Ballycran bridged a 39 year gap to collect
only their third Down Senior camogie title
in sunny Portaferry on Saturday but they
needed extra time in an exciting replay to
see off holders Clonduff.
With Liatroim Fontenoys dominating Down Camogie
with 16 straight victories 1991-2006, both
these teams had tasted constant frustration
in county finals and neither wanted to waste
the opportunity presented by Clonduff s semi-final
win over the 26 times champions.
The Ards side played with the aid of the
first half breeze and led by 0-7 to 0-2 at
the break with two points each from their
most influential players on the day Jenny
McHugh and Catherine McGourty.
Clonduff edged their way back into contention
and five unanswered points two frees from
Fionnuala Carr and three in a row from Paula
Gribben put them a point up with five minutes
to play.
Nicola Braniff held her nerve to equalise
and, after Lorraine Maginn had hit a late
Clonduff point, she brought the tie to extra-time
with an injury-time free.
Niamh Birt and Fionnuala Carr exchanged points
on the re-start, but two McGourty frees and
another free from Braniff triggered great
scenes of celebration for the Ards team.
Ballycran : Ciara McCarthy, Sabrina McCullagh,
Brid McGrattan, Audrey Kelly, Charlene Fitzsimons,
Nuala Mallon, Emma Keith, Jennifer McHugh
0-2, Naoimi Morgan, Niamh Birt 0-2, Catherine
McGourty 0-5, Suzelle Johnston, Mary Gilmore
0-1, Nicola Branniff 0-4, Laura Hughes.
Subs : Jenny Fowler for M Gilmore, Paula
Hughes for C Fitzsimons, Danielle Toner for
N Mallon.
Clonduff : Guinevra McGilligan, Grace Brown,
Moya Maginn, Andrea McCluskey, Debra Murray,
Fionnuala Carr 0-3 frees, Lorraine Maginn
0-1, Lean McParlan, Ciara Havern, Lisa McPolin
0-1, Sara Louise Carr 0-2, Orla Maginn, Megan
O Reilly, Paula Gribben 0-3, Kitty Fegan 0-1.
Subs used : Orla Gribben, Karen Gribben
