Navan O’Mahony’s 2-17 Clann na nGael 1-12 (AET)

Sixty minutes of camogie couldn’t separate the sides in this Senior B semi final in Dunganny on Saturday morning, with Navan O’Mahony’s pulling away in extra time having clinched a draw at the death in normal time.

Clann na nGael looked to be through for a goal within forty seconds of throw-in, only for the intervention of Saoirse O’Regan and a clearance from Alannah Brady. Izzy Kinsella and Aoibhín Kielty gave O’Mahony’s the lead with two scores before Clann na nGael pointed a free in the eleventh minute.

A minute later the sides were level before Isabel O’Connor edged O’Mahony’s ahead again. Midway through the half, O’Mahony’s lead by four with further points from O’Connor, Lauren Woods and Kielty. Clann na nGael had aimed a number of balls to land in the danger zone, and this paid off in the twenty-second minute when they managed to direct a loose ball to the back of the net and leave a point between the teams. 

Kielty added to the advantage with a good free but Clann na nGael clawed one back with a point from play five minutes from the break, with no score to follow. O’Mahony’s were left rueing missed chances at this stage, having dropped a lot of balls into the goalies hands in the first half.

Navan O’Mahony’s 0-08 Clann na nGael 1-04

The game was very much up for grabs following the resumption and a Clann na nGael free left the sides level. Three minutes later, the Athboy-Ráth Chairn outfit edged ahead for the first time. 

The lead didn’t last long however, when Ailbhe Leahy who had been introduced off the bench made her mark quickly with a good score after an impressive play that started with a Tara Fay free. This was repeated twice over the next ten minutes – Clann na nGael pointing a free before O’Mahony’s drew level again – with Kielty the scorer in these instances. 

With ten minutes left on the clock, Clann na nGael went ahead again with a converted free. Almost ten minutes without score and the game seemed to be slipping from O’Mahony’s grip with the crucial score eluding them. The clock was fast approaching sixty seconds when Kielty drew level with a free.

Both sides spent injury time chasing the all-important advantage and with sixty-three minutes on the clock,  Clann na nGael converted a free. It looked to be all over for Donal Hogan’s charges before what was undoubtedly the best play of the entire match. Netminder Mags Tomkins took a quick puckout, with the ball going through four O’Mahony’s players without touching the ground. The final player was Jorja Keogh, who hit a great point under pressure to force extra time.

Navan O’Mahony’s 0-13 Clann na nGael 1-10

Three minutes into extra time, Aoibheann Leahy gave O’Mahony’s the lea which they would hold until the final whistle. This was followed by a Kielty free before Clann na nGael added a point with a minute remaining. This was the final score of the half and only a point separated the sides once more.

Navan O’Mahony’s 0-15 Clann na nGael 1-11

The second half of extra time was the first time since midway through the first half that more than a couple of points separated the sides. A play between the Leahy sisters was passed to Woods to Kinsella, with the latter rattling the net.

After Woods split the posts from play, five separated the sides and O’Mahony’s held the momentum for the first time in a while. Clann na nGael managed to get one back before Fay hit a long-range shot that ended up in the net, giving O’Mahony’s the insurance they needed. The final score came from Keogh and O’Mahony’s take on Blackhall Gaels in the final.

Navan O’Mahony’s: Mags Tomkins, Saoirse O’Regan, Alannah Brady, Róisín Tobin, Doireann Mellett, Tara Fay (1-0), Anna Gardiner, Annie Hogan, Claire Mallon, Jorja Keogh (0-02), Isabel O’Connor (0-03), Izzy Kinsella (1-01), Cara Ratty, Lauren Woods (0-02), Aoibhín Kielty (0-07, 7F)

Subs: Amanda Feeney for O’Regan, Ailbhe Leahy (0-01) for Ratty, Caoimhe McKenna for Mellett, Aoibheann Leahy (0-01) for Mallon

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