and Smith made no mistake. Ryan nailed another placed ball to have Diarmuid Ryan’s side leading 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.

Limerick used the breeze to their advantage in the first half and Galway did the same in the second half. Two minutes into the second half Sinead Feeney got on the end of a break to put two points between the sides. The victors were rewarded a free which Caitlin Ryan dropped short and Mia Smith was alert on the edge of square to push their lead back out to three points.

Galway were begining to hit their purple patch and the games was level on 42 minutes after the insturmental Sinead Feeney landed two points and another Walsh free left nothing between the sides.

Mia Smith was the standout player in Nowlan Park on Saturday evening and Newcastle West player put her side back in front 0-8 to 0-7 on 44 minutes.

Walsh levelled the sides for the third time on 45 minutes. On 56 minutes Katelyn Walsh put Galway 0-9 to 0-8 ahead and it looked as if they had did enough.

This Limerick team showed tremendous character and Caitlin Ryan was on target with a free just inside the 45 to have the sides deadlocked.

Rachael O’Grady sent over an inspirational point from an acute angle deep into injury time and it proved to be the difference between the sides as Limerick hung on for a narrow one point victory.

Katelyn Walsh did have an opportunity to force the game to a replay from a place ball but her effort went to the left and wide.

SCORERS:
LIMERICK: Mia Smith (0-5), Caitlin RYAN (0-4, 0-4 frees), Rachael O’Grady 0-1

GALWAY: Katelyn Walsh (0-5, 0-4 frees), Sinead Feeney 0-3, Nina McKeown 0-1.

LIMERICK: Emma Doherty (Treaty Gaels), Tara Hynes (Bruff), Ornagh Barrett (Captain, Knockaderry), Aoife Morrissey (Granagh Ballingarry), Eve Cleary (St Fanahan’s), Abigail Buckey (Bruff), Cora Long (Tournafulla), Hazel Horgan (Newcastle West), Caitlin Ryan (Na Piarsaigh), Anna Rose Benson (Na Piarsaigh), Rachel O’Grady (Patrickswell), Sophie O’Grady (Patrickswell), Amber O’Sullivan Hunt (Killeedy), Aoibhinn O’Connor (Bruff), Mia Smith (Newcastle West).

SUBS: Isabelle O’Brien (Newcastle/West) for Sophie O’Grady (42 minutes), Aisling Foley (Croagh Kilfinny) for O’Sullivan Hunt (58 minutes).

GALWAY: Leah Horan, Kate Kennedy, Muireann Conroy, Alisha King, Heidi Hesnan, Emily Corcoran, Aislinn Healy, Sinead Feeney, Aoife Scarry, Katelyn Walsh, Nina McKeown, Amy Kenny, Katie Murray (Captain), Emma Barrett, Mary Bridget Cosgrove.

SUBS: Ciara Costello for Nina McKeown (50 minutes), Leah Forde for Katie Murray (53 minutes).

REFEREE: Andy Larkin (Cork).