Cork duo face camogie double header in Croker
It’s a touch ironic that the very first game I covered this year was the AIB All-Ireland Club Hurling Final in Croke Park and now as the season winds down, it’s back to HQ on Sunday for a camogie double header.
It’s a huge occasion for Ballincollig and St Finbarr’s - first time final appearances for both clubs - and the games are live on C103. Also down for decision is the Co-Op Super Stores County Under 21 Hurling final.
AIB All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final
St Finbarrs v Athenry on Sunday in Croke Park at 4.15pm
It certainly has been a roller coaster of a journey for the ‘Barrs since retaining their Cork title a few weeks ago.
In the interim they have had 2 of their games go to extra-extra time before they were finally resolved and here they are now in an All-Ireland Club final.
Apart from trying to win the title for the very first time, they will also should they achieve it, join their mens’ hurlers and footballers as All-Ireland club champions - now that would be some feat!
And it’s not lost on manager Brian O’Sullivan. “It would be great but that is not our priority; our objective is to win the final and then we can say we have done it but for now we are just concentrating on Sunday.”
Having to play the All-Ireland semi-final just a week after the Munster Final was a worry so Brian is glad of the two week run in they now have had. “We are delighted because after the 90 minute match, we needed a break. Got back at it on Wednesday, had a few knocks and that but everything is good now and thankfully no injury worries.”
With their 1st game in the Munster Championship also being a 90 minute game, Brian is delighted with the will to win the girls have shown. “Remarkable really - the desire to win is very strong and that has been evident all year and hopefully one more fence to jump.”
Like all involved he knows that as with all Galway club teams, a tough test awaits. “There’s no doubt about that. They knocked out last year’s All-Ireland champions in their own championship and while they had no provincial championship, they were very good in their semi-final win over Dicksboro.”
Stephanie Punch is the ‘Barr’s captain and for now Christmas shopping is on hold. “It is, I suppose haven’t had time but would not trade it for the world - great to be still training in December.”
At the outset of the year getting this far was but a distant thought. “As we know winning the Cork Championship is so hard but you know when you keep winning, you just do not want to lose.”
As for the drama of recent games: “Little did I think that we would play one 90 minute game but 2 in a short space of time is unreal but as a group we are very determined and that has shown in how we managed to win those games.”
It’s been a hectic time out in Togher but Stephanie says the support they get is incredible. “Fantastic with big crowds at all our games, even in Tullamore the last day and I am sure we will get the same on Sunday.”
The captain just like her manager knows at this level there is nothing easy. “We all know how strong Galway camogie is and they relish playing Cork teams so Sunday will be no different.”
And the key to winning or losing? “Well a consistent 60 minutes is important and not to give Athenry a good start and if we can do that, hopefully we will come out the right side.”
Both sides have players who have played in Croke Park before and that will help but there is a lot of talent on view in this game.
Dervla Higgins, Sabina Rabbitte, Eimear Keane, Jessica Gill, Therese Donoghue, Clodagh Burke and Sinead Feeney are all big players for the Joe Rabbitte-trained side.
Along with their captain Stephanie Punch, Ciara Hurley, the Cahalane sisters Orlaith, Meabh and Grainne, Sorcha McCartan, Keeva McCarthy, Kate Wall and semi-final match winner Ciara Golden have all made huge contributions to the ‘Barr’s journey to HQ. This is a hard one to call, as both have displayed remarkable resilience all season, will there be a winner or will it need another day out? I’m going to plump for the ‘Barrs - that is if they start well - to edge this one and their strength off the bench could be a factor.
AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final
Ballincollig v Camross on Sunday in Croke Park at 2pm
“Look it’s beyond our wildest dreams to be training this late in the year and getting ready to play in Croke Park but where else would you rather be?” Ballincollig captain Linda Dorgan on Sunday’s final.
It’s been a great year and one of the traits has been the depth and resilience in the squad. “Yeah we have a very tough county championship; extra-time in one game and a replay in the final and we got over the line and that is down to the work we put in all year.”
There is a nice mix of youth and experience in the team. “There is - we have had good success in minor over the years and then the more experienced players,” laughingly she says, “like myself, have gelled well together.”
Linda and former Cork player Leah Weste have played in Croke Park before and that experience will help. “Hopefully it will but it’s a big occasion for everyone and we need to enjoy it as well, but the main job is to win the match.”
Laois champions Camross have several players who have backboned the intermediate team in recent years and Ballincollig manager Mike O’Brien is well aware of their talent. “They have some very good players and we know that we will have to start well and not allow them build momentum especially on such an important day for the club.”
Mike though is very happy at how the season has gone: “At the outset the ambition was to win the county and once that was done, we had a month to prepare for the Munster final so we took the view this might not come around again, so let’s go for it, and here we are.”
What has made the difference this year to other years? “Attitude and mindset from day one, our management team, coaches, strength and conditioning all worked hard and the players bought into what we were doing and now it’s an All-Ireland final.”
For the club as a whole and the area in general it’s a huge event but as group they are staying focussed. “Certainly we are, the bunting is up, the messages are coming in but for us it’s about getting the job done; 2 light sessions this week and focussing on what’s important while also conscious of what it would mean to the club as a whole to win in Croke Park.”
Like his captain, Mike knows there is nothing easy at this level. “Never is but we are ready for whatever comes our way.”
They have Aedin Lowry, Leah Daly, Fiona Scully, Kirsten Keenan, Tara Lowry and Grainne Delaney and Aimme Collier - both of whom made the junior camogie team of the year as Laois were crowned All-Ireland Premier Junior Champions. In fact Collier was named the Junior Camogie player of the year as well.
Ballincollig though have quality players - apart from Dorgan and Weste, they can call on Leah Hannigan, Ailish Scanlon, Anna Hartnett, Miriam Healy and Aoife Cotter and that quality might be good enough to get them over the line.
Co-Op Super Store Under 21 A Hurling Final
Shandrum v Midleton at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G on Sunday at 2pm
Midleton as holders eased into this final with a comfortable win over Newcestown with among others David Cremin, Mikey Finn, Peter Barrett, Cian Stack and Conor Morley racking up some big scores.
Shandrum had a much tougher test against Valley Rovers, who knocked out Glen Rovers in the QF and have very good players in Turlough O’Neill (0-13 in that game), Stephen Minihane, Daniel O’Connell and Robert Troy among them.
That said there is a resolve in this Midleton group to retain the championship and honour the memory of the late Darragh McCarthy who sadly passed away during the year. It’s hard to see them being stopped now.
County championship draws
Well we now know who plays who in the respective hurling and football championship next year. We will have a more in depth look in next week’s column, but as ever some tasty encounters on the horizon.
Just a few thoughts; in Premier Senior Football, champions St Finbarrs and what a very bad referee’s call last Sunday against them, will have Carrigaline, Mallow and Douglas in their group, while newly promoted Knocknagree have a tough one - Castlehaven, Clonakilty and Ballincollig.
The final group has Nemo Rangers, St Michaels, Valley Rovers and Newcestown. Hurling champions Sars are joined in their group by Douglas, Charleville and Newtownshandrum, runners-up Midleton face St Finbarrs, this year’s Senior A winners Bride Rovers and Newcestown. Age-old rivals Glen Rovers and Blackrock will face off in round 1 alongside Fr O’Neill’s and Kanturk.