Kilmessan 6-11 Dunboyne  2-3

Kilmessan camogiers are in seventh heaven after capturing their 7th county title in a row yesterday afternoon against a spirited Dunboyne team.

These two teams have become pretty familiar In the last twelve months meeting in both championship and league finals in 2014.

Dunboyne were looking to get closer this year and after coming to within two points of beating Kilmessan in the early rounds of the championship, perhaps they could pull off a shock.

They looked to be well on their way when county star centre forward Sinead Hackett opened the scoring with a fine point on the run from play in the opening minutes, however that was the most space she got for the remainder of the match as Kilmessan centre back Ailbhe Lynch tightened her marking and gave her very little for the remainder of the game.

Kilmessan responded after that Hackett score with a goal from their county forward Megan Thynne who hand passed to the net after the spade work was done on the right wing by Nadine Doyle and Kelly Gorman. It looked like game on when Dunboyne got a goal of their own from corner forward Aishling Garvey after her ground strike deflected to the net past Anne Marie Dennehy.

Megan Ni Choileain raises the cup at Rathmolyon

However as champions usually do, Kilmessan responded brilliantly and scored 4 more goals in the opening half, all well taken strikes from Katie Ni Choileain, Thynne for her second and Kelly Gorman.

At half time the match was firmly in Kilmessan's hands as they led by 14 points on a scoreline of 5-4 to 1-2.

Dunboyne  rallied in the opening 10 mins of the second half but once Thynne and Donnelly created the opening for Gorman's second goal which she finished venomously to the left side netting from 20m out o. The right side,it was all over for Dunboyne and the match fizzled out as Kilmessan ran away with a convincing 20 point winning margin.

Kate O'Carroll grabbed a consolation hand pass goal for Dunboyne when she rushed in from the left wing and latched onto after a good pass across the square from Ellen Burke, however it was too little too late for the Dunboyne girls.

Kilmessan's variety of scorers and creativeness up front proved to be the main difference between the side and Their full forward line were lethal with
their off the ball running and pace creating havoc for the dunboyne rearguard of Siobhan Synan, Aoife Thompson and Bronagh Moran. The 6 Kilmessan goals were extremely well taken and gave Dunboyne keeper Evelyn Mc Govern little or no chance of saving.

Kilmessan celebrate

However forwards can only perform if they are getting enough play and the winning of the midfield battle was crucial for Kilmessan. Frances Lynch and in particular Stephanie Horan were excellent for Kilmessan at mid-field, they put in a massive graft for the hour breaking up a number of Dunboyne attacks and winning the dirty ball around the middle. Others to impress for Kilmessan were full back Michelle Horan, wing back Tracy King and wing forward and captain Megan Ni Choileain.

Best for Dunboyne were Laura Reilly and Maeve Clince in defence, Chloe Coyne at midfield and Sinead Hackett in attack.

Player of the match went to Kelly Gorman who finished top scorer with 2-2.

Kilmessan have to put celebrations in hold as they face Donard-Glen of Wicklow away this Wed eve 7th Oct in Donard Glen at 8pm in Leinster junior club semi-final.

Kilmessan team and scorers: AM Dennehy, C. Ni Choileain, M. Horan, S. Thynne, M. O'Leary, A. Lynch, T. King, S. Horan, F. Lynch, M. Ni Choileain 1-0, A. Donnelly 0-6 ( 0-3f, 0-1 45m, ), N. Doyle, K. Ni Choileain 1-2, M. Thynne 2-1, K. Gorman 2-2

Subs: C.O'Leary for M. Horan, A. Mc Loughlin for N. Doyle, J. Smyth for T. King, C. Grimes for C. Ni Choileain, T. Murphy for S. Thynne, N. Carroll, E. Fitzgerald, D. Fitzgerald.

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