All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final replay

Derry 1-17
Meath 1-9

By Michael McMullan
in Clones

DERRY’S class told the story in Clones on Saturday as they won their second All-Ireland intermediate title in style.

The Oaks led by three points at half-time and pushed five clear before a Meath penalty had the Royals back in contention.

Aoife Shaw and Mary Hegarty hit points before Shannon O’Connor’s goal broke Meath’s resolve.

Despite a turnaround of 13 players from last season, Derry camogie has continued to rise and the success adds to All-Ireland titles at u-14 and u-16 level.

Derry started in fine fettle and deservedly led 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes with points from Shaw (2) and Mairead McNicholl.

Meath did have a lively attacking threat, but Rachel Downey, Aoife Ní Chaiside and :Player of the Match Lauren McKenna had a fine opening half.

Niamh Quinn twice put her body on the line as Meath tried for goal and Leah Lennon has a huge game in her first season of senior camogie.

Aine Minogue hit Meath points to shoot them 0-4 to 0-3 ahead but it was Derry who took a grip of the game.

A Shaw free appeared to go over the post but the point was given after consultation with referee Dempsey and Derry went 0-6 to 0-5 ahead.

Meath had a slice of luck when ‘keeper Murphy dropped Mary Hegarty’s shot, but the post came to the Royals’ rescue.

Shaw, Dervla O’Kane and Hegarty added points as Derry pushed 0-9 to 0-6 ahead at the break.

There it is..

Derry are All-Ireland intermediate champions for a second time and a first since 2012
Derry 1-17
Meath 1-9
Awesome team performance 🔴⚪️🏆💪 pic.twitter.com/lnhLUs0fA5

— Michael McMullan (@malmcmullan) August 12, 2023

Eimear McGuigan lofted over with Derry’s first score of the second half in the first attack before Aoife Minogue fired over a first Meath point in 25 minutes,

Mairead McNicholl blasted over the score of the game to put Derry 0-12 to 0-7 ahead before Meath found a way back from the brink.

A Minogue penalty, followed by a Sonia Leonard point, had the margin back to the bare minimum and the ghosts of Croke Park and Meath’s comeback looked like haunting Derry.

This time it was different. Shaw and Hegarty hit points and when  O’Connor finished to the Meath net, there was no stopping Derry from making it All-Ireland number two in style.

Derry: Niamh Gribbin; Niamh Quinn, Leah Lennon, Sinead McGill; Rachel Downey, Aoife Ní Chaiside, Lauren McKenna; Dervla O’Kane (0-1), Rachel McAllister; Mairead McNicholl (0-2), Mary Hegarty (0-2), Aine McAllister (0-3, 2f); Eimear McGuigan (0-2), Aoife Shaw (0-7, 3f, 2 45), Aine McGill
Subs: Shannon O’Connor (1-0) for A McGill (27), Orlaith Hull for M Hegarty (61), Bronagh McCullagh for A Shaw (65), Eimear McCloskey for L McKenna (65)

Yellow card: N Quinn (59)

Meath: Tara Murphy; Rachel O’Neill, Claire Coffey, Sophia Payne; Tracy King, Maeve Clince, Leah Devine; Aoibhin Lally, Aoife Minogue (1-5, 1 pen, 4f); Amy Gaffney (0-1), Abbye Donnelly, Olivia O’Halloran; Ciara Foley. Emma O’Connell (0-1), Ellen Burke
Subs: Sonia Leonard (0-1) for A Lally (HT), Grace Connolly (0-1f) for O O’Halloran (42), Grace Coleman for A Donnelly (58), Ella O’Brien for A Gaffney (61)

Yellow card: M Clince (41)

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)