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Loreto are crowned queens of camogie
Camogie
Alan Neary
Loreto SS, Kilkenny 2-5
Blackwater CS, Waterford 1-7
LORETO Secondary School team manager Brendan Williams was honest in his assessment of Saturday’s All-Ireland colleges senior camogie final success over Blackwater Community School, Waterford at Ardfinnan in Tipperary.
A panel with 128 All-Ireland winners medals between them saw off a spirited second half comeback from Blackwater (Lismore), but according to Williams the Cats are capable of better.
“It was a mixed performance in some ways. Look we won the final and in many respects that’s all that matters, but we definitely didn’t play quite as well as we are capable of playing,” summarised Williams after the Kilkenny school's first win in the championship.
“For some reason things didn’t click as well as we wanted despite a great start to the first - and second - halves,” William added.
Incidentally, the Loreto succeed St Brigid's College, Callan, who won the title the previous two season.
At the quarter way stage the Kilkenny side were 1-4 to no score in front, but three quick-fire scores before the break brought Blackwater Community School back into contention.
By the interval the Waterford side chased a 1-4 to 0-3 deficit, but despite a goal and a point from Loreto right after half time, the Cats endured a nervy finale.
Outstanding Blackwater Community School skipper Marie Russell kept the Waterford side in contention with a spate of accurate frees, but the Loreto held on.
“We looked very comfortable at the start of the game, but by half time we were under a massive amount of pressure. Waterford came at us in droves”, said Williams.
“Really I can’t explain what happened. We have some very skilful players and usually our skill is what opens the opposition up, but it wasn’t straightforward today. Blackwater were very well organized and athletic, but we didn't make it easy for ourselves at times.
“In saying that I felt the half backs of Grace Walsh, Caoimhe Shiel and Nicola Butler really stood out and of the starting 15 probably they fulfilled their potential the best. We had chances over the 65 odd minutes. Noelle Maher got herself into a great position just after she came on, and the likes Aoife Murphy caused them problems too.
“We have one very, very experienced side but nine of the starting 15 are in their final year, sixth year, so inevitably there’ll be opportunities for others next season. It’s a great way for many of the team to end their time in secondary school, and with very few of the substitutes and the panel in their last year an experienced core will remain.”
Inside the opening 60 seconds Lydia Fitzpatrick sent Aine Curran clean through the Blackwater defence, but the out-rushing Treacey Kiely intervened for the Suirsiders. The play switched to the far end where Russell passed towards Catriona McGlone, who made a weaving run across the face of the goal some 30 yards out.
Fruitless foray
However, it was a fruitless foray as the Loreto regrouped in numbers and blocked McGlone just as she appeared set to shoot on goal.
The opening Loreto point stemmed from a move down the right flank, and a series of clever hand passes.
Aisling Dunphy fed Aoife Nolan, who in-turn picked out Fitzpatrick, who broke the deadlock with five minutes showing on the clock.
The perseverance of Aisling O’Grady yielded a ninth minute point for Loreto as Claire Phelan flashed over a free after a foul on Dunphy. O’Grady again took quite a bit of punishment in the run up to the Loreto’s third score, which came courtesy of another Phelan free.
A solo run and finish from Aine Curran made it 0-4 to no score before Aoife Nolan made the most of some slack defending and scored a goal some 13 minutes in.
Loreto looked to be cruising, but three points in the space of eight minutes from Russell (two frees) and Niamh Prendergast meant Blackwater Community School trailed by a less than daunting 0-3 to 1-4 at half-time.
Making presence felt
The interval whistle couldn’t come quick enough for the Cats and the wide count of 3-1 in favour of the Waterford representatives at the break told it’s own story. However, any hope of a Blackwater comeback seemed to evaporate when Dunphy provided Fitzpatrick with a goal chance 35 seconds into the second half.
The ruthless Fitzpatrick obliged as Loreto moved seven points in front.
O’Grady was by now making her presence felt. A brilliant hand-pass from the forward took two Blackwater out of the play before Orla Hanrick scored.
As the second half went on the Cats began to concede frees with greater regularity and there was a sense of inevitability about McGlone’s goal eight minutes in.
Four frees followed from Russell while at the far end of the field, Loreto substitute Noelle Maher was unfortunate not to net six minutes from the end. As for the Cats, well Dunphy saw her attempt from 30 yards fall short of the goalmouth in a thrilling finale which included five minutes of additional time.
That Fitzpatrick strike right after half time was hugely influential on a day when Loreto held on for a one point win to add to their Junior A triumph in 2009.
Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny - Sinead Maher (Dicksboro), Stacey Quirke (St Martin’s), Niamh Kelly (Dicksboro), Sarah Dunne (Graigue-Ballycallan), Caoimhe Shiel (Bennettsbridge), Grace Walsh (Tullaroan), Nicola Butler (Graigue-Ballycallan), Niamh Byrne (Clara), Aine Curran (Freshford), Claire Phelan (Lisdowney), Aoife Nolan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Aisling O’Grady (Dicksboro), Lydia Fitzpatrick (Freshford), Orla Hanrick (Dicksboro). Subs - Aoife Murphy (Lisdowney) for Nolan 31 mins; Kate Holland (Lisdowney) for Dunne 40 mins; Noelle Maher (Tullaroan) for O’Grady 40 mins.
Blackwater Community School - Tracey Kiely, Shauna Prendergast, Jenny McCarthy, Emma Foley, Jessica Galvin-Johnson, Shauna Kiernan, Sara Fenton, Marie Russell, Michelle Tobin, Aoife Hannon, Jemma Burke, Clara Aarons, Ruth Geoghegan, Catriona McGlone, Niamh Prendergast. Subs - Rachel Whelan for Geoghegan 40 mins.
Referee - John O’Leary (Cork).
Scorers: Loreto Secondary School - Aoife Nolan (1-0); Lydia Fitzpatrick (1-1); Claire Phelan (0-2, frees); Aine Curran, Orla Hanrick (0-1 each). Blackwater Community School - Marie Russell (0-6, frees); Catriona McGlone (1-0); Niamh Prendergast (0-1).
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Weather for Kilkenny
Thursday 17 May 2012
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