AIB All-Ireland Club Junior A Camogie Championship final Junior A final
Granemore (Armagh) 0-12 Knockananna (Wicklow) 3-11
WHEN the holders Granemore turned around with a lead of 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time, back-to-back titles looked within the Armagh side’s grasp.
However, Knockananna, beaten in the final two years ago and then by Granemore in last year’s semi-final, put in a sensational second-half to claim the junior A title just three years after winning the B version.
Granemore were still level with 58 minutes gone, but a brilliant 1-5 in the remaining playing time saw Knockananna snatch a flattering victory.
The Ulster side started so well with top-scorer Rachael Merry pointing inside 30 seconds and then Laura Carr sending Corinna Doyle through for a second score from a tight angle.
Aobha Harmon notched a point in reply for Knockananna, but the Armagh champions moved four ahead by the eighth minute with two frees from Merry and another point from Doyle.
Merry continued to be the primary threat in the Granemore forward line, while her defenders were relentless in their tackling to establish a solid attacking platform.
Ciara Hill, with a monster point from halfway, and a few Merry frees extended Granemore’s lead to 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.
While they were not flattered by that lead, there were nevertheless hints that the Wicklow champions could mount a serious challenge if they could sort out some handling errors.
Ciara Hill almost found the Knockananna net from a long-distance sideline cut moments into the second half but Kellie Byrne cleared the danger.
That could well have been a seminal moment as, a minute later, Áine Darcy won possession up front for Knockananna and found Ciara Byrne who blasted to the net.
Laura McGrath levelled the tie moments later from distance. But Granemore seemed to have weathered the storm when Merry pointed two dead-balls to edge her team ahead.
However, the last quarter belonged to Knockananna. They got their break in the 52nd minute when Ciara Byrne won a penalty that she dispatched low to the net.
The one-point lead lasted a mere minute as Merry’s free levelled. But that didn’t break the Wicklow side’s momentum.
Amazingly, Knockananna hit 1-5 without reply in the last few minutes of playing time. Aimee Maher started the run of scores before substitute Jackie Kinch put them ahead.
A first title was firmly sealed when Ciara Byrne saw her long-distance effort from near the sideline sail into the far corner of the net. And there was still time for points from Aimee Maher and a double from Laura McGrath.
Knockananna C Byrne 3-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2 fs); L McGrath 0-3; A Harmon & A Maher 0-2 each; S Goetelen & J Kinch 0-1 each
Granemore R Merry 0-8 (0-7f); C Doyle 0-3; C Hill 0-1
