Our junior camogie team returned to Rathdowney last Saturday for the replay of their All-Ireland final against Convent of Mercy, Roscommon. After the titanic battle that unfolded the previous week, this was always going to be a close affair.

It was the Roscommon side that hit the ground running taking an early lead in tough conditions. They led two points to no score after 13 mins before an Eimear O'Neill free got the Friary off the mark. As in the previous game, scores weren't plenty full for either side and it took until the 20-minute mark for the next Friary score, this time it was Olivia Flynn from play to tie the game up. It would be the last Friary score until the second half with Mercy taking over hitting four unanswered points to leave the score 6-2 in favour of the Roscommon side at halftime. The gap could have been bigger only for goalie Lili Hallahan making a number of great saves. 

A big second-half performance was needed but again it was Mercy that started the brighter converting their chances. With 40 minutes played they lead 1-07 to 0-02. At this stage, it was do or die for the Friary girls. But as they have done all year, their never say die attitude brought them storming back into the game where they would create chance after chance. Eimear O'Neill lead the line with a point from play on 41minutess before Chloe Hearn was quickest to react on the edge of the square and rattle the back of the net two minutes later. It was game on and the Friary pressure continued. Another point from O'Neill on 45 minutes left only a puck between them. 

The Dungarvan girls continued to knock on the Mercy door and eventually with 4 minutes left Mischa Lyons finished brilliantly firing a low shot across the goal. Both sides had chances to take the lead but it was the Roscommon full forward that reacted quickest to put Mercy in front with time up. The Friary girls again went in search of an equaliser but this time they came up short. 

This junior team has been exceptional all year on and off the field. While Saturday was not their day, there will be many more good ones with this bunch. 

Team: Lilí Hallanhan (An Rinn), Sara Donnelly (Brickey Rangers), Grace Moloney (Ardmore), Orla Whelan (Modeligo), Siun Kiely (Abbeyside), Lia Harty (An Rinn), Karin Drohan (Modeligo), Eimear O’Neill (Brickey Rangers), Aoife Lattimore (Abbeyside) Aoife Butler (Modeligo) Annie Treen (Abbeyside) Mischa Lyons (Abbeyside), Rachel Murray (Brickey Rangers) Chloe Hearn (Stradbally), Olivia Flynn (Brickey Rangers). 

Scores: Eimear. O’Neill 0.3 (1f), Chloe Hearn 1.0, Mischa Lyons 1.0, Olivia Flynn 0.1