Rangers retain crown after second-half surge sinks Naomh Bríd
Mount Leinster Rangers celebrate their win.
Second-half goals from Ciara Kavanagh and Sarah Kehoe proved decisive as Mount Leinster Rangers successfully defended their AZAP Print Senior Camogie Championship title with a five-point victory over Naomh Bríd.
Having claimed the crown for the first time last year, Rangers showed the composure and determination of champions to weather a strong Naomh Bríd challenge before pulling clear in the closing stages.
The contest took time to ignite, with a scrappy and hard-fought opening half yielding just seven points. Naomh Bríd edged that battle, taking a narrow 0-4 to 0-3 lead into the interval.
The game opened up considerably after the restart and Rangers seized the initiative. Kehoe's goal in the 46th minute helped her side build a six-point advantage and appeared to put them firmly in control.
However, Naomh Bríd refused to go away. Inspired by Eibhe Lawler, they mounted an impressive rally and when the sharpshooter raised her tally to 1-4 in the 52nd minute, the deficit had been reduced to a single point.
Rangers responded like champions. Ciara Kavanagh and Roisin Joyce, who also lines out for Wexford FC in the League of Ireland, both found scores to restore breathing space, stretching the lead to three points.
When Kavanagh converted a free in the 57th minute, Rangers had one hand on the trophy. Molly Kavanagh added the final score of normal time to leave daylight between the sides.
To their credit, Naomh Bríd continued to battle until the final whistle. Lawler twice attempted to find the net directly from frees outside the 20-metre line during injury time, but Rangers always had sufficient cover in defence to repel the danger.
It summed up the resilience that underpinned their successful title defence and secured back-to-back senior championships.
Catherine Kavanagh; Tara Kavanagh, Áine Ryan, Alice Dalton, Kathleen Fenlon, Rachel Breen, Sarah Joyce; Molly Kavanagh (0-1), Martha Dolan; Sarah Kehoe (1-1), Ciara Kavanagh (1-5, 2fs), Roisin Joyce (0-3), Rachel Kennedy, Shannon Kavanagh, Hannah Kehoe. Subs: Katie Barcoe for R Joyce (39), Rachel Bible for S Kavanagh (46).
Tara O'Byrne; Olwyn Lawler, Anne Roche, Moya O'Toole, Clodagh Lawler (0-1f), Caoimhe O'Neill, Jackie Prendergast; Helen Roche, Siofra O'Neill (0-1); Aibha Kiernan, Emma Brennan (0-2, 1f), Katie Garry Murphy, Eibhe Lawler (1-4, 3fs), Niamh Forde, Kate Burke. Subs: Rachel Sawyer for Brennan (h/t), Eimear O'Toole for Forde (42), Keeva Collins for O'Toole (55).
Patrick Murphy (Ballinkillen).
