McKenna’s late goal seals Junior C title for Borrisokane Gaels

Borrisokane Gaels 3-3

Templemore 1-5

A late Gillian McKenna goal secured the Tipperary LGFA Camida Junior C Championship title for Borrisokane Gaels after Templemore came within a point of overturning an eight-point interval deficit.

Laura Leenane’s first-half contribution of 2-2 put Borrisokane Gaels firmly in command, but Templemore scored an unanswered 1-4 after the break to leave the outcome hanging in the balance. With just a point separating the sides deep into added time, McKenna struck the decisive goal to settle a tense final.

Templemore made the brighter start on the scoreboard, with Aoife Bergin pointing from play in the second minute. Anna Harding brought Borrisokane Gaels level in the eighth before Leenane took centre stage.

The full-forward converted a free and quickly followed it with a goal from play, moving her side into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead. Templemore were unable to add to their opening score, and Borrisokane Gaels strengthened their position when Leenane’s free found the net in the 24th minute.

Another Leenane pointed free in first-half added time left Borrisokane Gaels ahead by 2-3 to 0-1 at the interval. With Leenane accounting for all but a point of their total, they appeared well placed to push on.

Templemore, however, responded with a much-improved second-half showing. April Bourke and Eimear Hoctor were introduced, and an Aoife Ryan free in the 40th minute provided their first score since the opening exchanges.

Ellen Delaney followed with a point from play before Ryan’s free found the net in the 46th minute. Suddenly, the deficit was down to three points, with Borrisokane Gaels still awaiting their first score of the half.

Templemore continued to close the gap. Bourke made her mark from the bench with a point in the 55th minute, leaving just two between the teams at 2-3 to 1-4.

The closing stages brought further opportunities for Templemore, but wides from Bourke and Bergin left Borrisokane Gaels holding their narrow advantage. Ryan then converted another free in the 63rd minute to reduce the margin to the minimum and set up a tense finish.

Having seen their interval cushion almost completely disappear, Borrisokane Gaels produced the crucial score. McKenna found the net in the 66th minute, restoring a four-point lead shortly before the final whistle.

It was Borrisokane Gaels’ only score of the second half, but it proved decisive. Leenane’s first-half goals had laid the foundations, while McKenna’s late intervention finally halted a determined Templemore recovery.

Scorers — Borrisokane Gaels: Laura Leenane 2-2 (1-0 free, 0-2 frees), Gillian McKenna 1-0, Anna Harding 0-1.

Templemore: Aoife Ryan 1-2 (all frees), Aoife Bergin, Ellen Delaney and April Bourke 0-1 each.