St. Munna's reaffirmed their Dominance of the Westmeath camogie scene when retaining their senior title at Cullion's expense last August. Despite a gallant effort from a youthful Cullion side, mighty St. Munna's held onto their senior camogie championship crown following a thrilling final at Cusack Park on August 8 last. While the 0-8 to 0-6 scoreline suggests that this was a drab affair, there was no shortage of excitement with St. Munna's needing to call on all their experience to see off a fiercely committed Cullion team. Cullion looked set to end a 16-year wait for senior success when Andrea Martin gave them a 0-6 to 0-5 lead with eight minutes remaining, but Munna's refused to panic and in the time remaining, reeled off three unanswered points to capture a remarkable 15th title in 16 years. Both teams had enjoyed comfortable victories in their respective semi-finals with Munna's hammering Delvin by 3-14 to 0-1 and Cullion overcoming 2001 champions Lough Lene Gaels by 1-6 to 0-2. That set the scene for a fascinating final which certainly didn't disappoint. Played in sweltering heat, the game opened with a point from Aileen Lawlor. Andrea Martin quickly restored parity for Cullion before Dinah Loughlin edged the Taughmon-Turin outfit back in front. Martin levelled again for Cullion, only for Annette Heffernan to reply with a '45' for the champions. After a 13-minute scoring lull, St. Munna's extended their lead when Heffernan slotted over her second free in the 25th minute. Martin reduced the deficit with a similar score before Heffernan fired over her third point to give Munna's a 0-5 to 0-3 interval advantage. The second half saw Cullion increase the pressure on the holders with a brace of points from Andrea Martin bringing them level after 47 minutes. Five minutes later, the underdogs took the lead for the first time when Martin registered her sixth point. The questions were now being asked of Munna's, but they answered them in typical fashion. With seven minutes remaining, Heffernan brought them back onto level terms before two further scores from the same player sealed their victory. Not surprisingly, Heffernan's performance earned her the Player of the Match award which was presented to her afterwards by Tullamore woman Miriam O'Callaghan who is President of the National Camogie Association. The St. Munna's panel was: Vera Heffernan, Lorna Kelleghan, Yvette Cully, Marie Hussey, Lorraine Leavy, Catherine Glynn (captain), Deirdre McEnerney, Mary Glynn, Lorraine Scanlon, Dinah Loughlin, Annette Heffernan, Rhona Murtagh, Michelle Scanlon, Marie Gartland, Aileen Lawlor, Emma Clinton, Catherine Dunne, Pauline O'Neill, Susan Cribben, Helena Finglas, Laura Cribben, Sarah McGrath, Sinead Keogh, Tracy Poynton. The Cullion panel was: Carol McKinley, Janine Cosgrove, Aoife Davitt, Michelle McGarry, Emma Martin (captain), Jessica Weldon, Sinead Marshall, Andrea Martin, Elaine Galvin, Niamh Kiernan, Aisling Reynolds, Roisin Brennan, Bernie Corroon, Stephanie Kelly, Teresa Allen, Marie Austin, Pauline Hogan, Aileen Martin, Lorraine Cassidy, Ashlinn Layde, Claire Wallace, Roisin Logan. Cullion power to senior 'B' success Cullion made amends for their senior final defeat when they ran out emphatic 5-5 to 0-4 winners over Lough Lene Gaels at Loughegar on October 26 last. The result was never in any doubt with four goals in a blistering 10-minute spell in the first half putting Cullion on the road to victory. Lough Lene Gaels improved in the second half, but without the services of Celeste Dermody and Laura Reilly, they were unable to reduce their half-time deficit. The overworked Lough Lene Gaels defence contained the Cullion attack until the 16th minute when Bernie Corroon scored the winners' first goal. By the 26th minute, the game was over as a contest with further goals from Aoife Davitt, Stephanie Kelly and Jessica Weldon helping Cullion to establish a commanding 4-2 to 0-1 interval lead. On the restart, Mary Henry notched two quick points to raise hopes of a Lough Lene Gaels comeback. But a fifth goal from Aisling Reynolds in the closing stages added gloss to Cullion's victory. The Cullion team was: Carol McKinley; Michelle McGarry, Aoife Davitt, Aileen Martin; Elaine Galvin, Emma Martin, Aislinn Layde; Andrea Martin, Niamh Kiernan; Therese Allen, Roisin Brennan, Janine Cosgrove; Bernie Corroon, Aisling Reynolds, Stephanie Kelly. Subs used: Marie Austin, Sinead Marshall, Lorraine Cassidy, Pauline Hogan. Lough Lene Gaels: Ann McCarthy; Elizabeth Hannon, Julie McCrossan, Joanne Williams; Liza McCormack, Gemma Egan, Siobhan Murphy; Jeanette McCormack, Joanne Walsh; Kerri Flynn, Ann Lynch, Alison McCormack; Orla Egginton, Mary Henry, Helen Dobson. Subs used: Criosa O'Neill, Sheila Carroll, Marie McMyler. Drumraney end eight-year wait Camogie in south Westmeath received a welcome boost when Drumraney captured their first junior title since 1995 following a facile 8-3 to 0-2 victory over Crookedwood at Cusack Park on August 8 last. Played as a curtain-raiser to the senior decider, the game bore witness to a fantastic Drumraney display which an outclassed Crookedwood simply had no answer to. The writing was on the wall for the 2000 champions after just three minutes when Sile Irwin grabbed the opening goal. Denise Coghill added a second goal before Antoinette Savage recorded what proved to be Crookedwood's only two points of the game from frees. Another major from Coghill left the half-time score reading 3-1 to 0-2 in Drumraney's favour. It continued to be one-way traffic in the second half with goals from substitute Denise Martin (two), Ita Seery, Eileen Cunningham and Avril Moran only adding to Crookedwood's misery. The Drumraney team was: Marie Moran; Sharon Behan, Breda Watts (captain), Aine Cunningham; Maura Irwin, Joan Lennon, Karen Farrell; Avril Moran, Aoife McCormack; Ciara McCormack, Jenny Martin, Eileen Cunningham; Denise Coghill, Sile Irwin, Ita Seery. Subs used: Sinead Cunningham, Louise Carey, Fiona Carey, Denise Martin. The Crookedwood team was: Geraldine Corcoran; Meave Orme, Rose Smith, Christina O'Neill; Susan Boyhan, Rowena Ledwith, Nicola Doolan (captain); Lauren McNicholas, Antoinette Savage; Fiona Boyhan, Elaine O'Reilly, Kathleen Boyhan; Stephanie Muldoon, Catherine Brennan, Lisa McNicholas. Subs used: Avril Orme, Elaine Daly, Anna Savage. Delvin retain under 18 crown Delvin completed back-to-back successes in the under 18 camogie championship when they overcame St. Munna's by 3-6 to 2-6 at Loughegar last September. The winners started brightly when Maria Smyth pointed two early frees. But a goal from Emma Fitzsimons had edged St. Munna's in front before points from Smyth and Elaine Farrelly gave Delvin a 0-5 to 1-1 lead at the break. Within two minutes of the restart, Delvin stretched their lead to four points when Denise McGrath grabbed their first goal. A second goal from Laura Lynch made it 2-5 to 1-1 before Dinah Loughlin replied with a much-needed point for St. Munna's. But their hopes were dealt another severe blow when McGrath scored a third Delvin goal with 10 minutes remaining. However, St. Munna's refused to throw in the towel and registered 1-3 without reply in the closing stages to leave Delvin relieved to hear the final whistle. Afterwards, Patricia Smyth received the under 18 championship cup from camogie board chairman PJ Fulham. Smyth was also the recipient of the Player of the Match award. The Delvin team was: Sarah King; Mary Clune, Linda Kenny, Sandy Murphy; Deirdre Barry, Cathy Browne, Linda Williams; Patricia Smyth, Samantha Flynn; Jenna Clune, Maria Smyth, Elaine Farrelly; Rachel Reneghan, Denise McGrath, Laura Lynch. Sub used: Rachael Fish. 'Wood tops in under 14 final Three second half goals helped Crookedwood to a 4-0 to 2-0 victory over Delvin in an exciting under 14 camogie final at Turin last July. Delvin opened the scoring with a goal from Ann McGrath, only for Orla Boyhan to reply with a similar score for Crookedwood. But the losers took a 2-0 to 1-0 lead into the break thanks to a goal from Denise McGrath. The second half belonged to Crookedwood and Orla Boyhan in particular who scored three more goals to give her side victory. The Crookedwood team was: Charlene Newman, Christina O'Neill, Carolann Newman, Aisling Smith, Rowena Ledwith, Noeleen O'Brien, Lisa McNicholas, Sinead McNicholas, Catherine Murray, Jean Murtagh, Elaine Shaw, Orla Boyhan. Gaels take under 12 'A' title Lough Lene Gaels captured the under 12 'A' camogie title following a 3-1 to 2-0 victory over St. Munna's at Cullion last July. Despite being forced to field without three key players who were away on holiday, the Gaels were worthy winners after holding their opponents scoreless in the second half. St. Munna's enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges with a brace of goals from Sinead McGrath giving them a 2-0 to 1-0 interval lead. The Gaels' goal was accounted for by Mairead O'Rourke. The second half was dominated by Lough Lene Gaels, for whom Michelle Murtagh scored 2-1 to give them a deserved victory. The Lough Lene Gaels team was: Laura Tierney, Kyla Nash, Sarah Browne, Sarah O'Connor, Dawn Buckley, Katie Stringer, Karen Coyle, Ciara Cosgrove, Aideen Lynch, Michelle Murtagh, Sarah Bardon, Mairead O'Rourke. Brownstown overcome 'Wood in under 12 'B' decider Brownstown retained the under 12 'B' camogie title when they had four points to spare over Crookedwood at Cullion last July. The Archerstown girls laid the foundations for their victory in the opening quarter when Orla Leonard and Gemma Davis both found the net. But Crookedwood replied with goals from Aine Boyhan and Caitriona Murtagh to trail by three points, 2-0 to 2-3, at the interval. Scores were harder to come by in the second half and, in fact, only one further point was registered by Brownstown's Orla Leonard which sealed a 2-4 to 2-0 victory for the team in blue and white. The Brownstown team was: Louise O'Reilly, Una Leonard, Gemma Cooke, Aine Carr, Sharon Cunneen, Rachel Smith, Siobhan Cullen, Sarah Keane, Una Daly, Orla Leonard, Elizabeth Daly, Gemma Davis. Tweet

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