OUT on the pitch before last Saturday's Dublin senior 'A' camogie final at the Iveagh Grounds, Niamh Taylor was practicing the frees. You can't beat the rehearsal.

She sent over eight points from the placed ball, but it was her one point from play that had such a dramatic role in Naomh Mearnóg's 1-11 to 1-9 win over Counsel.

The teams were level for the fifth time. The game had ticked into its fourth minute of injury time. Mearnóg were attacking the clubhouse end.

Catriona Power directed the sliotar to Laura Twomey. Twomey passed to Taylor on the right. Niamh collected and, from a huge distance and without even looking at the posts, she pointed.

A magical moment of sheer brilliance. A score from the scrapbook of DJ Carey, Henry Shefflin, Angela Downey and Louise O'Hara. It was a point that should be parcelled up and kept in a frame on the mantlepiece.

One moment in time. It was the supreme act of the match, and a minute later Clodagh Cooney added another elegant point. Mearnóg were home.

Taylor is no stranger to the dramatic. Back in 2005, with the last puck of the ball, she converted a long-range free into the Hill 16 end that earned Dublin a draw in the All-Ireland junior final against Clare. Dublin won the replay and their first Junior crown since 1975.

Niamh said the best piece of advice she ever received was "that people might doubt what you say but they believe what you do." The Taylor timber speaks the most beautiful language of all.

Herself and her Dublin colleague Joelenne Hoary were the top scorers on Saturday. They swapped points like recipes for home-made bread. Hoary was the only scorer for the Drimnagh club. All her points came from the placed ball.

It was a tight contest. Good entertainment. Earnest effort. Counsel posed more of a goal threat, especially in the first half. Overall, Counsel hit eight wides, three more than Mearnóg. Space was as hard to find as a Kerry-Cork All-Ireland football final ticket.

The Portmarnock defence was good. Always the block and the vital clearance in the nick of time. Goal chances were rare.

In the 17th minute, Hoary reacted well to flick the sliotar towards the net but Stephanie Carthy kept her eye on it.

delighted

Mearnóg were delighted to lead at half-time, 1-4 to 0-6, especially as the Galtymore girls had enjoyed much more of the cake.

The goal arrived in the 31st minute. Taylor lobbed in a high one. Naoise Ryan foraged for it and when it spun loose Miriam Twomey rattled the garage door.

Miriam had a terrific second half. Lovely touch, speed and skill. She gave Counsel problems.

Mearnóg hit the first three points of the second period, all Taylor frees. Hoary replied with a free and then a 45th-minute goal as she swept in to produce an assured finish following fine work from Sarah Ryan.

Level once more. Fifteen vital minutes left. Ryan was flourishing around the engine room and the Mearnóg rearguard had to keep the shutters firmly bolted.

Hoary edged Counsel ahead. Taylor replied and then, from a 45, inched Mearnóg in front. Hoary, three minutes into stoppage time, and from the right of the posts, sent a return text.

The crowd had settled for a replay at this stage. But then Taylor pulled that golden point from the heavens. And there were 65 minutes on the clock when Cooney made sure.

Naomh Mearnóg: Stephanie Carthy; Grainne Madden, Catriona Power, Claire Gilligan; Louise Rooney, Andrea Fitzpatrick, Lisa Cahill; Laura Twomey, Niamh Taylor (0-9, 0-7f, 0-1 45); Miriam Twomey (1-1), Treasa McConnell, Clodagh Cooney (0-1); Naoise Ryan, Siobhan Bernard, Emer McFadden. Subs: Deirdre McGill for Bernard; Grainne Power for McFadden. Louise Conlon, Fiona Bernard, Fionnuala Rooney, Orla O'Reilly. Mentors: Padraic Gilligan, Donal Power, Eileen Bernard.

Good Counsel: Lizzie McGuinness; Gemma Flynn, Eve Talbot, Miriam Carty; Shauna Impey, Sarah Ryan, Claire Kelly; Sandra Martin, Edel Reid; Karen Blood, Kirsten Farrell, Sabrina Sargent; Aine O'Driscoll, Joelenne Hoary (1-9, 0-7f, 0-2 45), Shauna Duff. Subs: Emma White, Gayle McGuigan, Dearbhaile Butler, Niamh Kinsella. Mentors: Marie Byrne, Ronnie Murphy, Val Hoary.

Referee: Tommy Hackett (Westmeath)

- Niall Scully