Brilliant Seamount are crowned All-Ireland Senior A Schools camogie champions

Seamount College Kinvara 1-5

St Flannan’s College Ennis 0-6

History was made last Saturday as Seamount College Kinvara were crowned All-Ireland senior A camogie champions thanks to a first half penalty coupled with four unanswered third quarter points.

Not since St Raphael’s College, Loughrea completed their seven-in-a-row back in 1992 had the crown jewel of schools’ camogie come to Galway.

Carrie Dolan’s penalty put Fionan Cuddy’s team back in contention before three Dolan frees and one from play for Cliodhna Walsh secured a match-winning victory – in a fitting link to the county’s previous success, Dolan’s mother Imelda Maher was St Raphael’s winning captain in 1990.

The designated neutral venue of Gort provided a sunny environment for the strong support there to represent both sides but from the beginning, both teams chased the early advantage that saw the defences come out on top.

St Flannan’s had the slight edge with the first-half crosswind and opened the scoring in the second minute from a Sinead Quinn free. The Munster champions had eliminated previous winners Presentation Kilkenny and Quinn’s frees allowed Claire Ryan’s side a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the 23rd minute.

Quinn, Aoife Keane and Emma O’Connell were applying pressure to their opponents but Seamount responded in similar fashion as Eleanor Stafford and Emma Helebert symbolised a defiant defence.

Dolan had opened Seamount’s account in the fifth minute after Walsh won a free but it was evident at an early stage that Katie McMahon was in lively form and the 19-years-old from Ardrahan played her part in the game’s most decisive score.

After a switch that allowed McMahon move towards the square, another long delivery saw the full-forward split the Flannan’s defence to win a penalty. Dolan’s fierce strike rattled the net and after failing to sparkle, Seamount went in level at 1-1 to 0-4 at half-time.

While the strong breeze seemed intent on keeping play away from the packed stand, the angled direction towards the town goal favoured the Connacht champions in the second half.

Dolan converted in the 36th minute to push the Kinvara school ahead for the first time and it was a lead they never relinquished. Four minutes later, Helebert’s targeted free was well read by Walsh who struck her first score. Amazingly, it was the contest’s only point from play.

St Flannan’s Aoibheann Malone scored a hat-trick in the Munster final but she struggled to threaten throughout the hour. Leanne Helebert had taken the early role of marking the Clare wing-forward, and Malone had no better luck swapping wings to face Tara Bermingham.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.