Kilclief hit by late blow in decider

Kilclief hit by late blow in decider

15 October 2025

AN added-time post from Aghaderg’s Moya Lavery spelled defeat for Kiclief Ben Dearg in Saturday’s Down Junior Camogie Championship final in Drumaness.

Kilclief had gone into the final unbeaten, in both the league and championship, although their group stage victory over the South Down side had been by the margin of a point.

On Saturday however, Aghaderg made the better start and county senior panellist Niamh McGrath was on fire, accounting for all her team’s scores in the first half, building a 1-7 to 1-4 lead at the break.

Kilclief struggled to come to grips with the pace of the game and after 15 minutes, two Cara Doran frees were all they had to show for their efforts. Erin Elliott and Olivia Sharvin then pointed in the second quarter.

The East Down club closed the gap significantly before the interval, when a Doran 45 ped short and Niamh Galloway stroked the sliotar into the net.

That score, and the half-time pep talk, seemed to inject belief in the Kilclief team, as they closed the gap to points with Doran frees. 

This time, Aghaderg were under pressure to score. Going into the last few minutes, they had only added a Lavery point to their half-time total.

Niamh McGrath pointed a free to edge Aghaderg ahead, but Doran responded with her seventh point, levelling the argument in the 59th minute.

However, just when extra-time was looming, the Scarva Road team pressed forward and Lavery fired over the winning point.

It was a tough pill for Kilclief to swallow, with Doran, Jordan Hynds and Eimear Dorrian acting as their best players on the day.

Aghaderg are now through to represent Down in the Bridie McMenamin Shield, where they will face a trip to the Cavan champions the weekend after next. 

That will either be against Bailieborough or Drumgoon, who meet in their county final in Kingspan Breifne this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ballyholland won the Down Intermediate Championship final with a 3-6 to 1-9 victory over Mayobridge on Sunday.

Niamh Burns hit an early goal for the Newry side and, although Grace Cunningham responded, goals from Karen Maginn and Cliodhna Murtagh left the sky blues with too much to do.

Kilclief: F McFall, E Breen, J Hynds, S Johnston, K Black, M Sharvin, A Kearney, E Dorian, F O’Donnell, O Sharvin, E Elliott, Z Burns, C Doran, N Galloway, C Swail.

Subs: C Cultra, O Masterson.

Aghaderg: M Stewart, K Lennon, C Morgan, A-M Lennon, S Morgan, K Morgan, N Treanor, S Malone, R Monaghan, C McGrath, N McGrath, M Haggart, N Moran, C Rea, M Lavery.

Aghaderg 1-10

Kilclief Ben Dearg 1-9

DOWN JUNIOR CAMOGIE C’SHIP FINAL