Claremorris were this afternoon crowned LGFA Connacht Junior football champions. They beat St Brigid’s of Leitrim in today’s provincial decider at Boyle, winning by 2-13 to 2-8.

The road to victory was aided by two early goals. Nina Wallace struck for the first one shortly after throw-in and, after Brigid’s had hit back with a goal at the other end on five minutes, Laura Kelly bagged a second goal for Claremorris with seven minutes played.

Five points without reply followed, all of them from play, as Claremorris stretched their lead to nine. Bree Hession got two of these scores, with one each coming from Nina Wallace, Rebecca Keane and Laura Kelly.

Brigid’s had a good spell after that, cancelling out that Claremorris point-scoring spree with five points of their own. That left four between them at the break.

Claremorris started the second half brightly, with points from Rebecca Kean (free) and Ashleagh Sammon, the latter pointing again after the Leitrim side had opened their second half account with a point.

Points were then traded, with Rebecca Kean (free) getting the Claremorris score, before Brigid’s passed up on a great chance to close the gap when they missed a penalty midway through the half.

They did, though, bag a goal from play soon after. Now there were just four points between the sides, Laura Kelly having added a point from play for Claremorris before the Brigid’s goal.

A third Ashleagh Sammon point extended the lead for Claremorris down the closing stretch. Brigid’s pulled one back but that was their last score of the game. Fittingly, it was Claremorris who had the final say on the scoreboard, Marina Cawley bagging it to close out a five-point win.

Congrats to Claremorris on their Connacht title success today.