A big step in the right direction for camogie
Third time’s a charm as Garden County girls secure ‘Strike for Glory’ crown
IT’S third time lucky for this group of players! Two years ago they lost an All-Ireland final. Last year they lost an All-Ireland final. Finally, they’ve won an All-Ireland final. There was a lot of joy at full-time for this group of players.
It was also third time lucky against Mayo this year. In the first match Wicklow were depleted and lost by a few goals. The second match was a closer affair but still Mayo prevailed with a two point win. Finally, Wicklow won.
And they should have won by more. Mayo only scored two points from play, both within the last 12 minutes. Without knowing too much about the teams you could be forgiven for thinking Wicklow dominated these games and the two teams will renew acquaintances later in the year to see who is best.
On Sunday, as the sun shone and the wind blew, there was no doubt who was best. The management team, with Kevin Byrne at the helm, have moulded their squad into skilful camogie players and have worked with many of them since they were fourteen.
Sheenagh Byrne and Aimee Maher showed their silky skills in midfield, Leah Carroll caught a ball going backwards while there were blocks and hooks galore to stop Mayo.
Maher opened the scoring for the Garden County seconds into the game. Midfield partner Byrne won the throw in and passed to Maher. She combined with Aisling Shannon and popped the ball over the bar.
From the puck out Sarah Byrne was fouled and namesake Sheenagh Byrne converted the free. Wicklow had two points within two minutes but Mayo struck back with a goal. A long free wasn’t cleared and full forward Mary McLoughlin hand passed the ball past goalkeeper Sara Davis.
Aoife Weir replied with a well taken point, she was out in front of her marker and shot over the bar in limited space. That levelled it after an early flurry of scores and then some inaccuracy crept into the game, Mayo hit four wides to Wicklow one in the next ten minutes.
Wicklow broke the scoring drought with a quickfire 1-3 in four minutes to translate their superiority onto the scoreboard. Byrne converted her second free before a long ball in by Leah Carroll fell kindly for Eleanor Carroll Hayes to bury in the back of the net. Byrne added a 45 and Carroll pointed from 40 metres or more.
Minutes later Aisling Shannon got in on the scoring act after a glorious Sheenagh Byrne catch and just before half time Shannagh Goetelen also got her name on the scoreboard when she caught a Mayo puck out.
It looked like plain sailing for Wicklow at this stage but another Mary McLoughlin goal, after another long ball in around the Wicklow danger area, brought Mayo back into the match and reduced the half time deficit to five points, 1-8 to 2-0.
And Mayo started the second half like a house on fire, a dangerous shot was deflected wide and they had to settle for a pointed 45.
However, just like Mayo struck early with a goal in the first half to bring themselves back into the game, this time Wicklow got the goal. A Byrne 45 dropped short and after a couple of attempts Emma Doyle got the vital touch and the ball went in the net. Well, it certainly appeared like it was Doyle got the touch amongst a sea of bodies around the Mayo square.
Leah Carroll added a point when she latched onto another Byrne 45 that fell short, Wicklow played into the wind in the second half, for her second point.
Then came another potential lifeline for Mayo. Captain Michelle Treacy was fouled after McLoughlin caused more problems but Meabh Delaney blazed her shot over the bar.
Delaney added a free to reduce the deficit to six points with 15 minutes to go and the loyal Wicklow supporters began to fear for the worst and a repeat of previous games between the teams.
Those emotions were quickly allayed though when Wicklow hit 1-1 in the next two minutes. Sarah Byrne got her single point of the game and then Doyle pounced quickest to a breaking ball around the Mayo square for her second goal. This time there is no doubt who scored it.
Mayo fought back with two points from play but Wicklow were never in any danger, especially when Aoife Weir, Aimee Maher and Leah Carroll added a point each in the last five minutes to cap off a wonderful day for the county.
Scorers – Wicklow: Emma Doyle 2-0; Eleanor Carroll Hayes 1-0; Sheenagh Byrne (2f, 1 45) Leah Carroll 0-3 each; Aimee Maher, Aoife Weir 0-2 each; Shannagh Goetelen, Sarah Byrne, Aisling Shannon 0-1 each.
Mayo: Mary McLoughlin 2-0; Meabh Delaney (45, pen, f) 0-3; Elizabeth Gallagher, Siobhan Mooney 0-1 each.
Wicklow: Sara Davis, Grace Harper, Amy Barrett, Hollie Eve Cullen Dunne; Kate Campbell, Shannagh Goetelen, Mollie McCormack; Sheenagh Byrne, Aimee Maher; Aisling Shannon, Leah Carroll, Emma Doyle; Sarah Byrne, Aoife Weir, Nicole Ryan. Subs: Eleanor Carroll Hayes for Nicole Ryan (20 mins); Jenny Tyrrell for Hollie Eve Cullen Dunne 54 mins); Lillie May Cullen Dunne for Aisling Shannon (55 mins).
Mayo: Anna Durkan; Cuileann Bourke, Megan Henry, Niamh O’Donnell; Liz Jordan, Meabh Delaney, Briana Bruton; Grainne Delaney, Elizabeth Gallagher; Niamh Kennedy, Ava Lambert, Hannah Tenor: Amy Hastings, Mary McLoughlin, Michelle Treacy. Subs: Brona Joyce for Niamh O’Donnell (20 mins); Siobhan Mooney for Amy Hastings (HT); Eilis Duffy for Liz Jordan, Aoife Moran for Elizabeth Gallagher (both 57 mins).