Dominant third quarter fires Turlough' to Junior A camogie glory

Club marks 40th anniversary with promotion to Intermediate ranks

Turloughmore0-11

Kilconieron 0-9

By Gordon Duane

At Duggan Park

ALMOST a year to the day since losing the 2025 decider to Portumna, Turloughmore returned to Ballinasloe and went one better against Kilconieron in the Galway Junior A Camogie Championship final.

Turloughmore and Kilconieron couldn't be separated when they met in their opening round-robin fixture of the campaign (2-11 to 1-14). Both would go on unbeaten runs to advance directly to the last four.

Turlough' defeated Abbeyknockmoy (3-14 to 1-12), Tooreen of Mayo (2-11 to 1-4) and Cappataggle (4-10 to 1-12) before accounting for Athenry's second team at the semi-final stage (3-14 to 1-4).

Kilconieron, for their part, got the better of Ballinderreen (4-26 to 1-4), Athenry (1-10 to 1-5) and Skehana-Menlough (2-18 to 0-5) before edging a close encounter with Abbeyknockmoy in the last four (2-9 to 1-10).

Originally fixed for Saturday, their rematch was postponed until Bank Holiday Monday due to an orange weather warning for county Galway.

Competing in their first Junior A final, Kilconieron held a three-point lead at the break but in a goal-less clash, it was a run of five unanswered points during the third quarter that turned the tide in favour of Johnny Kane's side.

Player of the match Sarah Kearney opened the scoring for Turloughmore, but Kilconieron were soon in the ascendancy with All-Ireland senior medal winner Mairead Dillon on target twice in as many minutes before Katie Murray added a free.

0-3 to 0-1 to Kilconieron became 0-5 to 0-2 late in the half after Dillon registered her third and Sarah Martin also tallied at the Derrymullen end.

Kearney reduced the arrears for Turlough', but the interval scoreline stood at 0-6 to 0-3 in favour of Kilconieron after Murray converted her second placed ball. Indeed, it might have been more but for missed chances.

Both goalkeepers, Turloughmore's Helena Doyle and Jessica McGlynn of Kilconieron, were called upon to make crucial saves early in the second half. Kearney third point of the contest was soon followed by two Leah Forde placed balls to tie up the game on 44 minutes.

Republic of Ireland underage soccer star Abbie Duffy edged the girls in black and white ahead and they completed their purple patch with a superbly struck free from Leah Forde from her own 65.

0-8 to 0-6 for Turlough' was how it stood until Ellen Burke (free) finally opened Kilconieron's second half account in the 48th minute. But Leah Forde hit the target twice more (one free) as the eventual winners moved 0-10 to 0-7 in front.

Burke struck Kilconieron's only score from play in the second half before Leah Forde's latest point, her seventh of the day, gave Turlough' an edge.

Burke's third white flag from a close-range free rounded off the scoring as Kilconieron's efforts to engineer a match-altering goal were denied by a resolute Turloughmore defence in which Allanah Hughes, Eabha Trayers and All-Ireland winning ladies footballer Aoife Molloy stood out. Alisha King also made a strong impact off the bench.

Founded in 1986, Turloughmore Camogie Club are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Their impressive underage work has started to come to fruition at adult level. Minor A champions a few months back, they've now also marked that milestone with promotion to Intermediate ranks.

TURLOUGHMORE: H. Doyle; K. Dunleavy, A. Hughes, A. McGilloway; L. Kearns, A. Molloy, E. Trayers; R. Carr, S. Kelly (captain); E. Forde (0-1), M. Meehan, A. Duffy (0-1); E. McSharry, S. Kearney (0-3), L. Forde (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 45). Sub used: A. King, S. Ní Mhuireadhaigh; M. Ní Loingsigh, .

KILCONIERON: J. McGlynn; R. Keogh (captain), A. Morrissey, K. Kennedy; S. Treacy, E. Burke (0-3, 0-2 frees), Z. Spellman; M. Dillon (0-3), C. Corban; A. Duffy, S. Martin (0-1), K. Murray (0-2, 0-2 frees); A. Liston, K. Burke, R. Keogh. Subs used: N. Spellman, E. McDonagh, E. Doyle, C. Coughlan.

REFEREE: Karol Collins.

HERALD SPORT PLAYER OF THE MATCH:

Sarah Kearney (Turloughmore).