Senior 1.

BSJ: 2-12

Castleknock: 0-12

Our Senior camogie team secured their first ever Division 1 Championship win in a thrilling opener against Castleknock following promotion last year. 

The first score came from a free by Eleanor Aherne to give Johns a lead they tigerishly refused to let go of to the finish.   

The teams exchanged some early points before a viciously dipping shot from Ellie Ahern out on the right wing deceived the Castleknock keeper as it dropped beyond her reach into the far corner of the net. 

Immense pressure from the Johns’ forward line meant the backs had little to do until the 20-minute mark when Castleknock hit their purple patch.   

They chipped away at the lead with three unanswered points and finished the half the stronger to leave just two between the teams at the break, 1-7 to 0-8.

A robust half time talk resulted in Johns coming out after the restart with all cylinders firing to produce a third quarter scoring blitz of 1-5 without reply.

There were some super points from Sarah Meagher, Emily Adderley and Siobhra Andrews, before Emma Johnson pounced for a goal after some excellent combination play from Aoife Kelly and Caoimhe Murphy released Emily Adderley to deliver a killer pass.

Superb defensive work and tackling intensity from all lines kept Castleknock from getting their opening point of the second half until a placed ball in the 17th minute. 

It sparked a mini revival that meant Johns needed to dig deep again as they stretched towards the finish.

Ballinteer bodies were literally thrown on the line for three consecutive goal stopping blocks from Derbhla Nolan, Ellie Doran and Sophie Quinn, with Naoise Irwin sweeping up to shut the door on any Castleknock comeback.

Hard defensive running from attacking players Aoife Kelly, Amy Burke and Jenny Andrews with support from Lauren Burke helped stamp out many of the second half Castleknock sparks before they caught fire.   

Johns even absorbed the double loss through injury of captain Amy Burke and Grace O’Shea in either half, two blows that seemed to just summon more from the players left to get on with the job.

A special mention to our three Senior Championship debuts from Goal-keeper Alice Smyth with four huge saves, Kilkenny woman Caoimhe Murphy who put in a fine defensive performance and Ciara Kellegher who's point put the final nail in the coffin.Full-time:   BSJ 2-12 Castleknock  0-12

Junior 1.

BSJ: 3-10

Raheny: 2-5

BSJ drew first blood in Group 2 of their Junior 1 championship campaign with a valuable opening round away win against a tough Raheny side.

Johns had to snake through nightmare northside gridlock to get to the Tuesday evening fixture in St Anne’s park.

But when the sliotar was thrown in it was Raheny who found themselves bogged down in heavy traffic.

A well-marshalled Johns’ defensive unit, that kept its shape and its nerve at key moments, as well as some fierce tackling intensity out the pitch laid the foundations for an eight-point win.

There were a number of important interventions from Ashling Browne in the left corner while Ciara McCarthy and Kate Barr (0-1) threw up roadblocks all along the John’s half back line and were the springboard for some free-flowing attacking camogie.

Jenny Andrews (0-2) was a blur of perpetual motion in the Johns’ engine room, even getting  forward for two beautifully taken points.

The hard-working back eight  gave an exciting Johns forward unit a platform to cut loose and chalk up some outstanding team and individual scores.

There were big contributions from Lisa Webster (1-2) and Eve O’Callaghan (1-1) to add to an early goal from Fiona Hayes (1-0).

Ciara Kelleher (0-3) and Ellen O’Callaghan (0-1) nailed four vital frees as the hard running Johns forwards made the home backs work all evening.

Ballinteer were well worth the two points they took back across the Liffey, vital in a tight 3-team championship group where every game is must-win.

Next up the Junior 1 team face Good Counsel in Marlay Park this Tuesday at 6.45pm.

Minor A.  

BSJ: 3-12

Naomh Mearnog: 4-3

When they staged gladiator games in the ancient Roman Coliseum they would occasionally flood the entire arena to reenact great sea battles.

Anyone who braved the downpours in Marlay Park last Friday night for the first round of the Dublin Camogie, Minor Division 3 championship will have an idea how that might have looked.

Somehow both sets of players produced a skilled and entertaining game in a tsunami.

The visitors from Naomh Mearnog appeared already weather hardened after braving their rain lashed journey south on the M50.

With a first half gale in their sails, they whipped up their own storm scoring 2-1 without reply while Ballinteer heads seemed to be still back in the shelter of the dressing room.

It took an inspirational opening score into the teeth of the brewing Storm Betty from Leah Kavanagh to launch the Johns challenge into life.

In midfield Lauren Burke seemed to locate the calm at the eye of the storm to hurl in and steady the Johns ship. While beside her, Eve Leslie began the hard-knock, business of baling water from the leaky vessel, one possession at a time.

Behind them a defence led by Eibhlin Barry and Ciara Andrews also steadily got to grips with the early damage and carried out the necessary running repairs to the holes in the Ballinteer boat.

In goal Sophie Brennan was pucking out a steady supply line of ammunition to the Johns forward line who added their own tackling intensity to finally get the scoreboard ticking and leave themselves just four points adrift  at half time, 3-2 to 1-4.

As the storm raged on after the break, we got not so much a game of two halves as a game from two entirely different hemispheres.

Without the wind Mearnog got hemmed in by a now rampant Ballinteer  who were launching wave after wave of attack. 

Sinead Ni Baoghaill and Leah Kavanagh led the line with some excellent scores and there were now holes springing up all over the Portmarnock boat.

Johns even withstood a late mini storm to seal a memorable 3-12 to 4-3 victory.

Next up they play neighbours Ballyboden away on Friday September 1st in what supporters will hope are drier conditions.  As for the players, the storm  never seemed to bother them anyway.

Minor B.  

BSJ: 4-5

Erin go Bragh : 4-3

With Storm Betty gathering pace on the horizon, driving rain and howling winds greeted the Minor B Camogie team as we arrived out in Clonee for our Championship opener versus a quick and spirited Erin go Bragh Minor team. Depleted in numbers but strong in spirit, the BSJ girls fought for every ball and made accurate use of every scoring opportunity. The Minor Eleven were aided and abetted by fantastic u16b players Ciara Ryle and Ellie O’Mahoney. Aisling MacDonncha kept the spirits high on the line as the coaches became increasingly bedraggled yet excited and proud at the team’s performance! Moment of the match? Perhaps Éadaoin Ní Chuilinn’s screamer of a point through the wind, or Aoibhín Nutty scoring a beauty of a goal from a free! Every single player put their heart and soul into the game with a reduced side and conditions that were… not ideal! Maybe Betty was on our side? Final score Erin go Bragh 2-3, BSJ 4-5.

*Junior B Round 1 championship game was postponed

Thank you to Neil Leslie for the brilliant Round Up !