Munster Express Online

Lavey (Derry) 1-13; St Anne’s (Waterford) 0-7

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Ulster champions Lavey took the Phil McBride Cup for the first time following an exciting All-Ireland Junior Camogie Club Championship final replay in Ashbourne on Sunday.

Having already played eighty minutes a week earlier, both teams once again showed their fitness to produce an action-packed contest in excellent conditions and in front of a large crowd.

 

The Derry women made a blistering start, with corner-forward Paula McCloy sending over two early points.

 

Player-of-the-match Attracta McPeake excelled at midfield for Lavey and never stopped working for the hour.

Her team led at the break by 0-6 to 0-4, but it took St Anne’s just 45 seconds to register the first score of the second half – a free by the very impressive Karen Kelly, who caused the Lavey defence plenty of concern.

 

Yet the golden goal came from a Derry stick seven minutes after the change of ends, as Helen O’Neill darted through and drilled in a beauty.

 

That gave Lavey a 1-7 to 0-5 advantage. Lavey then grew in confidence, and they enhanced their work with six valuable points.

Anne’s kept battling, yet openings were rare against an extremely formidable rearguard.

Defeat was no fault of Charlotte-Marie Raher who toiled with conviction and craft in the engine room.

The Saints had other aces in Carolyn Ahearn, who made a tremendous save midway through the second half.

Yet, overall, Lavey’s craft and punch in attack, plus that solid defence, proved the match winning ticket.

Especially outstanding were centre half-back, Ceara Cushnahan, captain and left half-back, Siobhan Convery, and the free-taking and general contribution from the gifted McPeake. 

Lavey scorers: (A McPeake 0-6 (5f, 1 65), H O’Neill 1-0, P McCloy 0-3, M O’Kane, D McShane 0-2 each). 

St Anne’s scorers: (K Kelly 0-5 (all frees), M Murphy, J Simpson 0-1 each).