When the teams met in May in the league proper the game finished level and indeed this final turned out to be as finely-balanced.
However Brídíní Óga deserved their victory as they were that little bit sharper in front of goals.
We got off to a terrific start with Victoria Edgar sweeping the sliotar to the net inside two minutes and that led to a period of dominance for us. Victoria added a second goal after 8 minutes, but we failed to add more during that period of dominance and then Glenavy broke to score 1-1 and forced us to hold out until the break.
John and Seamus settled them down again during the break and we came out with renewed composure. All over the field, the girls upped their game and we controlled the third quarter with Leona Traynor, Colleen McNeill and Laoise McKenna all very prominent.
Leona fired over a point from a free and a couple of minutes later, Bronagh Donnelly pounced on uncertainty in the Glenavy defence to strike our third goal.
In the final 10 minutes, the focus of the game switched on to our defence – but they were not found wanting and all of them stood up to the challenge, conceding just one point.
Antrim Fixtures’ Secretary Marie Doherty, in presenting the under 12 Shield to Brídíní Óga captain Aine Duffin, complemented both teams on an excellent advertisement for under-age Camogie.
This game was played at a terrific pace and it was obvious to our sizeable support that the girls have worked very hard with their trainers to improve their skills. John, Seamus, Imelda and Siobhan have spent many, many evenings on the bottom pitch – often in the rain – but it all paid off on Sunday and this team became the very first from the club to win a county title. Hopefully more will soon follow, starting this Saturday with the Senior squad taking on Rasharkin in the Junior Shield final.
Brídíní Óga : AineDuffin (capt), Shauna Fitzpatrick, Lauren Edgar, Ciara Cushnahan, Chantelle McLarnon, Colleen McNeill, Kate O’Donnell, Leona Traynor 0-1, Roisin Speer, Laoise McKenna, Victoria Edgar 2-0, Katie Laverty, Kirsty Laverty, Bronagh Donnelly 1-0, Niamh Gould.
Sub Caitriona Speer for Katie Laverty