Extra-time heartbreak for brave Monaleen in Munster club junior camogie final

MONALEEN suffered extra-time heartbreak when going down by a single point, 0-18 to 4-7, to St Joseph's Doora-Barefield, of Clare, in their Munster club junior camogie final played at The Ragg, Co Tipperary on Saturday afternoon.

The sides had been level, 0-12 to 2-6, at the end of normal time in a nail-biting contest.

Limerick intermediate camogie champions Monaleen saw their first venture into provincial competition end in the most unfortunate circumstances when, after fighting back not only to send their Munster junior camogie final into extra-time but then lead by two points, they were zapped by a late Saint Joseph's Doora-Barefield double whammy just as the final whistle beckoned.

Never did the saying that 'goals win games' ring as true as in Saturday's clash when a penalty missed at the start was overtaken by former Kilkenny player Siobhán Flynn slamming home two of her three goals and then, after a superbly-composed second-half that kept their opponents to a single point, their goal was breached again at crucial moments in both extra periods.

It all made for a fascinating match-up of Barefield's direct movement through the lines and Monaleen's running game to open up the spaces, which engaged the big noisy crowd over almost 100 minutes on the field of play but, in the end, the losers paid for a sluggish first half where they allowed themselves to be pressured both at the back and up front by their fired-up opponents.

When roles were reversed in the second half, Monaleen's greater composure in the challenge drew the fouls to haul themselves back in contention but, having appeared to have done all the hard work, they were caught at the death by Doora-Barefield's eye for the goal.

The Clare side had led 2-5 to 0-4 at the end of the opening half in normal time.

SCORERS: ST JOSEPH'S DOORA-BAREFIELD: Siobhán Flynn 3-3 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), Chloe Duggan 1-1, Síofra Ní Chonaill, Chloe Towey, Louise Woods 0-1 each; MONALEEN: Ellie Madden 0-11 (10 frees), Caoimhe Lyons 0-4, Ella Hession 0-2, Laura Southern 0-1.

ST JOSEPH'S DOORA-BAREFIELD: Karen McMahon; Hannah Doyle, Sinéad O'Connor, Shauna Moloney; Maedhbh O'Connor, Aisling McMahon, Aisling Hannon; Aisling Reidy, Chloe Towey; Sophie Torpey, Kate Harrington, Louise Woods; Siobhán Flynn, Síofra Ná Chonaill, Caoimhe Hoey. SUBS: Megan O'Brien for Caoimhe Hoey (38 minutes), Amy Lenihan for Kate Harrington (48 minutes), Éabha O'Driscoll for Megan O'Brien (54 minutes), Ciara Duggan (introduced to make up 15 for extra time), Kate O'Callaghan for Amy Lenihan (82 minutes).

MONALEEN: Faye Coffey; Aoife Nelligan, Grace Field, Niamh Moloney; Ciara Buckley, Laura Hession, Isabella Collions; Saoirse Fitzgerald, Amy Burke; Laura Southern, Síofra Ni Fríghil, Ellie Madden; Ella Hession, Caoimhe Lyons, Emily O'Halloran. SUBS: Niamh Doyle for Grace Reid (injured, 27 minutes), Carrie McCormack for Saoirse Fitzgerald (half-time), Abi Houlihan for Niamh Moloney (36 minutes), Saoirse Lane for Isabella Collins (injured, 54 minutes), Grace Hegarty for Ciara Buckley (injured, 78 minutes).

REFEREE: Mike Ryan (Tipperary).