Offaly's Ann Marie is All-Britain champion!

FORMER Offaly and Drumcullen camogie player Ann Marie Guinan was player of the match as Manchester-based Fullen Gaels claimed a first ever All-Britain senior camogie championship.

In a nail-biting final at Pairc na hEireann in Birmingham, Guinan anchored Fullen Gaels to victory against London club Thomas McCurtains – but only just.

Fullen, seeking to make up for previous defeats in championship deciders, were leading by four points at half-time having had the Birmingham breeze behind them.

But with the second half nearly over they needed a point to force extra-time, scoring 1-10 to McCurtains' 3-4.

Gaels eventually prevailed 1-13 to 3-6 for a win which was particularly precious for Ann Marie Guinan, a senior vice captain with Offaly (pictured below) before her move to the UK.

She had been on the losing side in the All-Britain final 2020 and after helping her club clutch the silverware she revealed that she had been troubled by injury.

Guinan is the chief marketing officer with Future Ticketing, the Tullamore-headquartered digital ticketing company which services top racecourses like Cheltenham, Aintree and Epsom, along with numerous clubs including double winners Shamrock Rovers, plus major Irish events such as the National Ploughing and the Tullamore Show.

In a post on social media the player said becoming an All-Britain champion was one of her “biggest personal achievements to date”.

She explained how tough the final had been: “That was, without doubt, one of the hardest games I’ve ever played, and to come out as champions after extra time by a point and winning Player of the Match has been the privilege of my playing career.”

She added: “Last summer I tore my hamstring and missed all of championship.”

Guinan said the winter was “terrible” and during an eight-month recovery period she had three setbacks which put her back to the start.

“There were so many nights I worried, wondering if that hamstring injury would end my playing career,” she said, adding: “if you’re old, you’ll understand”.

Guinan's post concluded: “There are only so many years and season that you can win, and maybe you don’t realise just how sweet it is until you’re older.”