Coláiste Bhríde girls claim Leinster crown

‘THIS is one of the most marvelous teams that we have in Coláiste Bhríde,’ said team mentor Elma Drummond after Coláiste Bhríde camogie team captured the Leinster’C’ crown last Friday in Johnstown.

‘It’s a cohort of people from Wicklow and Wexford, an amalgamation of both, from various different teams.

‘One of the biggest assets on the team is our county players. These girls have won a Féile title, they have won successive under-14 titles and there’s nothing better than having a Wicklow county player (Bob Fitzgerald) as their coach. And not only is he a county player but he’s also a former student of the school and a former medal winner with the school, very recent, too.

‘We’ve done a lot of work with them, and it’s their wonderful athleticism and, more than that, it’s the integrity and the dignity that all these girls carry on the field and off the field, and that is paramount to a good player,’ she added.

Coláiste Bhríde coach Bob Fitzgerald was a very happy figure when the final whistle sounded, and he says that the win is just reward for a team that have put in a gigantic effort throughout this competition.

‘We won the toss and I told Emma (Murphy) to go against the wind in the first half, and we did that,’ said Bob Fitzgerald. ‘I told the girls before the game to get to half-time and leave ourselves in a position to win the game and that’s what they done. We were in bonus territory with a one-point lead at half-time.

‘It was far from classic in the first half but it suited us there against the wind and I knew that if it came down to workrate and hunger and all that the girls would come through because there are no words to describe the effort they have put in since September, and I’ve said it to them numerous times, I don’t think any team in the school, in my time, I couldn’t imagine any team that have worked as hard as this team and it’s all they deserve.

‘We’ve done a couple of Saturdays, we had the semi-final there on Tuesday. There are girls there with Wexford c ounty teams, Wicklow county teams, and they all skipped their county training to come in to train with the girls.

‘As I told them, every bit of effort that has gone into this has paid off and the journey continues,’ he added.

Key to the victory and to keeping Coláiste Mhuire to a single point was a resolute and dogged defence. Team mentor Joan Lancaster says that this young team play for each other regardless of where they’re from or what club they are members of.

‘It is an unstoppable defence, said Joan Lancaster. ‘You have the solidarity of the Dorans in the back and in front of that you have a Tomkins and in front of that you have another Tomkins at midfield, and they play one off one, unstoppable.

‘The difference between this team and teams that have gone before them is that they have actually came together as a full panel of a team. They really supported one another. Clubs? They’re gone. Counties? It’s irrelevant that there are two counties.

‘They come together and they play for one club, and that’s Coláiste Bhríde, and it made the difference this year, and as Mr. Fitzgerald said, ‘long may it continue,’ she added.

Coláiste Bhríde Principal Linda Dunne cut a proud figure on the sideline during the game and on the field celbrating with her students afterwards.

It must have brought a certain feeling of satisfaction and pride that two former students were playing key roles in the Coláiste Bhríde camp on such a big occasion for the school. Bob Fitzgerald was prowling up and down the sideline as coach while Maire Doran was tending to any physio needs during the game.

‘Very proud of our past students,’ said Linda Dunne. ‘Very proud of Maire Doran who was here as physio today. Absolutely great.

‘You talked about the extra times these players put in - one of the Saturdays they came in was December 22, the day after we got our holidays.

‘Both Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Lambert (Conor) who is also a past pupil, took the girls to Kilkenny, so really, really proud.

‘They’re a fabulous team, and you have students there from first year to TY, which says a lot as well, a young panel,’ she added.

The victorious Coláiste Bhríde Junior camogie team after their Leinster final triumph over Coláiste Mhuire in Johnstown.

Pure delight! Coláiste Bhríde players celebrate after the final whistle.

A delighted Coláiste Bhríde management team of Joan Lancaster, Elma Drummond and Bob Fitzgerald with school principal Linda Dunne in Johnstown last Friday.

Bob Fitzgerald rallies his troops before the fray in Johnstown, Kilkenny.