Pres bow to super side
A TALENTED and determined Banagher proved to be a hurdle too high for Presentation (Wexford) to climb on Saturday as they claimed the Leinster Post Primary Schools Junior ‘B’ camogie crown in Galmoy, Co. Kilkenny.
On a cold old day Noreside, Banagher won the toss, played with the slight wind and got off to a quick start, racing into a 2-1 to 0-0 lead after ten minutes.
The Offaly girls dominated most of the first-half. Without the excellent defending of the Pres backs - Aoife Whelan and Ciara Bridges in particular - and solid goalkeeping from Hannah Hearne, the damage could have been even worse.
At the other end the forwards for the Wexford town school were given very little time on the ball and failed to put away any of the half chances they created. Banagher eventually went in 3-5 to nil ahead at half-time.
Little changed early in the second-half as Banagher began similarly to how they had finished the first. They initially pulled further clear but this spirited Presentation team were not going to go down without a fight.
They battled for every ball and once they registered their first couple of scores from Ailis Neville frees they dominated the last 20 minutes of the game.
A goal from St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier youngster Neville, who looked dangerous throughout, followed by a point from Emma Sweeney put more respectability on the final scoreboard.
The fact that the Wexford girls drew the second-half of this game will leave them to wonder how things might have panned out had they been the ones who got the quick start.
However, over the hour there was no doubting the better side won. Banagher had excellent performers all over the field and were more clinical with their chances.
For the Presentation, experienced players like Emma Sweeney, Emma Sinnott, Lauren Murphy and captain Alannah Davis showed the leadership qualities and never-say-die attitude that has won them so many games for the school over the last four years at this level.
The entire panel can be extremely proud of their performances this year. They won all their games leading up to this by large margins and were unfortunate to come up against such a strong side.
The good news for the Pres. girls is that their excellent season isn’t over yet. They will have to pick themselves up and go again in two weeks as eleven of this team started on the Senior side which won the Leinster ‘C’ final last week and the remainder are part of the panel, who play the All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday, February 11.
Presentation: Hannah Hearne (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier); Aoife Whelan (Buffers Alley), Cora Doyle (Glynn-Barntown), Aine Fitzgerald (St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier); Catríona Kinsella (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier), Alannah Davis (St. Martin’s), Ciara Bridges (St. Martin’s); Sinéad Furlong (Buffers Alley), Emma Sinnott (St. Mary’s, Rosslare); Emma Sweeney (Glynn-Barntown, 0-1), Lauren Murphy (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier), Saoirse O’Connor (Buffers Alley); Aoife Fielding (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier), Emma Dempsey (Glynn-Barntown), Ailis Neville (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier, 1-2, 0-2 frees). Subs. - Eleanor Hammel (Buffers Alley) for O’Connor, Andrea Fielding (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier) for Aoife Fielding, also Niamh Cogley (Glynn-Barntown), Sarah O’Donoghue (St. Marys, Rosslare), Nicole Byrne (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier), Tara Murphy (Clonard).