Golden score breaks Loughgiel hearts in extra-time
Sorcha McCartan celebrates her first-half goal for St Finbarr's
- Published
St Finbarr's broke Loughgiel hearts in an epic All-Ireland club camogie semi-final in Ashbourne with a late Ciara Golden score sealing a 3-15 to 3-14 win after two periods of extra-time.
The Antrim side struck late to force the initial period of extra-time and then again to send the game to another 10 minutes, but the Cork side emerged with Golden's score sending her side into a meeting with Athenry in the final.
It was a thrilling battle in which both sides will have felt they were on the brink at various stages, but continued to respond when the questions were asked.
Wind assisted, the Munster champions made a bright start with former Down star Sorcha McCartan clipping over a score and eight minutes in, Keeva McCarthy found Orlaith Cahalane with a line ball and the corner forward raced clear to find the net.
Roisin McCormick - who top-scored with 1-9 - put Loughgiel on the board from a 10th minute free and Maria Laverty added one from play immediately after as the Antrim side settled.
That early goal was the gap midway through the opening half when Loughgiel began to get on top but weren't finding the scores.
McCormick did convert a 45 in the 22nd minute but from the next attack, the Barrs had their second goal as Hannah O'Leary sent a ball down to McCartan who caught, jinked inside and rattled the net.
Loughgiel found a reply late in the half with St Finbarr's leading 2-3 to 0-5 and were on top early in the second period with Caitrin Dobbin and a McCormick 45 bringing the margin back to two.
A free from McCarthy in the 49th minute gave St Finbarr's their first score of the second half, but Loughgiel responded brilliantly as after Lynn pointed, McCormick burst through to hit the net and give the Shamrocks the lead for the first time.
St Finbarr's hit back well with the next three points to go two ahead, but Loughgiel rallied with a McCormick 45 and an Amy Boyle point in added time to force extra-time at 1-10 to 2-7.
Loughgiel's Roisin McCormick is challenged by Liz O'Donovan
McCartan had the first say to begin extra-time, but it was advantage Loughgiel when Annie Lynn got through for a goal, yet late scores from McCarthy and McCartan had the sides locked at 2-10 at the change of ends.
The Shamrocks seemed to burst for home early in the second period as McCormick pointed and then Dobbin lobbed home her side's third goal, but the Barrs hit back in kind through Cahalane and an Eimear Hurley goal.
McCarthy hit her sixth point of the day from a late free, but with the last act, McCormick thumped over a free from deep to force another 10 minutes with the teams tied on 3-12.
After a scoreless first five minutes, the sides swapped points on two occasions, but it was left to Golden to settle it and send the Cork side through.