Camida Senior A Final

Aherlow Snatch Victory With Injury Time Wonder Goal

Aherlow 2-9

Brian Borus 2-7

Aherlow have regained their Camida County Senior A crown with an injury time wonder goal when they defeated Brian Borus on Sunday afternoon last November 7^th in Lattin.

A dogged affair from beginning to end the dying minutes had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Just a point separated the sides as the clock ticked into injury time Aherlow were on the attack, Anna Rose Kennedy leading the charge solod through dodging tackles but eventually fouled in very scoreable position as she closed in on goal. Emma Morrissey stood up to take the resultant free with the crowd expecting it to sail over the bar and push the game into extra time, however either by design or by luck Morrisseys kick deceived the goalie and found its way to the top corner of the net to ultimately clinch the game.

The opening half was tense with nothing separating the sides.  Aherlow’s  Sara Morrissey got the scores underway for the day with a pointed free. Cliona O’Dwyer responded at the opposite end with a brace of points to put Brian Borus ahead. Emma Morrissey levelled it again in the 10^th minute. Brian Borus then put some real space the sides with a Helen Burke goal in the fourteenth minute. Aherlow again pulled (0-1) back from the boot of Kate O’Meara to leave scores at the first water break Brian Borus 1-2 Aherlow 0-3.

After the water break, two converted frees by Emma Morrissey had the sides all square again. Brian Borus Shannon Morrissey put them back in front again but Emma Morrissey levelled the sides again with a point in the 30^th minute. Into injury time and Brian Borus scored two unanswered points to lead at the break on a scoreline of Brian Borus 1-5 Aherlow 0-6.

Aherlow who opted not to got into the dressing room at the break got off to the better of starts when Emma Morrissey goaled in opening minute. Morrissey finished to the net when she had been set up by move involving Marie Condon and Aisling Ryan. Aherlow were back in front by the minimum but the lead was shortlived as almost from the resultant kickout Brian Borus worked the ball back up the field to where Cliona O’Dwyer weaved her way through the Aherlow defence and blasting past Emer McCarthy. Brian Borus were now ahead by 2-5 to Aherlow’s 1-6.

Defences were tight and mean on both sides and other eight minutes elapsed before Aherlow were able to draw the sides level again with (0-1)  from Siobhan Condon point and another pointed free from Emma Morrissey. The sides remained level at the 2^nd waterbreak on a scoreline of Brian Borus 2-5 Aherlow 1-8.

A converted free after the water break by Cliona O’Dwyer put Borus back in front but Emma Morrissey had the sides all square for the sixth time in the match less than minute later when she pointed at the opposite end. The excitement was building the sides swapped points again and as the time went into the red Mairead Morrissey got her first point the day to put Borus back in front. It was all down to Johnny Murphy’s discretion now as Borus supporters were calling time. Aherlow still had one last throw of the dice. Anna Rose Kennedy led charge she solod through the Borus defence despite the desperate attempts to stop her advances. She was eventually brought to a stop when fouled just outside the 21. Emma Morrissey stepped up to take resultant free which we all assumed would be tapped over to equalize the game and send it to extra time. Morrissey had other ideas though or did she? Her shot ended up in the top corner of the net to disbelief and delight of the Aherlow supporters. A cruel blow to Brian Borus who had no time to recover before the final whistle to give Aherlow their second title in three years.

20p

Teams and Scorers

Aherlow

Emer McCarthy, Grainne Condon, Brid Condon, Grainne Blackburn, Laura Ivory, Caitlin Kennedy, Kate O’Meara (0-1), Siobhan Condon (0-1), Anna Rose Kennedy, Marie Condon, Ciara McCarthy, Sara Morrissey (0-1), Eimear Looby, Emma Morrissey (2-6), Aisling Ryan. Subs Claire Mullins for E. Looby, Grainne Ryan for A. Ryan

Brian Borus

Nora Noonan, Annette Meaney, Laura Morrissey, Nicola Gilmore, Marie Claire Murphy, Jennifer Grant, Shona Long, Eimear Myles, Cliona O’Dywer (1-4), Helen Burke (1-0), Maureen Murphy, Caoimhe Condon, Kit Martin, Mairead Morrissey (0-1), Shannon Morrissey (0-2). Subs Roisin Condon for H. Burke, Trisha Hickey for S. Morrissey