Ballyboden St Endas  3-12      Lucan Sarsfields 1 – 15;

Past encounters between these two sides would tell you that this years Minor A Camogie final was likely to go down to the last puck of the game, and it did.

Lucan got off to a great start registering two points within the first five minutes with their forwards looking very sharp. However, this only spurred the Ballyboden girls into action and over the next fifteen minutes they registered two goals and seven points to one point for Lucan, starting with an Ella McNair free and two points from Aine Rafter either side of a Ruby Hynes goal and another goal from Hannah Byrne who raced through the Lucan defence blasting the ball to the roof of the net. With Boden half forwards, midfield and Half backs on top particularly Caoimhe O Sullivan, Alice Rudden and Leonie Power, they extended their lead with points from Ella McNair, a point from Ruby Hynes and two from player of the match Leonie Power leaving the score 2-7 to 0-3 after 20 minutes. However true to form Lucan hit back outscoring Boden 0-6 to 0-3 in the remaining 10 mins to leave half time 2-10 to 0-9.

After the re-start Lucan upped the tempo scoring two points within the first five minutes and began to dominate possession, however it was the Ballyboden backs as in the first half lead by Sadie Codd, Alice Rudden ably assisted by Ailbhe Christie, Megan Dignam, Jenny Maguire, Leah Cunningham, and Isobel Morris who were to the fore time and again repelling Lucan attacks, hooking, blocking and moving the ball away from danger. Despite this, Lucan forwards point by point slowly reduced the Boden lead while at the other end Boden found it difficult to create scoring opportunities but did manage two important points in this period including a spectacular Shauna Feely long range shot. With seven minutes remaining there was just one goal between the teams and despite massive pressure, Lucan could not make the breakthrough for goal despite two terrific efforts one saved superbly by Enya Kennedy. With one-minute remaining Boden were still 2-12 to 0-15 ahead.

However, as often is the case between these great sides, a dramatic finish was about to unfold. With the clock ticking to the 60-minute mark Lucan were awarded a free on the stand side-line near midfield, from the free Lucan dropped the ball into the Ballyboden square and after a mix up in the Boden defence it found its way into the back of the net to Draw the game.

With time now almost up, the next play would almost certainly decide the match. This was a time to remain calm and focused and the Boden Girls did just that.

The next move was straight from the training ground. Before Lucan could re-group Enya Kennedy took a quick puckout past midfield, Abbie Fitzgerald won possession raced down the wing delivering a stick pass straight to Hannah Byrne who burst twenty yards through the Lucan defence and skilfully handpassed straight to Shauna Feely on the edge of the square who sidestepped her marker and blasted the ball to the back of the Lucan net for the winning score. A fitting end to an epic contest between two magnificent teams;

Scorers; Ballyboden   Shauna Feely 1-2, Ruby Hynes 1-1, EllaMcNair 0-4 (4 frees), Hannah Byrne 1-0, Leonie Power 0-3 (2 frees), Aine Rafter 0-2;

Ballyboden; Enya Kennedy, Isobel Morrris, Sadie Codd, Jenny Maguire, Megan Dignam, Alice Rudden, Ailbhe Christie, Caoimhe O Sullivan, Leonie Power, Ella Mcnair, Hannah Byrne, Abbie Fitzgerald, Aine Rafter, Shauna Feely, Ruby Hynes Subs; Leah Cunningham for Isobel Morris; Neasa Codd, Megan Deignan, Aisling Quinn, Sarah Gleeson, Julie Brady, Amy Brennan.

Match report: Cathal Fitzgerald

Photos: Miriam Doyle