St. Kevins beat the Brides to become senior camogie champions

St Kevins got the goals at the right times in Stabannon as they became Louth senior camogie champions for 2024 with this victory over holders St Brides, who were seeking their fifth championship triumph on the bounce.

With both sides featuring players who lined out for their respective clubs in last week’s Intermediate and Senior club finals, these teams deserve huge credit, as they fought tooth and nail for every second and first ball, with players tackling and scrapping for possession in the middle sector, a particular joy to watch.

17 minutes on the clock saw the Knockbridge side lead St Kevins by 1-4 to 1-0 with forward Cara McKeever on fire early doors with some delightfully struck frees off the neatly manicured Stabannon Parnells pitch.

After a McKeever free opened the scoring, Maebh Thornton capitalised on a Kevins defensive mix up to fire to the net from close range to give the Brides a 1-1 to no score lead inside the opening minute. 

St Kevins who were seeking to win the championship for the first time since 2019, threw themselves an early lifeline.

St Brides and county keeper Mairead McMahon had initially kept out a blistering strike from Aoife Gregory, but Mary Taffee was first to react to tap the loose ball to the net to make it 1-1 to 1-0 in a lively opening to this decider.

Emma McArdle who played such a key role for the Brides’ footballers’ dramatic Intermediate triumph last week, collected a fine pass from captain and dual colleague Orla McGeeney, before neatly firing over the bar, to leave two between the side after 11 minutes at 1-2 to 1-0.

Cara McKeever, who finished with 0-7 and 16 possessions of the sliotar to her credit over the hour, landed two further strikes to give her side that four point lead approaching the 20^th minute, as the Brides punished the Kevins’ profligacy in front of the posts, which saw them amass 2-1 from 16 first half shots.

However, the Kevins who have endured several decider disappointments over the last few years, were hungry and determined not to leave Stabannon without the trophy. With Gemma Murray and Roisin Maguire fighting for second balls on puckouts and driving the team on at every opportunity, the Phillipstown side were always in contention.

The joint captains were also backed up by an impressive supporting cast of the excellent Lilly Carter at centre half, and Aoife Gregory at centre forward.

After Brides’ Mairead McMahon denied Katie Matthews from close range, the resultant 45 from Gregory managed to find its way to the net to give her side a shot in the arm, narrowing the gap to a point with 2 minutes remaining until the break.

Another 45 from Gregory, levelled things up, leaving the Senior Final decider nicely poised at half time at 1-4 to 2-1, in a half where the Kevins would possibly feel they should been ahead, having missed several goal chances.

Second Half:

In this second half, it was St Kevins’ turn to get the early major when half time sub Amy Murray’s groundstroke across the square was swept to the back of the net by Katie Matthews to give the Kevins a three point lead and ask a serious question of the Brides’ championship credentials.

To their credit, the Brides fought back like champions do, putting the Kevins under large spells of pressure in that second half, including winning 6 out of 11 on the Phillipstown side’s puckout, with Cara McKeever, Sarah Fagan and Lorrain McNichol leading the fightback.

Two scores on the bounce from McKeever (f) and Fagan narrowed the gap to a single point by the end of the third quarter at 1-6 to 3-1. Sarah Fagan was another player who played a key part in the Brides’ Intermediate football success last week.

However, the Kevins responded with an answer of their own. Having weathered a storm, they hit back with their fourth green flag, when an Aoife Gregory free once again deceived the Brides defence, including an unsighted Mairead McMahon to find its way to the net, to give the Kevins a four point lead in the final quarter.

Aoife Gregory soon turned provider for the impressive Lily Carter to score from play moments later, a point that Carter’s efforts deserved, with herself and full back Leah Cunningham outstanding at the back for their team.

Despite this adversity, the Brides refused to let go of their title without a fight, and three strikes from Cara McKeever including two frees did make inroads into the Kevins lead, who managed to grab another score in between McKeever’s points, through sub Amy Murray.

Deep into stoppage time, the Brides pushed and pushed for an equalising goal. However, it was the Kevins who made sure that they were going home with the trophy, when Katie Matthews pulled on a loose ball following a blocked shot from sub Caoimhe Cunningham, to grab her second goal of the afternoon to seal a six point triumph for the Kevins, who finally got over the line following several heartbreak final defeats.

On a personal note, it was fantastic to see such a moving tribute paid to my late aunt Irene Mac Namee (of whom I was so very fond) so evident in this year’s final’s programme.

Irene of course played a pivotal role in the St Brides’ camogie community, winning three Junior Championships with the club, as well as winning a Junior All Ireland with Louth in 1982. Rest In Peace Irene. D.V.

St Kevins: Courtney Dowling; Niamh Murray, Leah Cunningham, Mary Lynch; Carole Ann Logue, Lily Carter 0-1, Claragh Cunningham; Gemma Murray ©, Roisin Maguire ©; Lucy Sheridan, Aoife Gregory 2-1 (one ‘45), Grainne Murray; Deborah Arthur, Katie Matthews 2-0, Mary Taaffe 1-0.

Subs: Julie Guinan for Niamh Murray (8 mins), Amy Murray 0-1 for Taaffe (HT), Caoimhe Cunningham for Grainne Murray (57 mins).

St Brides: Mairead McMahon; Grainne McKeown, Caoimhe Hoey, Lorraine McNicholl; Sinead Hughes, Daire Hoey, Orla McGeeney ©; Sarah Fagan 0-1, Jemma Harey; Meabh Thornton 1-0, Antoinette Power, Cara McKeever 0-7 (5f) (one ’45); Emma McArdle 0-1, Paula Lohan, Claire Ward.

Subs: Rebecca Mooney for Lohan (55 mins), Ailbhe Ford for Mooney (63 mins).

Referee: Philip Conway (Co Armagh).