History was made last Sunday morning when the Lucan Sarsfields Senior 1 Camogie team defeated Ballyboden St. Endas by 3-7 to 1-10 away from home. In the process, Lucan reached the Dublin Senior Division 1 Camogie Championship Final for the first ever time and also ended Ballyboden’s quest to win a sixth consecutive such camogie title to add to their clutch of wins from 2010 to 2014.

Lucan meant business from the first whistle and led at the end of the first half by 2-4 to 0-5. The scorers were Orla Beagan 1-2, Amy Conroy (1-0), Laura Murtagh (0-1) and Ali Twomey (0-1).

Just after the game resumed, Laura O’Mahony put clear daylight between the teams when she coolly goaled from around 25 yards out (3-4 to 0-5). Ballyboden responded instantly to replicate the last Lucan score from the penalty spot (3-4 to 1-5). The teams continued trading scores and with just a few minutes left, Ballyboden had whittled the Lucan lead down to just 2 points (3-6 to 1-10) and were pressing hard for the equalising scores or winning goal. Lucan’s safety cushion of a 3-point gap was restored on the scoreboard and this final and defining score would arrive from a somewhat unexpected source……..our wing-back, Clare Rigney, Ballyboden, like all great teams, would not give up their 5-year stranglehold as Dublin Senior Camogie Champions without a fight. And they surged forward in great numbers looking for the goal that would earn them at least a replay on their way to a coveted 6 in a row. But they were stopped every time by an equally determined Lucan defensive effort. The last act of this frantic and passionate encounter occurred when Ballyboden sent a speculative shot towards the Lucan goalmouth which fortunately went just out of play. The referee, urged on by the equally frenzied Lucan support, finally blew the whistle after the ensuing puck-out to end this truly epic sporting contest between these 2 great camogie teams.

Ballyboden as ever were very gracious in defeat and their manager, Richie Sweetman, wished us well for next Sunday’s final against St. Vincents. All roads will lead to St. Peregrines for this Final which is scheduled to begin there at 16.30 on 18/10/2015.

Lucan Sarsfields: Joeleene Hoary, Siobhan Grimes, Niamh Byrne, Sarah Courtney, Sarah Cotter, Anne Marie Courtney, Claire Rigney (0-1), Orla Beagan (1-3), Mairi Moynihan, Ali Twomey (0-1), Samantha Fitzgerald, Laura Murtagh (0-1), Amy Conroy (1-0), Emily McIntyre, Sarah Collins, Kate Whyte (0-1), Laura O’Mahony (1-0), Laura Morgan, Ailise Dowling.