Double delight for Yellas with camogs three-in-a-row champions

What a week its been for Clonduff as the senior camogs followed on from the footballers success winning their third championship crown on the trot by beating familiar foes Portaferry in the final at Drumaness on Saturday. This made it their twelfth senior championship title and the third decider in a row against the Ports and the crowds came out to enjoy the game, with warm sunshine matching the mood for the Yellas. It was one-way traffic from the start with Clonduff leading by eight points 0-11 to 0-3 at the break. And while that seems like a surmountable score, it was evident throughout that the Hilltown club were by far the better side and would not be caught. They raced into a three-point lead with frees from Sara-Louise Graffin either side of a point by Cealleagh Byrne before Portaferry got off the mark with a free from their taliswoman Ciara Doran who scored seven of their eight points - all from the dead ball. Clonduff had the measure of their Ards opponents and while there were a few wides in the half, they kept the scoreboard ticking over with eight more converted points with just two more frees from Portaferry to lead 0-11 to 0-3 at the break. The Yellas picked up where they left off after the restart with Byrne showing some lovely touches and Graffin made it seven frees to increase their lead to 0-12 to 0-3. Byrne had a go moments later with a flick on from Orlaith McCusker but it ended up with a free going the other direction and Doran sent the sliothar over the bar. Katie McGilligan increased Clonduff's lead with a shot that might well have gone under the bar set up beautifully by Orla Gribben. A throw-ball once again saw the Yellas come out on top with McCusker doing well to win a free that Graffin sent between the sticks, Doran took another free from her own half but it was won by Clare McGilligan indicating Clonduff's dominance. Clare Donaldson cleared her lines from McCusker's goal effort on that occasion but the Yellas were well on their way with Paula O'Hagan entering the fray just seven weeks after giving birth to her daughter Hallie, in search of a twelfth medal along with Graffin. Doran made it 0-14 to 0-5 with another free but after a spell of scrappy play with another throw ball from referee Kieran Rice, Clonduff were soon in charge again with Beth Fitzpatrick superb as the conductor in the half-back line. Niamh McConville increased the lead as Jenny Toner tried to stave her off to no avail. Player-of-the-Match Graffin made it 0-16 to 0-5 with her ninth free with 13 minutes of normal time remaining and it increasingly looked like Clonduff had the title in the bag. Traded scores between Katie McGilligan and Croft kept the Yellas in charge of proceedings and they just ran out the clock winning comfortably 0-19 to 0-8 in the end.

"it's brilliant. Three in a row, what more could you ask for. It's brilliant for the parish,” said a delighted Niamh McConville after the game.

The player who scored a point on Saturday acknowledged the work ethic required to get over the line despite the game looking comfortable and the defending champions being favourites ahead of the final. “To me, favourites means nothing. If you don't show up, you don't win. You need to show up, put in the hard work and today we did. We put in a good shift. Portaferry are a good side, they were tough but we got over the line.” Clonduff have a quick turnaround playing the Derry Champions (determined today, Sunday) but McConville and her teammates will think about that after celebrating retaining the county crown. “That'll be a tough one but we'll worry about that in a few days' time.”

MATCH STATS Clonduff: Clodagh Kelly; Erin Rafferty, Jenna Boden, Tierna Savage; Clare McGilligan, Beth Fitzpatrick, Aoife McDowell; Niamh McConville (0-1), Clara Cowan (0-1); Orlaith McCusker (0-1), Sara Louise Graffin (0-9, 9f), Ellen Shields; Orla Gribben (0-2), Katie McGilligan (0-3, 1f), Ceallagh Byrne (0-1), Subs: Paula O'Hagan for Gribben (37) Theresa Cowan (0-1) (45), Cassie Fitzpatrick (45), Caoimhe McConville for Savage (52) , Niohmi Murray for McCusker (57) Grace Kelly for McDowell (57) , Zara Kelly (57), Caoimhe McConville (57)

Portaferry: Claire Donaldson; Lena Mason, Leah Coulter, Eva Gallagher; Niamh Savage, Aimee Mallon, Roisin Murray; Dearbhla Colaeman, Mia Fitzsimmons; Caileagh McConnell, Frances Toner, Ciara Doran (0-7, 4f, 1'45); Ciara Devlin, Eimear McCarthy, Erin McGrattan Subs: Jenny Toner (H-T), Abbie Croft (0-1) (52), Aine Rossiter for McCarthy (54), Katie Murray for Gallagher (57)

Referee: Kieran Rice (Warrenpoint)