Clanmaurice reach promised land of All-Ireland camogie final

ALL IRELAND JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

Clanmaurice 3-4 Athleague 1-7

LIFE outside of Munster has proved difficult for Clanmaurice camogie club in recent years, with a series of All-Ireland semi-final defeats serving as disappointing footnotes to otherwise successful seasons. It looked for all the world as if yet more heartbreak was in store at St. Sorney’s GAA grounds in Ballinderreen on Sunday afternoon, as Athleague of Roscommon slowly and methodically reeled in a six-point deficit to draw level in the 59th minute of action.

Even with the strong, lateral breeze hindering Athleague at that stage of the game, most of the Clanmaurice supporters would have happily accepted a draw at that stage, while manager Mike Enright made no bones about what he was going through in those tense closing minutes.

“I must have died ten deaths on the sideline there, it was some dogfight,” said the veteran Ballyduff man – before going on to praise corner forward Jessica Fitzell, who showed incredible presence of mind to flick the sliotar to the net with her back to goal on the last play of the game, securing the win at the South Galway venue.

“They’re good enough to defend, they don’t give away goals, but they came a bit deep, and then we had a go at them about it at half time and then they fell back again,” he noted. “There was an Athleague player injured and I went onto the field and had a right go at them, told them to push on for the last five minutes and by God it worked. Jessica was really clever in the way she flicked the ball between her legs and past the keeper, she did brilliantly.”

It was a win that in truth, should never have been in doubt, considering the strong position that Clanmaurice were in after 40 minutes. Patrice Diggin found the back of the Athleague net after just thirty seconds and while both sides struggled to handle the strong, diagonal breeze, Clanmaurice would have been delighted to go in 1-2 to 0-3 in front.

A point from Diggin in the first minute of the second half was quickly followed by a crucial score, a goal from a thirty-metre free that dipped wickedly and spun into the top corner. With Alanna Maunsell’s puckouts now crossing midfield, Clanmaurice should have been able to kick on – but instead they fell into a defensive stance, and invited Athleague onto the front foot.

The Roscommon side didn’t need to be asked twice, and a superb solo goal from Rachel Fitzmaurice opened up the tie once more. A couple of missed goal chances from Aoife Behan kept the Connacht club in the game, and they fired three points on the bounce to set up a dramatic finish – only for Jessica Fitzell to play the part of hero with her shrewd touch in the midst of a goalmouth scramble.

“I have to give it to our girls, they have lost three All Ireland semi-finals and they say losing a semi-final is the hardest thing going, it’s harder than losing a final, because at least you’ve got to an All-Ireland,” Enright said. “Regardless of what happens now, these girls will be able to say they played in an All-Ireland final for their club, and we’ll give it a go and see where that takes us.” CLANMAURICE: Alanna Maunsell, Tréise Moran, Niamh Leen, Michelle Costello, Elaine Ryall, Sara Murphy, Orla Young, Jackie Horgan, Olivia Dineen (0-1), Aoife Behan, Laura Collins, Sadhbhe Horgan, Ann Marie Leen, Patrice Diggin (2-3, 1-2f), Jessica Fitzell (1-0). Subs: Áine O’Connor for Horgan (50)

ATHLEAGUE: Paula Daly, Eithne Brennan, Niamh Farrell (0-1f), Chloe Whyte-Lennon, Niamh Conway, Kelley Hopkins (0-1f), Meadhbh Tiernan, Laura Fleming (0-1), É Ní Chumhaill, R Fitzmaurice (1-0), Rebecca Brennan, Leanne Walsh, Holly Gavin, Fiona O’Connell-Jones (0-3f), A McGeeney (0-1). Subs: Laura Keenan for Gavin (HT), Ciara Ryan for O’Connell-Jones (50)

REFEREE: Alan Doheny (Laois)