10/09/2026
📣📣 *HISTORY MADE FOR KILANERIN BALLYFAD CAMOGIE !!* 📣📣
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Our U16 girls made history on Tuesday night as the first Kilanerin Ballyfad Camogie team to win silverware!
The girls faced St Martin's in the Division 1A Shield Final in St. Patricks Park, Enniscorthy and what a performance they gave! The girls knew coming into the game that they would need to be at their very best against such a strong camogie club, and this was a very competitive game with a high standard of camogie throughout.
The first quarter was even with both team exchanging scores and moving the ball well. It was a very physical contest, with both teams working hard and tackling fiercely. Our girls settled into the game and started to dominate proceedings despite playing against a strong breeze. The girls took some good scores with well taken points from Ciara Kinsella, Sinead McGonigle and an Estelle Byrne free, and a goal coming from a long Aoibheann Kinsella delivery. Good defensive play limited St Martins first half scoring, giving us a half time advantage of 1-3 to 0-3. Aoife Murphy scored 2 excellent quickfire points upon the resumption but St Martins then hit a purple patch dominating both territory and possession for a 10 minute spell. Stout defending was required to limit their scoring to 2 points during this period leaving the scoreboard at 1-5 to 0-5 heading towards the last quarter. Our girls responded by lifting their game with well taken points from Estelle Byrne & Sinead McGonigle. Aoife Murphy roared into the game with some strong carries breaking through the defensive lines repeatedly, feeding Ciara Kinsella to score a well taken and important goal. This gave some breathing space on the scoreboard at 2-7 to 0-5. Saoirse Bushe was introduced into the forward line and was unlucky to be denied on 2 occasions by some excellent St Martins goalkeeping. The girls kept working hard with Sinead McGonigle and Aoife Murphy (2) adding further points, before Estelle Byrne rounded out the scoring with a well taken ground stroke goal, to give a final score of 3-10 to 0-5. Despite the final scoreline, this was a competitive match until the last few minutes against a gallant and well drilled St. Martin's team.
Overall the girls displayed some great teamwork, passing and score taking. They worked hard to support each other and gave everything right until the final whistle. Goal keeper Ciara Kavanagh made some important stops, and her puckouts were solid from start to finish. The full back line of Rosie Cooper, Aoibheann O'Brien and Holly Jones defending bravely and their close attention kept the Martins inside forwards scoreless from play. The half back line of Niamh Ni Luasaigh, Grace Kavanagh & Matilda Timmons broke up numerous attacks and cleared a lot of ball when the game was in the melting pot. Aoibheann Kinsella and Ava Roche dominated midfield, and their athleticism and long striking provided the platform for success. The movement and quality of hurling of the half forward line of Aoife Murphy, Estelle Byrne and Sinead McGonigle couldn't be contained, and they created the bulk of the scoring opportunities. Inside forwards of Amy Hegarty, Ciara Kinsella and Faye Mulhall threatened the goal on numerous occasions and were only denied multiple scores due to some excellent last gap St Martins defending. Saoirse Bushe, Sophie Caulfield, Hallie Wolohan, Katie Gethings & Robyn Bolton were all introduced in the last quarter and made their contribution to a memorable evening for this group.
Joint captains Grace Kavanagh and Aoife Murphy accepted the Division 1A Shield from County Chairperson Martina Donnellan to mark a historic night for the club, a remarkable achievement for a club in it's first year.
What a night girls! Well done - we're very proud of you all! And as always, a massive thank you to all the parents and supporters who were on the sideline cheering the girls on. These are a great bunch of girls who deserve all the support they can get.
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