Reihill and Smith deliver ‘B’ crown for St Munna’s U16s

Westmeath U16 ‘B’ camogie championship final: St Munna’s 3-9, Drumraney 2-4

A masterclass from Abbie Reihill and a brace of goals from Kayla Smith ensured that St Munna’s had enough of a cushion to withstand a second half comeback from Drumraney, to scoop the county’s secondary U16 camogie title at TEG Cusack Park on Friday evening.

Reihill had registered her entire haul of 1-7 by the 40th minute, accounting for St Munna’s 10-point lead, before the south Westmeath girls hit back with a quickfire 1-3. The Reds, however, had done what was necessary to claim the silverware, and Smith’s stoppage time goal – her second – made for a final scoreline which was a fair reflection of St Munna’s dominance over the hour.

Drumraney burst out of the traps with a goal inside the first minute, when Éabha Connaughton drilled a low shot to the net with a well-taken ground strike. Muireann Reihill responded with a point for St Munna’s, but Kate Whyte cancelled this out for the girls in green with a score after a fine solo run.

Drumraney, heavily reliant on Whyte’s fielding, tackling and creative prowess, couldn’t build on these early fortunes, and their cause wasn’t helped by losing Méabh O’Shea and Leah Moran to early injuries.

At the other end, St Munna’s saw plenty of the ball but struggled with their end product, with Drumraney ‘keeper Róisín Ní Chluaid particularly adept at snuffing out a couple of goal opportunities. But the Taughmon/Turin outfit gobbled up puckout after puckout, and it was only a matter of time before that changed.

Enter Abbie Reihill, who from the 19th minute on showed remarkable poise to fire six unanswered scores – four of them from frees – to put St Munna’s 0-7 to 1-1 ahead at the break. Kayla Smith and Muireann Reihill also had goal chances for the Reds.

After the restart, a goal materialised when the aforementioned Reihill teed up Smith for a close-range finish. Another free from Abbie Reihill followed, before her 40th minute shot deceived Drumraney netminder Ní Chluaid and crept over the line. Emma Lawlor may have helped to force it over, but the decisive puck came from Reihill.

Leading 2-8 to 1-1, St Munna’s looked home and dry, but Drumraney came roaring back into contention with a consecutive 1-3. Unsurprisingly, midfielder Kate Whyte was at the heart of the comeback, pucking three points (two from frees) before sub Sally Ryan found the net when the sliothar ricocheted off her shin on 47 minutes.

With Drumraney now trailing by only four (2-8 to 2-4), it was game on. However, St Munna’s efficiently shut down their challengers’ momentum, and when Nicola Burns divided the posts for St Munna’s two minutes later, Drumraney’s task suddenly looked arduous again.

The Reds then closed out the game on top, frustrating any further Drumraney attacks. When Rebecca O’Neill’s point attempt hit the upright on 57 minutes, Nessa Burns almost netted a third for St Munna’s on the rebound.

Deep into injury time however, the Saints made sure of the win when a long ball from Alice Galvin led to confusion in the Drumraney defence, and Kayla Smith scrambled the ball over the line for her second goal.

At full-time, Westmeath Camogie Board chairperson Karen Goldrick presented the cup to St Munna’s joint captains Nessa Burns and Abbie Reihill, amid wild celebrations from their vocal support.

Scorers – St Munna’s: A Reihill 1-7 (0-5f), K Smith 2-0, M Reihill and N Burns 0-1 each. Drumraney: K Whyte 0-4 (2f), É Connaughton and S Ryan 1-0 each.

St Munna’s panel: Katie Fitzgerald, Ava Nea, Rachelle L’Estrange, Ciara McHale, Annabel Hynes, Rebecca O’Neill, Leah Wallace, Nessa Burns, Nicola Burns, Alice Galvin, Fodhla Corroon, Abbie Reihill, Abbie Gilsenan, Muireann Reihill, Maisie Casserly, Niamh Kiernan, Emma Lawlor, Kayla Smith.

Drumraney panel: Róisín Ní Chluaid, Róisín Nally, Faye Hanley, Ava Cuffe, Áine Bracken, Clíodhna Aspell, Méabh O’Shea, Kate Whyte, Hannah Murray, Emily Craven, Amanda Collins, Leah Moran, Éabha Connaughton, Ella Brady, Emma Maxwell, Aoife Ross, Sally Ryan, Lucy Martin, Zara Moran, Maisie Tormey, Naoise McCormack, Karl Brady, Jane Ryan.

Ref: Paul O’Malley (Raharney).

Player of the match: Abbie Reihill (St Munna’s).