Newcastle West celebrate third successive Limerick senior camogie title with victory over Monaleen

NEWCASTLE West claimed their third successive Limerick senior camogie title after convincingly beating Monaleen 1-22 to 0-5 in the decider at Ballyagran on Saturday.

The Magpies controlled the game from the outset and led 0-12 to 0-3 at half-time; an equally dominant second-half display resulted in a 20-point victory.

Newcastle West have now amassed five titles in seven years adding to previous triumphs in 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

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The gulf in experience and class was notable throughout. Monaleen were appearing in their first ever senior county final and only managed two points from play.

Nonetheless, the city-based side have shown enormous improvement from last year’s campaign which culminated in a relegation play-off final appearance.

Monaleen took the lead two minutes in when Ellie Madden slotted over a free, however Newcastle West took complete control from here onwards.

Mike Quaid’s side responded with four unanswered points from play; Hazel Horgan with a brace while Mia Smith and Rebecca Delee were also on target making

Kate Ambrose subsequently added a pointed free, Ellie Madden replied two minutes later but Monaleen still trailed 0-5 to 0-2 on 13 minutes.

Newcastle West quickly recovered momentum. On 13 minutes Rebecca Delee made it a five-point game with a spectacular score from a tight angle.

The defending champions kept the scoreboard ticking over. On 25 minutes, Kate Ambrose registered a pointed free stretching the margin to eight points.

60 seconds later, Ella Hession slotted over Monaleen’s first point from play before two pointed frees from Kate Ambrose gave Newcastle West a nine-point cushion at the break.

Ella Whelan extended the gap to 11 points three minutes after the break before Mia Smith registered the game’s only goal on 45 minutes.

The Monaleen defence failed to deal with a dropping ball from Roisin Ambrose; Smith collected the loose ball and fired to the net as Newcastle West now led 1-15 to 0-3.

Ellie Madden slotted over a pointed free seven minutes later, Monaleen’s first score for 28 minutes. Newcastle West finished strongly however with five successive scores.

Player-of-the-match Rebecca Delee chipped in with two points with Smith, Horgan and Kate Ambrose (45) also on target.

Laura Southern replied for Monaleen right at the death. Referee Mike Flannery subsequently blew the final whistle as Newcastle West celebrated an historic achievement.

Mike Quaid’s side now turn their attention to the Munster senior camogie championship and an away trip to play the Clare champions on the last weekend in October.

SCORERS: NEWCASTLE WEST: Kate Ambrose 0-9 (0-7f, 2’45), Mia Smith 1-3, Rebecca Delee 0-5, Hazel Horgan 0-4, Ella Whelan 0-1. MONALEEN: Ellie Madden 0-3 (0-3f), Ella Hession, Laura Southern 0-1 each

NEWCASTLE WEST: Aoife Corbett; Grace Lee, Roisin Mann, Yvonne Lee; Geri Mai O’Kelly, Lucy O’Brien, Ellie Woulfe; Karen O’Leary, Deborah Murphy; Mia Smith, Kate Ambrose, Ella Whelan; Rebecca Delee, Hazel Horgan, Roisin Ambrose. SUBS: Shauna Tobin for Ellie Woulfe (52 minutes), Ailbhe O’Connor for Yvonne Lee, Roisin Browne for Roisin Ambrose (59 minutes), Aoife Quaid for Aoife Corbett (60+1 minute)

MONALEEN: Aleksandra Wasylik; Abi Houlihan, Ciara Buckley, Aoife Nelligan; Carrie McCormack, Grace Field, Saoirse Fitzgerald; Megan O’Mara, Amy Burke; Laura Southern, Emily O’Halloran, Caoimhe Lyons; Robyn D’Arcy, Ella Hession, Ellie Madden. SUBS: Caitlin Bonfil for Carrie McCormack (37 minutes), Lucy Darcy for Abi Houlihan (55 minutes)

REFEREE: Mike Flannery