St. Joseph’s College, Lucan (‘Joeys’) reach the All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior B Camogie Final after playing out another thriller at St. David’s CBS, Artane, on Saturday 13/2/2016.

Final Score: St Joseph's Lucan 3-12 Banagher College (Offaly) 4-5

St Joseph's Lucan have qualified for the O'Neills’ Post Primary Schools Senior B All-Ireland Camogie Final on foot of their stunning and well-merited semi-final victory today over Banagher College.

On the evidence of this truly marvellous performance, the Lucan girls will go hard seeking more All- Ireland camogie glory.

While it was the bedrock of the defence that got them over the line in the Dublin final, today it was the mid-field and forwards who owned the day - seven different scorers from play!

If one thought that the Dublin final was exciting, well the story of this match is straight from the pages of the thrillers. This sporting feast was served up despite the chill and cutting winds sweeping in off the nearby Dublin Bay that would have given even the hardiest of Eskimos pause for thought about setting foot outside of their igloos for a spot of hunting, fishing or whatever on such a day. However, they don’t have the good misfortune to be otherwise tempted outdoors, on such ‘crisp’ Irish days like this, by the prospect of a good or even average camogie match and so all of us hardy souls there were treated to a truly epic sporting encounter between these 2 great teams who made light of such adverse weather conditions.

Joey's led by a paltry two points (0-8 to 1-3) at the interval having had the greater benefit of this nice but icy breeze in the opening period. It didn't really seem enough. In fairness to the girls in green, the eight points were superbly worked and the Lucan forwards all looked to be in flying form. The successful fitness tests of Aoife McKearney and Sam Fitzgerald on Saturday morning were crucial to the eventual outcome.

Young Laura Quinn had a couple of those first-half white flags and looks a real prospect. Orla Sadlier had some good moments and a lovely point as well in that first half. Meabh Dowler did well down the right wing.

The home defence was steady despite an early fortuitous goal for the Shannonsiders. Jess Condron and Laura Morgan made many a relieving clearance.

The third quarter decided the match. Lucan tacked on 3-4 without reply to stretch the margin to a seemingly un-assailable 13 points by the 48th minute. Laura O'Mahony and Orlaith Murphy were imperious at mid-field at this stage while Sam Fitzgerald showed no ill-effects from her ankle injury. Aoife McKearney however was the real difference between the sides. Technicially almost perfect. Her tally of 1-4 was outstanding on a winter sod. Four points from distance and a kicked goal with a cool head under pressure. One to watch.

The goals from the dangerous Emily McIntyre and Laura Quinn in the 37th and 41st minutes respectively were well worked and clinically finished and when further points were added by Laura O'Mahony, Orlaith Murphy and Jessie McClelland it looked all over at 3-12 to 1-5 in favour of the Joeys girls.

This left Lucan home and hosed we said.....but the Offaly girls still had a kick in them.

Amy Byrne at centre-back for Banagher came into the game and Rachel Brennan and Roisin Daly began to punch serious holes in the Lucan rearguard. Three goals followed in quick succession in a welter of excitement.

Katie Feeney and Emma Ryan were introduced for Lucan and did their bit to stem the tide. A penalty was saved by Joeys' Nicole Fitzgibbon. Another goal was disallowed because the whistle had been already blown for a free in for Banagher. Harsh luck. The free was saved again on the Lucan line. Heart stopping.

Four long minutes of injury time.

Jessie McClelland and Emily McIntyre back in defence battling like demons for every crucial loose ball. Avril Quinn, Julie Kelly and Emma O'Flynn standing tall under the pressure in the last line of defence.

Eventually the victory was Joeys and they march on as Dublin's representatives in the All-Ireland Final in three weeks’ time when Yazmin Kilduff, Aoife O'Kane, Kate Britton and Abby Lawlor will all be fit for the fray.

Amazing match.

The Final (venue to be decided) is scheduled for Saturday 5/3/16 against Scoil na Trionoide (Doon, Co. Limerick) who beat St. Raphaels, Loughrea by 3-10 to 1-0 in the other semi-final yesterday. Try your best to be there or else miss your chance to witness this great team’s attempt to write themselves into the history books by winning this Final and gaining consequent All-Ireland A status in this competition for Dublin Secondary Schools next year.

St Josephs’ scorers : Aoife McKearney 1-4, Laura Quinn 1-3, Emily McIntyre 1-0, Orlaith Murphy 0- 2, Jessie McClelland 0-1, Orla Sadlier 0-1, Laura O'Mahony 0-1.

St Josephs Lucan: Nicole Fitzgibbon; Avril Quinn, Emma O’Flynn, Julie Kelly; Meabh Dowler, Jess Condron, Laura Morgan, Orlaith Murphy, Laura O’Mahony, Orla Sadlier, Sam Fitzgerald, Aoife McKearney, Katie Feeney, Emma Ryan, Laura Quinn, Jessie McClelland, Abby Lawlor, Yaz Kilduff, Aoife O'Kane, Kate Britton, Emily McIntyre.

Banagher College: Louise Corcoran, Helen Healy, Kaitlyn Kennedy, Laura Clancy, Karla Corcoran Lynch, Amy Byrne, Jenny Rosney, Louise Mannion, Louise Flannery, Shauna Duane, Rachel Brennan, Cora McEvoy, Sinead Flannery, Roisin Daly, Siobhan Reddin.

SOTS: Aoife McKearney.