Cilliard claim Féile camogie crown
CILLARD Camogie Cub travelled to Clonea Power GAA in Waterford last Friday to represent Kerry in Division 4 Of The John West Feile Na Gael Camogie Championship this weekend and took Waterford by storm as they were crowned All Ireland Feile Na Gael Champions yesterday after defeating a tough Tyrone team Eglish St. Pats in the Final on a scoreline of 2-7 to 2-4.
There wasn’t a team in Group B that expected this group of girls who were not physically the biggest in the Feile to demonstrate the level of hurling skill that was becoming the talk of Waterford as they progressed through the qualifiers.
Cillard had three matches that would decided whether they progressed on to the Cup or Shield Competition, and the lack of scores from the other side grew wider as they went through.
The first match against Donard The Glen (Wicklow) was going to prove to be the only test of this great team as the opposition were towering over the Kerry girls, but they were quickly worn out from trying to keep up with our girls as brilliant tactics from our mentors Joe Walsh and James McCarthy had Donard running all over the pitch.
Cillard was up against Tramore in the Second match and the Waterford side proved no match for Cillard with the end result being Cillard 7-6 Tramore 0-0. Cillard went on the clinch the road to the Cup quarter-final when they defeated Clonea Power 9-11 to 0-0
Lacken of Cavan was the team to beat in the quarter-final and the girls in red came out the winners sealing Cillard’s place on a score of 4-9 to 0-0. The semi-final was played in Kilsheelin, Tipperary, the first test of our girls and they passed with flying colours as they scored 2-10 to 0-1 on a rainy evening.
Eglish St Pats of Tyrone was the team to beat to bring home the cup. They had defeated a strong Mayo side in the semi-final and were tipped to win, but our Cillard Girls proved to have a little ore in the tank and were up at half-time with 1-7 to 1-0.
Allanah Strich put Cillard on the scoreboard with a point in the first minute and a brilliant goal from Amy O’Sullivan along with four points from frees saw Cillard in the lead in the first half.
Cillard’s hand passing and team play which they had shown throughout the tournament was interrupted due to the persistent rain that fell throughout the game in Cahir and a strong and determined second half from the more physical Tyrone team had Cillard on the back foot until Caoimhe Spillane got a brilliant goal for Cillard and gave us some breathing room.
Tyrone answered back with a goal of their own that left just three points between the sides and when Eglish were awarded a free 25 meters out with just seconds on the clock extra time looked to be on the cards.
The shot was saved and cleared as the final whistle sounded.
There was great scenes of jubilation as Sarah Walsh accepted the Division 4 trophy on behalf of the panel as Cillard were crowned John West champions for the second time on a scoreline of 2-7 to 2-4.