U-23 camogs are crowned champions

U-23 camogs are crowned champions

2 July 2025

DOWN U-23s claimed the inaugural Glen Dimplex All-Ireland C Camogie Championship title with a comfortable win over Meath in Castleblayney on Saturday. 

They went into the final as clear favourites, having won the round-robin game in Trim a fortnight earlier, but Meath made them fight for the title.

The Royals were well in contention at the break, and they scored the opening point of the second half inside 14 seconds, closing the gap at 2-5 to 1-6. 

Down dominated the third quarter, hitting the next eight points without reply to put themselves in control of the result.

The Mourne County’s defence was strong throughout, while Niamh Savage and Clonduff pair Niamh McConville and Orlaith McCusker dominated the middle third. 

Ahead of them, Niamh McGrath, player of the match Grace Cunningham and Shanna Fettes showed for every ball and caused the opposition defence major problems.

Daire O’Shea, who went on to claim nine points, hit the first three scores, two from 45s and one from play, before the three-minute mark. 

Emma Hannifin steadied Meath with a pointed free however, and Down’s attacking play slowed up as Hazel O’Reilly-Higgins, Rachel O’Neill and Grace Connolly became prominent in the game.

It was 0-4 to 0-2 after 18 minutes, when McGrath burst through and found Fettes for an easy finish and the opening goal, and within 20 seconds, Niamh McConville had added a point.

Just a minute later, Amy Boyle chased in to block the sliotar off Clodagh Kelly’s stick, scoring a goal that wrestled momentum away from the eventual winners.

There was also a bit of luck with the second Down goal, as Sophie McGrath’s hopeful shot from 50 metres went all the way through and into the Meath net. 

Down did not really build on that bit of fortune though, and Meath finished the half with points from Hannafin (free), captain Lauren Woods and Boyle, reducing the gap to 2-5 to 1-5 at the break.

Emma Regan opened the second half scoring with a point inside 14 seconds, but Meath were unable to force another score until the 47th minute, when they were already ten points down.

O’Shea was deadly accurate with five placed balls, while Cunningham (2) and Sophie McGrath piled on the pressure for Down.

Hannifin fired over three frees during the final quarter, as the Royals pushed up for scores, but the Mourne defence remained in control to see out a comfortable win.

The counties meet again in the Glen-Dimplex Intermediate semi-final next Saturday, and five players from each U-23 team are in the mix for starting positions.

Down: C Kelly, O Brown, E Fitzpatrick, K Morgan, E Daly, D Coleman, E Shields, N McConville, O McCusker, D O’Shea, S McGrath, N Savage, G Cunningham, N McGrath, S Fettes.

Subs: E McCabe, K Quinn, T Cowan, C Dorrian, C Kelly.

Meath: S Deegan, K Mulchrone, H O’Reilly-Higgins, R Horan, S Brien, R O’Neill, G Connolly, A Donoghue, I O’Connor, E Hanifin, L Woods, A Boyle, K Connolly, E Regan, L Lawless.

Subs: C Flanagan, B Hughes, C Mulligan, M McCann.