Journey ends for wonderful Carnew girls
Coláiste Bhríde side lose to Cashel
CASHEL CS COLÁISTE BHRÍDE 2-13 3-6
THE final hurdle of the Tesco All-Ireland Post Primary Junior B camogie final proved too much for the gallant Coláiste Bhríde Carnew team as they fell to a class Cashel Community School in Heywood on Saturday afternoon.
Featuring some of the most promising camogie players in Wicklow and boosted by some strong players from Co. Wexford clubs, the Carnew school accounted for Gorey CS in the Leinster final and Maryfield Convent of Drumcondra in the All-Ireland semi-final but met a Tipperary outfit who were operating on a higher level in terms of hurling ability.
That being said, had circumstances transpired slightly differently in an action packed second half the game was very much there for the taking for Bob Fitzgerald’s side who had the advantage of a wicked wind in that second period.
The game began at a frantic pace on the full-size Astro pitch in Heywood Community School in Laois. Unfortunately for the paying supporters of both teams and those at the game that followed immediately afterwards, they were forced to view the game through a metal fence that surrounded the pitch.
Sadly, and somewhat unbelievably, there were no flags at either set of goalposts for the umpires to wave, nor flags along the sides of the pitch, and a mentor from either team was appointed as a linesman for the hour in circumstances most certainly not befitting an All-Ireland final at any level.
It was clear from the off that the surface was not ideal for the Coláiste Bhríde players and the more assured hurlers from Cashel looked far more comfortable in the early stages as Carnew stood off them somewhat.
The athletically built Cashel players were looking to cause major damage from the off and were very strong in key positions. Team captain Grace Maloney was hurting Bob Fitzgerald’s side down the right wing and a switch during the first half saw Ciara Wafer migrate across the field and
Maloney’s influence was curbed substantially for the remainder.
Two Sarah Doyle points (one free) were driven over either side of Cashel’s opener from the aforementioned Maloney who struck sweetly with the wind at her back. Maloney would grab another top level the game before corner-forward Lisa O’Connor slotted a free won by Anna Fahie off the retreating Hannah Redmond.
A free from centre back Ciara Gahan made it 0-4 to 0-2 for the Tipp school but Sarah Doyle reduced that with a pointed 45 with eight on the clock.
However, Cashel were starting to move up through the gears and when Lisa O’Connor drilled a low shot past Kate Butler in the Coláiste Bhríde goal after nine minutes the writing was on the wall that this was going to be a massive challenge for the Carnew students.
Four more unanswered points from the Munster champions opened up a 1-8 to 0-3 lead but Sarah Doyle struck beautifully to the bottom corner of the Cashel net to bring the Leinster champions right back into the game with 18 on the clock. In fact, Coláister Bhríde might well have had another major but for a poor strike close to the goal.
Two more points from the Cashel side gave them some breathing space whereas Coláiste Bhríde could only manage three wides, one that almost snuck in for a major, but you felt that if they could make it to the break without conceding another goal that they might have a serious chance with the wind at their backs.
Alas, Cashel struck for a beautiful goal soon after. Four stunning passes down the field and Grace Maloney rifled home past Butler for a sickening score.
Bob fitzgerald sent in Shauna O’Shea for Kayla Tighe at the break and although Cashel sruck fro an early score aghainst the wind, Coláiste Bhríde answered with 2-1 from the hurl of Sarah Doyle, the goals coming from lofted frees that snuck in past the Cashel goalkeeper who looked increasingly suspicious under the high ball.
Sensing that this was a logical route to head down, the instruction to Sarah Doyle was to drop the frees short and hope that the creaking defence would cough up another major or two. However, Cashel packed their goal line for the next number of frees.
As well as defending like tigers, the Tipp students also lifted the siege with some aplomb, breaking up firled and scoring two frees and although Sarah Doyle would add two further scores for Coláiste Bhríde they could need find the scores nor the cutting edge to trouble the Cashel defence.
Two heavy knocks on the talented Doyle reduced her normally significant impact on the second half and Cashel held on for a worthy win.
Despite the defeat there were super performances from Coláiste Bhríde players. Knockananna’s Roisin Byrne was immense. Carnew’s Ciara Wafer gave relentlessly to the cause while the Shannon sisters, Laci Jane and Jade, from Annacurra, were a credit to their club and their family. Craanford’s Melissa Doran was a tower at full-back and Kilrush-Askamore’s Karen Tomkins shone bright at centre back while Craanford’s Sarah Doyle bagged the entire tally of 3-6 on the day which while hugely impressive also shines a light on one of the massive deficiencies in the team.
An amazing journey ends for the Coláiste Bhríde girls who now make the step up to the ‘A’ championship