Clanmaurice made the journey to Newcastle West on Sunday to defend their Munster Junior Club Camogie title against Crecora of Limerick.
The Limerick girls were first on the scoreboard with a 1st minute free. Laura Collins got Clanmaurice up and running a minute later. Dearbhla Egan pointed two frees for Crecora in the 4th and 6th minutes.
In the 9th minute Patrice Diggin converted a free and Sara Murphy followed up with two from play in the 11th and 12th minutes.
Jackie Horgan pointed from play in the 22nd minute and Aoife Behan from play and Dearbhla Egan from a free completed the first half scoring to leave the halftime score, Clanmaurice 0-6 Crecora 0-4.
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Clanmaurice started the second half well with a free from Sara Murphy in the 31st minute, a point from play from the stick of Jackie Horgan in the 35th and another free from Sara Murphy in the 37th minute.
Clanmaurice made their only substitution when Jessica Fitzell replaced Alanna Maunsell. In the 43rd minute Crecora launched a dangerous attack on the Clanmaurice goal but the defence stood firm to repel the attack and a 45′ was conceded, which Dearbhla Egan converted.
In the 44th minute a puckout from Aoife Fitzgerald was capitalised upon by the half-forward line and when the sliotar was delivered into the Crecora square, Laura Collins was on hand to find the net to leave the score at 1-9 to 0-5.
In the 45th minute it looked like Úna O’Connor would find the net for Crecora but a last minute tackle by Michelle Costello resulted in her shot going over the bar.
Another long puckout by Aoife Fitzgerald in the 47th minute saw Rachel McCarthy gain possession but a foul resulted and Sara Murphy converted the free.
In the 49th minute Úna O’Connor raised another white flag for Crecora and in the 52nd minute Sara Murphy converted another free for Clanmaurice.
However, in the 57th minute Crecora ensured that the spectators would be treated to an exciting finish when they scored a point and a goal in the space of a minute. Crecora pressed hard for an equalising goal but goalkeeper Aoife Fitzgerald came to the rescue when she grabbed a sliotar that was heading towards the top corner of her net.
So Clanmaurice held on to win back to back titles on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-8. Captain Orla Young accepted the Cup from Chairperson of Munster Camogie Marion Graham and Laura Collins received her ‘Player Of The Match Award’ from PRO of Munster Camogie Bríd McNamara.
Clanmaurice progress to the All-Ireland Junior Club Camogie Semi-Final where they will face the 2017 Champions, Kilmessan of Meath.
Clanmaurice Team and Scorers:
Aoife Fitzgerald, Liz Houlihan, Niamh Leen Michelle Costello, Elaine Ryall, Patrice Diggin (0-1f), Orla Young (C) Aine O’Connor, Laura Collins (1-1), Rachel McCarthy, Aoife Behan (0-1), Olivia Dineen, Jackie Horgan (0-2), Sara Murphy (0-6, 4f), Alanna Maunsell. Substitution: Jessica Fitzell for Alanna Maunsell (43).
Referee: John Kirby (Cork)