Horsfield’s Last Minute Penalty Wins It For Eglish

Tuesday 25.11.2025

Camogie

What a finish. What a final and what a moment from Eglish captain Brenda Horsfield, who smashed home an injury-time penalty to snatch the Ulster Intermediate title in a gripping replay against Crossmaglen. It ended Eglish 1-10, Crossmaglen 0-12, but that scoreline only tells part of an electric contest.

After securing a replay thanks to Gemma Daly’s injury-time leveller in the first match, Eglish came into this one with a point to prove. But Crossmaglen burst out of the blocks, landing early points through Ashlinn McMahon and Lauren McConville. Eglish were off-target with two early wides and had a goal bound effort saved before McMahon added another score on nine minutes.

Eglish suffered a setback when Casey Gallagher, injured in the warm-up, had to be replaced by Sienna Gildernew. Crossmaglen pushed on via a free from Faye Fitzpatrick, but that seemed to spark Eglish into life.

Enter Reagan Fay. She hit a free that Rhianne McLoughlin tipped over, followed it with a stunning point from distance, and then nailed another free. Kate Daly chipped in after a superb run from Oilibhia Farley, while Crossmaglen’s Kellie Shields and Eglish’s Lauren McConville traded points in a lively spell.

When Kaitlin Gallagher had her jersey clearly tugged, Fay stepped up again to level matters heading into the break. Just before the whistle, Horsfield had to sprint from her goal to clear a dangerous ball, ensuring parity at 0-6 each.

Crossmaglen came out firing again, with Fitzpatrick hitting two frees inside eight minutes. But Eglish’s bench made an instant impact: substitute Eve Hughes linked brilliantly with Cliodhna Goodfellow, who fired over on 10 minutes. Fitzpatrick and Fay swapped more points as the intensity rose.

Crossmaglen looked to be gaining momentum with points from Megan O’Callaghan and Lauren McConville, but Fay refused to fade, keeping her side in touch with another free. Eglish introduced Gemma Daly, hoping lightning might strike twice, and though she didn’t score, her presence lifted those around her.

Fay’s free on 23 minutes cancelled out another Crossmagleneffort, and when Crossmaglen pushed a late free wide, it felt like there was one big twist left.

And there was. Kaitlin Gallagher battled through a mass of bodies and was hauled down inside the square. Penalty. Up came goalkeeper Brenda Horsfield, cool as you like in the dying seconds. She buried it. The place erupted.

There was barely time to restart, and when the whistle went, Eglish were champions. Player of the Final Reagan Fay was outstanding throughout, while Aisling Donnelly and the heroic Horsfield also shone. Crossmaglen’s standouts included the ever-reliable Faye Fitzpatrick, Megan O’Callaghan, and Ashlinn McMahon, but this was Eglish’s day—and Horsfield’s moment.

Result Eglish 1-10, Crossmaglen 0-112

Eglish: B Horsfield(1-0), F Farley, A Donnelly, L Mason, Grace Daly, K Daly(0-1), C Gallagher, K Gallagher, R Fay(0-7, 6f), O Farley, C Muldoon, C Goodfellow(0-1), Shannon Gildernew, , R McLoughlin(0-1), E Holmes, Sienna Gildernew, E Hughes, Gemma Daly, L Mackin, G Devlin, N Donaghy, A Devlin, E McCann, A Byrne, C Mackin, N Daly, G McKenna, A Jordan Donnelly, H Daly, A M Donaghy

Crossmaglen: L Duffy, A Bellew, R  McConville, C Lenaghan, A  McEntee, B O’Brien, C Leneghan, A McMahon(0-2), G Fitzpatrick, T O’Reilly, F Fitzpatrick(0-5, 3f), M O’Callaghan(0-1), K Shields(0-1), L McConville(0-3), E Cassidy, S Califf, S Hanratty, A McConville, E Duffy, A L Caraher, O Donaldson, R Lenaghan, B O’Neill, D Daly, C McBride, C Conway, A McLoughlin, L Kane, C Britton, E McEntee, H McCoy, C O’Neill, C Murphy, M Gallagher, E McMahon