Minor camogie County Final Eochaill v Balinora

What a thriller – if you weren’t there you missed a cracker of a game.
Both teams showed magnificent heart and determination to end this County final in a draw.
The game started with great zest from the throw in, Shannon Watson was on top form in full back making some great blocks throughout the game, the backs were unlucky when we gave away a free inside the first ten minutes which resulted in a fine goal scored by Ballinora.
The Youghal side never dropped their heads though and plugged away with corner back Norah Sheehan giving a great ball to Roisin O’Keeffe who seemed to be all over the pitch, she ran from midfield to the forward line landing a lovely ball right into the hand of Shannen Bulman Joyce who is always in the right place at the right time and directed a point over the bar.
After a dominant Youghal side kept working the ball up the field, Emily Roche was on hand to score the goal that we badly needed. The spirits were lifted even further when Ellie Budds who looked unstoppable on the day was awarded a free from outside the 45. 
Great team work was shown throughout the team but it has to be noted the runs that Roisin O’Keeffe went on to produce most of the scores on the day.
Ellie and Emily were again showing great team work when Ellie passed a lovely ball across the square to Emily who in turn hand passed it to shannen who was just off target on the goal.
It gave the massive Youghal support on the side line something to be proud of when they saw that chances were being made. The chance came again soon after this play with Shannen Bulman Joyce leaving the Ballinora keeper with no chance. Amy Hennessey was absolutely brilliant in goal stopping 2 goal chances one after the other just before the whistle for half time.
The score line read Youghal 1-3 Ballinora 0-3 at half time.
The second half was again as tough as the first with Ballinora throwing everything at the Youghal side, but Youghal’s Roisin O’Keeffe was unstoppable with yet more surging runs from half back positions again the corner forwards battled for every ball and made it easy for full forward Shannen Bulman Joyce to put another goal in the back of the net.
 
Ballinora were awarded a free which they took a fine score from. From the Youghal puck out the girls went on another surging run, another great hand pass from Emily Roche to Leah Broderick who was unlucky not to have taken the score.
The ball was quickly moved down the field by the Ballinora backs and another fine save was made by Amy Hennessey, there was a scuffle on the line with the umpire closely watching the goal line, the ball was coolly kicked in by one of the Ballinora forwards.
Youghal were awarded another free when Roisin was taking down on one of her runs, Shannen Bulman Joyce took it in her stride to knock the free over the bar.
Ballinora answered the score by a fantastic score off the hurl, this type of score is a rarity in underage camogie and credit where credit is due, the side line was impressed.
The teams were level with 5 minutes on the clock.
Youghal pushed on and took every chance they could get, it was tough to watch them almost clinch the title but they were unlucky with 3 consecutive wides.
 
Both teams earned great respect on the day as it was a pure joy to watch a great camogie game.
The final will be replayed with date TBC. Please check us out on Face Book for the details of the match.