Goals prove vital as Lucan claim inter prize

SECOND half goals from Hannah Gibbs and Aisling Morrissey were crucial at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown last Sunday as Lucan Sarsfields secured a 2-10 to 0-11 triumph over Naomh Maur in the Dublin Intermediate Two Camogie Championship decider reports Daire Walsh.

Having finished at the summit of Group Two in the competition with three victories on the bounce, Lucan booked their spot in the Intermediate Two showpiece courtesy of an emphatic 4-11 to 1-8 success at the expense of Castleknock on home soil at the beginning of this month.

It was a similar case for Maur’s, who achieved a 100% record in Group One and subsequently overcame Fingallians with seven points to spare (1-15 to 1-8) in the last-four.

Lucan were looking for a strong start to the action and created an early two-point platform with scores from Lucy Fox and Aoibheann Stokes (free).

However, Maur’s soon settled into the contest and edged in front by knocking over three points in succession.

Yet with captain Sinead O’Toole (who was later named player of the match) leading by example from full-back, Lucan ensured the Maur’s attack were kept at bay for long spells.

Lucan Sarsfields secured the Intermediate Two Camogie Championship against Naomh Maur

Another place-ball effort by Stokes brought them on level terms and while Maur’s responded with back-to-back scores, the lively Morrissey produced a 0-2 salvo of her own.

Even though a ‘45’ left Maur’s a point to the good at the interval (0-6 to 0-5), Lucan were still very much in the frame for top honours on the resumption.

Sinead O’Brien was introduced along with Shauna Rooney at the break and she quickly restored parity with a fine individual point.

The reliable Stokes raised white flags either side of a Maur’s score and even though the Rush outfit bounced back with another equaliser, Lucan created significant daylight when Gibbs fired home in clinical style midway through the half.

Additional points from Stokes (two) and Clara Finn offered them further breathing space, only for a mini surge by Maur’s to keep things interesting coming towards the final whistle.

Lucan held their nerve, however, and Morrissey buried the ball to the opposition net after being picked out by Faye Murphy in the closing stages.

Supplementing the 1-1 hauls of Gibbs and Morrissey, Stokes emerged as Lucan’s scorer-in-chief with five excellent points.

The Lucan defence were every bit as pivotal to this victory, though, with Aisling O’Toole, Ellie Gaire and Hannah Brady all backing up the aforementioned Sinead O’Toole to an impressive extent.

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