Tullamore complete back to back minor camogie victories
Offaly Camogie Minor A final
Tullamore made club history when they successfully defended their Offaly Minor A Championship title, seeing off St Cillian's/Lusmagh at Faithful Fields to complete back-to-back Minor A titles.
Offaly Camogie Minor A final
Tullamore 4-14
St Cillian's/Lusmagh 3-6
It is only the fourth time in the club's 53-year history that Tullamore have been crowned Minor A champions — following on from 2006, 2014 and last year's win in 2025 — but this is the first time the title has ever been retained, with the club now champions in successive years. The achievement made for emotional scenes at the final whistle.
The victory carried extra significance given the history between the sides. St Cillian's/Lusmagh had arrived at Minor A level with an unbeaten record, having previously got the better of Tullamore in the U14 and U16 finals between the clubs. This latest win represented a reversal of fortunes, with Tullamore now champions in two Minor A finals in a row against the same opposition.
What followed was a superb contest, played with intensity and skill and, credit to both sets of players, in an entirely sporting manner — the referee had no cause to produce a card all evening. It was fitting, then, that the Cathaoirleach of the County Camogie Board remarked afterwards that the player-of-the-match award could have gone to almost anyone on the pitch. In the end it went to a popular choice in Tullamore's Lily Marie Dolan.
A fast start and a flurry of goals before the break
With less than 30 seconds up on the clock it was the player of the match Lily Marie Dolan who opened the games scoring when following a solo run, she put over a point. Emma Francis was unfortunate not to take a follow up score when she carved out an opening through a tight St Cillians/Lusmagh defence. Three minutes on the clock saw Tullamore’s Rachel Cunningham slot over her team’s second point, teed up by good work from Katie Fogarty and Ailbhe Coll who had manoeuvred past the half back line of their opponents and ably passed the ball into Rachel. At the other end of the field Tullamore defence performed well under pressure from the attacks of St Cillians/Lusmagh with Katie McDermott travelling up field with her clearance and Alice Walsh and Katie Colgan crowding out their opponents and forcing their attacks wide. St Cillians/Lusmagh did get an opportunity to secure their first score when awarded a free but this was marginally wide of the post.
A great interception by Anna McGreal saw her clearance deliver to Rachel Cunningham who earned a free to secure Tullamore’s 3rd point. Midway in the first half St Cillians introduced the first substitute of the match, Elliemay Flannery, and shortly afterwards secured their first score when their star player Siofra Ginty pointed from a free. Scores were slow to come with both defence lines closing down any attacks by their opponents with Jennifer Rigney to the fore for Tullamore ably assisted by Katie Hannon and Anna McGreal. In the last 10 minutes of the first half, scores began to come with Siofra Ginty and Rachel Cunningham exchanging points from frees. The game burst into life in the closing stages of the half. Ailbhe Coll and Maeve Duffy had been feeding good ball into the Tullamore attack, and it told around the 26th minute when Coll picked out Grace Waters for a goal.
Cillians/Lusmagh went on a counter attack but were closed down by fullback line of Katie Colgan, Alice Walsh and Katie McDermott. Eventually St Cillians/Lusmagh endeavours were rewarded when Siofra Ginty put the ball out of reach of Aoife Kavanagh. Only 2 points separated the sides with the teams eager to finish out the first half in a strong position but it was Tullamore who succeeded when Ailbhe Coll stepped up to take a free 40m out, she lobbied it into the danger zone where Lily Marie Dolan connected with the ball in flight and landed it the net – a class score. Grace Scully set up a final attack but it was closed down leaving Tullamore 2-4 St Cillian's/Lusmagh 1-2 at half time
Lily Marie Dolan got the opening and closing scores of the first half and she likewise opened the scoring of the second half with team work being to the fore with Ailbhe Coll and Meave Duffy playing their part. Elliemay Flannery’s bid to counteract Tullamore’s advancement was stalled by goalkeeper Aoife Kavanagh and well cleared. Ali Smyth however did succeed in registering a point for St Cillians/Lusmagh. Grace Scully and Emma Franics teamed up to give Grace Waters a shot at goals which was well saved by Aoibhinn Slattery. A lull in scoring came with a light rainfall during which time Jennifer Rigney delivered in a number of scoring opportunities to the forward line without a result. Meanwhile St Cillians/Lusmagh added a point to their tally following persistent efforts to break down the dogged defence lines of Tullamore. This advancement for St Cillians/Lusmagh was retorted by a Tullamore goal and Meave Duffy’s long-range point from play pus their lead to eight points.
St Cillian's/Lusmagh refused to fold, cutting the gap to five points with a second goal.
At the 45th minute, Tullamore made a triple change — Anna Maunsell for Emma Francis, Maeve Carey for Katie Fogarty, and Alara Pehlivan for Grace Waters — and it was around this time that Grace Scully was fouled breaking through, with Rachel Cunningham converting the resulting free. Rachel Cunningham then added a point from play after a strong solo run, and a further point from a free, as Tullamore pulled clear again.
St Cillian's/Lusmagh's Carla Coakley grabbed a third goal to keep the scoreboard ticking, but by then the introduction of substitutes was paying dividends for Tullamore: Anna Maunsell struck a fine point from play on her introduction, while Dolan, Grace Scully and Ailbhe Coll all added further points. Clodagh Rigney replaced Katie Hannon at the 55th minute, and it was Lilly Marie Dolan who had the final say, finishing off a move involving Ailbhe Coll and Alara Pehlivan to blast home her second goal of the game and seal the win.
There was great jubilation when Lily Marie and Jennifer accepted the cup. This was a fantastic team performance. The substitutes introduced contributed in no small way to the victory and other panel members had also contributed in various matches to reach the final. The hope is that these players will now go on to make their mark with the club's adult teams.
Tullamore scorers: Lily Marie Dolan 2-3, Grace Scully 1-2, Grace Waters 1-0, Rachel Cunningham 0-6 (4f), Anna Maunsell 0-1, Maeve Duffy 0-1, Ailbhe Coll 0-1.
Tullamore team: Aoife Kavanagh, Alice Walsh, Katie Colgan, Katie McDermott, Katie Hannon, Jennifer Rigney (joint capt.), Anna McGreal, Ailbhe Coll, Maeve Duffy, Rachel Cunningham, Lily Marie Dolan (joint capt.), Katie Fogarty, Grace Scully, Emma Francis, Grace Waters. Subs used: Anna Maunsell for E. Francis (45'), Maeve Carey for K. Fogarty (45'), Alara Pehlivan for Grace Waters (45'), Clodagh Rigney for K. Hannon (55'). Panel: Molly Twomey, Saoirse Murphy, Molly Dillane, Summer Hogan, Katie Molloy, Lily Foy.