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Senior Camogie Reach Champo Final After Great 2nd Half Come Back vs St Johns - Mon, 28 Sep 2009

(2 Goal Hero Niamh Adams)

St Brigids 2-4 Ballinteer St Johns 1-5

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For 56 minutes, the southsiders held the lead in this hectic encounter at the excellent Clonshaugh venue of Craobh Chiaráin. But as everyone knows the time to be in front is at the finish and a goal and two points in the closing six minutes saw last years runners-up snatch victory. Ballinteer started with the aid of the breeze and after 6 minutes Fiona Hayes pointed from a 45. Fiona and her midfield partner Siobhan McIntyre were on top for the opening quarter.

Their defence was solid where Olive Sorahan was outstanding. Two minutes later the pacey Niamh McKennedy pointed. Naomh Bríd did manage some early attacks but with Roisin Nash in fine form between the posts behind excellent corner backs Nora Tully and Louise Hayes, the northersiders were unable to find the range. Ballinteer got a huge boost in the 12th minute when Fiona Hayes free from 40m was finished to the net by Emer Naughton. Boosted by this score Brenda Sorahan drove a great point over the bar a minute later.

However gradually the Naomh Bríd midfield pairing of Elaine Duncan and Sherry Mannion began to come more into the play and although the Blanchardstown side were not scoring, they were denying Ballinteer the opportunity to build a bigger lead. In the 20th minute Naomh Bríd were awarded a penalty but Paula Bruens shot sailed over the bar. Ballinteer responded with a great point from a free by Fiona Hayes after Roisin Nash saved superbly at the other end - Niamh McKennedy doing well also to earn the free. Six points up going into the second half Naomh Bríd were right back in the game inside three minutes when Niamh Adams goaled. An Emma Sweeney point from a free cut the gap to two as Naomh Bríd seemed to be on a roll. However Ballinteer weathered the storm.

The positioning of Roisin Chambers as an extra defender reduced the chances and Ballinteer hurled with tremendous heart. A free from her own half of the pitch by Oliver Sorahan was superbly fielded by Fiona Hayes and from her delivery Brenda Sorahan was fouled. Fiona Hayes added the score in the 43rd minute. Naomh Bríd were forced to do some tremendous defending for the next ten minutes or so. Captain Paula Bruen was seen to great effect as was Emer OLeary and Ann Kirwan.

One sensed that if Ballinteer could stretch their lead to two scores, they might well go on and win the game. A chance presented itself in the 53rd minute when Eilis McCarthy faced a 50:50 race with Naomh Bríd keeper Colette Coady. The Brids star just managed to save the day. Two minutes later a tough call on Fiona Hayes presented Naomh Bríd with a long range free which was touched home by Niamh Adams for the equalising goal. Naomh Bríd now had victory in their sights and the clinching scores came from Aisling Kelly and Niamh Adams to earn a fourth final appearance in five years.

Naomh Bríd: Colette Coady, Fiona Clifford, Paula Bruen (0-1f), Emer OLeary, Ann Kirwan, Emma Sweeney (0-1f), Sherry Mannion, Elaine Duncan, Niamh Adams (2-1), Christine Norton, Aisling Kelly (0-1), Danielle Powell, Mary Galvin.

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