Stabannon, Co. Louth was the venue for the 2007 All-Ireland junior club championship final between the holders, Harps of Laois and last year's defeated finalists, St.Patricks, Keady of Armagh, when only a point divided the sides at the final whistle, 2-8 to Keady's 2-7. Those who came to this game got real value for money as the result was in doubt until the very end and it was action packed all the way. Right corner-forward, Áine Mahony was the hero of this thrilling final when she popped over the winning point three minutes into time added on to record a second All-Ireland medal on the trot for the Laois ladies. This was a tough game for captain Caitriona Phelan who had to sit this game out as she unfortunately injured her ankle recently in training, however, she was there with captain of the day, Louise Mahony to lift the Phil Mc Bride cup for the second year in a row. It only took the holders two minutes to record their first score a -'45 from star player Louise Mahony who finished the day with 0-5, however Keady then began to get to grips with the game very smartly and quickly showed the large crowd what they could deliver. With player of the match Noleen Mc Kenna racing goalwards and creating all sorts of problems for Harps the Harps goalie Maeve Brophy had to give it her all to stop a powerful shot from Keady full-forward Colette Mc Keever just four minutes later. However, within the minute, Keady equalised with Mc Kenna's first point. Then the Ulster champions stepped up the gears and were 1-4  to 0-1 up after a 16th minute goal from Colette Mc Keever. However, Harps were not prepared to loose their  title without a fight and within the final five minutes of the opening half sent over 1-4 to put them marginally ahead at the break, 1-5 to Keady's 1-4, the goal having come >from full-forward Elaine Mahony two minutes from the whistle. The same player stung the Keady girls with her second goal just two minutes into the restart to put Harps ahead 2-5 to Keady's 1-4. Both sides exchanged further scores before Michelle Murphy got the final touch to Keady's second goal of the day, to leave just two points in the difference, Harps 2-7, Keady 2-5. Both sides played very defensively, especially Keady, where captain Michelle Murray was very accurate with fine long clearances, especially in the opening half. Roared on by the very enthusiastic crowd the sides were level with four minutes to go when Keady's Mairéad Doyle popped over a neat point. All were now looking towards a draw, but Harps fine tuned in the end with a superb point from corner forward Áine Mahony who broke the Keady hearts with the winning point. Although the ball broke down the field, the Keady forwards a met a tough Laois defence who denied them any entry towards goal and with that Cork referee Cathal Egan blew his whistle to signal an end to this year's club championship and the final intercounty game of 2007. Details: St.Patrick's Keady: L Comiskey; B Mc Quade, E Mc Groary, M Murray: C Comiskey, K Kinsella, C Keenan: C Conway, M Doyle; C Kinsella, Á O'Farrell, N Mc Kenna; M Murphy, C Mc Keever, P Mc Cabe. Subs:H Murray for Á Farrell 53mins. Scorers: 2-7: C Mc Keever 1-1, M Murphy 1-0, C Kinsella 0-3, (0-2f),N Mc Kenna 0-2, M Doyle 0-1. Harps: M Brophy; E Cuddy, D Quigley, P Dunphy; A Donohue, C Phelan, L Mahony; L Mahony, J Prior; T Bennett, E Dunne, C Walsh; Á Mahony, E Mahony, A Hanlon. Subs: L Byrne for C Walsh, 30mins. Scorers: 2-8: E Mahony 2-2, L Mahony 0-5 (0-1'45,0-4f), A Mahony 0-1. Referee: Cathal Egan, Cork. Tweet

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