Cavan are Minor C Camogie champs

Goals in each half from Cavan corner-forward Aoibhe Conaty were the crucial scores for Jimmy Greville’s county minors

Cavan 2-5 Mayo 0-8

A goal in each half from Cavan corner-forward Aoibhe Conaty were the crucial scores for Jimmy Greville’s county minors this afternoon in Sligo, as they edged out Mayo in a tense finish to win the Tesco All-Ireland Minor “C” Camogie final by 2-5 to 0-8 at Markievicz Park.

A brace of points from Fionnuala McLoughlin and another excellent score from Émer Delaney helped the Mayo girls into an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead, but a number of tactical interventions on the Cavan side gradually started to take effect, and the Breffni County were transformed after the first half water break.

Aislinn Keenaghan got them back into the game with two good placed ball scores before Aisling McEnroe and Conaty combined to work the ball in from the right corner for a decisive goal to make it 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.

Mayo centre back Aisling Doherty pointed a 45 and a free for the only scores in the second quarter, thus cutting the gap to the bare minimum, but the Mayo defence was creaking a little as Cavan failed to take three goal chances, Orlagh McCabe and Keenaghan firing inches wide from separate chances while Aoibheann Crawley made a fantastic block to deny Conaty from another good opportunity.

Mayo’s luck didn’t hold as a high ball was floated in from the right wing and Conaty showed great poacher’s instinct to time her run and get a flick on the dropping sliothar for a decisive goal early in the final quarter.

Meanwhile at the other end, Mayo enjoyed plenty of possession but struggled to break down the Cavan defence, with Player of the Match Emma Mulvaney imperious at full back.

The wides tally of the Connacht county continued to build and while Lilian Keane crowned a strong individual performance with a point to cut the gap to a goal, Mayo never threatened Alannah Clarke’s goal at any stage and Cavan held on to etch their name on this All-Ireland trophy for the first time ever, securing yet another milestone for the sport of Camogie as it continues to deepen its foothold in the county.