On Saturday 20th September the U12's Camogie team of Nh Mearnog returned to Hunters Run Park looking for revenge after being narrowly beaten by Erin Go Bragh in the corresponding league fixture on 3rd September. Mearnog were also edged out of the runners up spot in the league by the girls from Erin Go Bragh in what can only be described as a fantastic finish in their league fixtures. This time the 2 teams were to do battle in the quarter final of the U12's Camogie Championship. Nh Mearnog made the journey from Portmarnock with a full squad of players and fielded 15 of their finest. Nobody would have given the Clonee Dublin 15 girls much hope in the game and after 18 minutes it looked like it may have been the end of the fairytale season for The Bragh, when Nh Mearnog found a way through to score a goal after dominating all the early play. But that was the wake up call the Erin Go Bragh warriors needed and from that point on they put up a battle that Cú Chulainn himself would have been proud of. Their defensive lines, led by goalkeeper Kelly Hopkins, were not to be breached again during normal time and the 13 team mates ran their socks off to try to make up for the 2 player deficit. They fought hard and were unlucky not to equalize on numerous occasions. Each time they got close, Mearnog cleared the ball downfield only for the Erin Go Bragh girls to power forward again. With time running out the Erin Go Bragh coaches made the decision to move Shauna Knowles into full forward, and moved Caoimhe Kenny out to midfield to support Erica Manning, in search of the now elusive equalizer. With 10 minutes left on the clock the move was rewarded when Shauna latched onto a lovely high ball, turned and went on a solo run for goal. She hit a beautiful strike into the back of the Nh Mearnog net. Erin Go Bragh now went on the hunt for the winner and Shauna was unlucky not to grab a second a short time later. That effort seemed to spur on all the forwards and it was followed by efforts from Sorcha Donohoe, Ciara Carson & Sally O'Brien. But all the time the Go Bragh backs of Vicky Moyasola, Alannah Kenny, Rachel Carr, Xenia McElligott and Aoife McKinney had to be on their toes to deal with the long clearances of the Mearnog backline. There was just 90 seconds left on the clock when the referee blew the whistle for a foul on Caoimhe Kenny. Up stepped Amy O'Hara and hit a tremendous free which narrowly missed the target. With no more time remaining the referee blew it up for full time and the game was heading into extra time. Both sides looked exhausted as they began the extra 10 minutes each way. Erin Go Bragh took the lead through a goal from Amy O'Hara which was cancelled out shortly after when Nh Mearnog equalized. Erin Go Bragh were to finish as they began, when Caoimhe Kenny had to leave the pitch through injury. There was plenty of action right to the finish, as has come to be expected from these Erin Go Bragh warriors, but no more scores and the game finished at 2 goals each. And so it was that the team to go forward to the semi finals would be decided on penalties. Each team had 3 tries, with goals only permitted (not points), facing a goalkeeper and 2 other players in goal. If all was level after the 3 penalties it would be sudden death. Erin Go Bragh's Shauna Knowles took the first which was charged down well by the Mearnog trio in goal. Kelly Hopkins supported by Erica Manning and Shauna Knowles stood firm for the first Nh Mearnog penalty and the sides remained tied. Amy O'Hara was next for Erin Go Bragh and she blasted her penalty into the net to give her side the advantage. Mearnogs second was saved again by the Erin Go Bragh trio. The score remained 1 goal to nil on penalties. Erica Manning went from penalty stopper to penalty taker and stepped out to take Erin Go Bragh's third which was saved again by Mearnog. And so this battle went to the wire and Mearnog needed to score to take the game to sudden death. The sliotar was struck low to the left but Erica Manning managed to get her hurl to it and push it away from goal. Erin Go Bragh march onto the semis and the exhausted girls celebrated a tremendous victory. Tweet

Most Read Stories