Sacred Heart Show That Little Bit Extra to Reach Munster Final.
Following a three week hiatus after their County Final victory, the Junior Camogie team from Sacred Heart entered the battlefield again today. This time, awaiting the girls was a Munster semi Final, with Kinsale Community school, once again providing the opposition.
Played in Ahamilla, in cold and overcast conditions, what followed was a game of rare excitement and emotion, that took two periods of extra time to separate these two evenly matched squads.
Having won the toss, Kinsale took full advantage of the wind to their backs to open an early two point lead (1 free, 1 play). Niamh Doyle opened the SHSS account after 10 minutes with a well taken score off her right after being first to the breaking ball.
The first half was to continue in a similar vein with Kinsale finding it easier to keep the scoreboard ticking over and went into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead with half time approaching.
Kate Collins then cut the deficit to four with two outstanding points from the wing, before Kinsale had the final say of the half. A hat that was noteworthy for the sterling defensive play of Aine Hennessy, Maeve Lyons and Ashling Coakley
Half time 0-8 0-3
Turning to play with the wind to their backs SHSS knew they still had a chance. It was all the more difficult after 35 minutes though as Kinsale added two more points to their tally and looked in a very strong position. 0-10 0-3
Lesser teams may have folded but not SHSS. Driven on from the back by Captain Amber Bishop, who got out of her sickbed to play, Aoife Harte in Midfield and the talismanic Megan O Regan they set about the work of reeling in the lead.
Seven became six, Niamh Doyle from play, six became five, Kate Collins play, five became four; became 3, Aoife White 2 from play, three became two Ailbhe Byerley free. Game on!!!!
50 minutes on the clock and a shell shocked Kinsale gathered themselves together to extend the lead to four again and for the SHSS girls it was a case of “once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more”.
Megan brought it back to three almost immediately having been placed in the clear by effective replacement Eabha Ni Bhuachalla. Aoife White made it two, with a score almost straight from the puckout, before Aoife Harte scored from distance to leave the minimum between the teams as the referee indicated there was one minute remaining.
Now or never; White wins the puckout off loads to Ellen Foley, who in turn places Niamh Doyle in the clear. 0-13 0-13. Extra time.
Tired legs on both sides, as Kinsale once again win the toss and choose to play with the wind again. The first period of extra time starts to follow a similar pattern to normal time as Kinsale score two points from distance in the first 5 minutes, this time though SHSS reel them in almost immediately through Collins and White. Half time, extra time 0-15-15.
The first couple of minutes were stalemate around the middle, with a number of throw balls, as rucks and bunching, precipitated by tiredness, permeated both teams. Kinsale then struck what seemed to be a killer blow with a goal following a break away attack. 1-15 0-15 with six minutes to go.
“Once more into the breach ….” Within 90 seconds we were level, Niamh Doyle finishing to the net after a long delivery from outstanding centre back Mairead Whelton. 1-15 1-15. With two minutes to go SHSS took the lead for the first time wing back Ailbhe Byerley raced through the defence to score off her left from 50 yards, followed by another Collins point (taking her total to 6 from play) before SHSS rounded off an improbable but impressive victory with a White point from play.
SHSS 1-18 KCS 1-15
The Munster Final V Colaiste Mhuire Ennis takes place on Saturday 10th January 2026 in Clarecastle.
