Five Kellyann Hogan points inspired Ballymacarbry to county final glory for the 42nd year in a row after a nail biting encounter with Comeragh Rangers in Leamybrien.
The Waterford attacker raised three white flags in extra time to edge the girls in blue past their great rivals (1-9 to 0-10). Karen McGrath made a match winning catch at the death when Katie Murray sent a free around the square.
"I think that was the best ever," long serving defender Louise Ryan told WLR Sport afterwards. "Definitely the sweetest. I thought he'd never blow the whistle!"
Ballymac are now unbeaten in county finals since 1982. They won this one without former Déise forward Michelle Ryan who pulled a quad in the warm-up. Current county full back Laura Mulcahy, score getter Sinéad Kenrick and former Waterford defender Mairéad Wall were also marked absent.
Comeragh have lost ten of the last eleven deciders. Ger Power's team will rue twelve wides and three missed goal chances.
The champions led 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval. In the first minute of injury time, Karen McGrath punched a high ball from Aileen Wall to the back of the net. McGrath then won a free which Hogan popped over.
McGrath cleared a ball off the line before Brid McMaugh extended the Ballymac lead to four. Comeragh got back level entering the last quarter as Keeley Corbett Barry kicked an inspirational point. McMaugh and Anne Dunphy then traded scores. Comeragh piled on the pressure but couldn't find a winner at the end of normal time. (1-6 to 0-9).
Three Kellyann Hogan points in extra time (two from play) and that Karen McGrath catch got Ballymac over the line once again.
Scorers for Ballymacarbry: K Hogan 0-5 (2fs), K McGrath 1-0, B McMaugh 0-3, C Walsh 0-1.
Scorers for Comeragh Rangers: K Murray 0-4 (2fs), A Dunphy, E Murray 0-2 each, K Corbett Barry, S Dunphy 0-1 each.
Ballymacarbry: L Fitzpatrick; G Nugent, M McGrath, M Ryan; G Carrigan, L Ryan, K McGrath; K Hogan, A Barron; B McMaugh, A Wall, M Boyce; S Peters, C Walsh, S Hallinan.
Subs: R Browne for Boyce (54), O Barron for A Barron (62), A Ryan for Peters (72).
Comeragh Rangers: A Norris; C Murray, T Kelly, O Kennedy; A Murray, K Corbett Barry, K Hahessy; A Power, MK Clancy; A Shankey, A Dunphy, E Murray; S Dunphy, K Murray, G Power.
Subs: A Connolly for G Power (8), M Power for Shankey (HT), K Broxon for Clancy (43), E Power for A Power (52), G Power for S Dunphy (59), R Kirwan for Connolly (66), A Shankey for G Power (71), C Keane for Kelly (73), S Dunphy for A Dunphy (79).
Referee: P Smith
