Camogie News

Match Report courtesy of Barrie Henriques, Kilkenny People

St.Brigids College Callan 5-11 Cstlecomer Community School 1-3

Let it be stated initially that the final score in this Leinster Colleges Camogie Final in Dr.Cullen Park on Saturday is not a true reflection of the supercharged encounter that was enjoyed by the small number of people who were in attendance. It has been my pleasure to watch this delightful Callan outfit progress through the under-age academy, under the watchful eyes of people like Noelle O’Driscoll, Margaret Power and latterly Principal, Pat Power, to envisaged heights. After this comprehensive acquisition of the senior Leinster Trophy, it appears that their final destiny is about to dawn. If the work ethic, displayed in abundance in mucky, wet, freezing, miserable Dr.Cullen Park, is any yardstick, well then, the sky is the limit, all things being equal, for this tidy bunch of camogie players.
How anybody could actually perform to the heights that both sets of players reached, is a mystery--- but they did. Under the circumstances the performances were light years ahead of what one would reasonably have expected. Both sides were extremely physical with each other, but with no sign of rancour, or malice. The Callan girls were first assisted by the icy wind, with intermittent showers at their backs. It was a big ask for the Castlecomer girls to man their ramparts in the face of the marauding Callan attackers.
One of the stars of the show, Denise Gaule opened the Callan account with a pointed free after two minutes. She was to add another from play within sixty seconds. Three minutes later, the roof caved in on the Brigids girls. A long delivery from Mariga Nolan, was prevented from going over the bar by the strong wind. As it dropped on diminutive Callan goalkeeper, Laura Walker, she had little option but to bat it away from in front of her goal. Unfortunately for the courageous Walker, towering Michelle O’Keeffe was quickest to react, and she calmly slipped the ball over the goal line.

A tough wallop for the high-flying Callan outfit.

By the 12th minute, points by Gaule (2) and Aine Manning had nullified the value of the goal. By the 15th minute, a goal by Gaule had slammed the Comer girls against the ropes. A further javelin of a Gaule/Manning goal in the 16th minute tore the heart out of the Comer resolve. They needed half time to come, and quickly. They pulled back some of their more illustrious attackers in a damage limitation exercise, but the Callan contingent would not leave the battlements and depart quietly.

It is not in the nature of this team to do anything quietly!

Still the Castlecomer school were not for quitting. They would be strangers to such a doctrine. Ann-Marie Walsh was not for quitting. Neither was Nicola Hennessy. Annette Morrissey stuck stoically to the task of limiting chances to the likes of Gaule, Manning, Ciara Holden, Eileen Brennan, Anna Farrell and Louise Dunne. Denise Gaule with 1-3 between the 22nd and 25th minutes added further woe on the brave Castlecomer girls. Just before half time, Anna Farrell added a point to leave the score, St.Brigids 3-10, Castlecomer 1-0.

There was an Everest for the Comer girls to climb. They needed a fast opening, scoring start.

Things just didn’t run that way for them. Within a minute of the re-start, St.Brigids attacked into the wind and rain. Mischelle Farrell gathered the ball some forty yards from the town goal. As straight as a bamboo cane, she sliced her way through the heart of the Comer defence; stepped to one side, and lashed the ball off a ‘Comer defender to the net. Everest was getting even higher for the Castlecomer girls.

Mischelle Farrell is not the biggest of camogie players. In fact, she is quite petite, with an urchin face, an impish gait, and the heart of an assassin in games. “Shelly” is as close as I have seen to another great player, who became a legend, and who was a former star with St.Brigids Callan. Dynamic, brave to the point where she sees absolutely no danger, smart, and passionate, this little thing is no bigger than a bag of chips, but believe me, she is destined for greatness, if she alone has a mind to.

But there were great performers all over the field, and they didn’t all wear the same “gansey”. Laura Walker, not too big either, was as brave as a lion in the goal. The full back line of Chloe Corway, Alison Walsh and Dawn Holden were very forceful, concentrated, and effective. They certainly took no prisoners. I thought Maired Power at left half back was upsides with the best if there was a player of the match Award. The Callan diamond of Kate McDonald at number 6, captain- a real good captain- Leanne Fennelly and Shelly Farrell, plus centre forward, Denise Gaule was the catalytic engine room from whence all Callan play emanated. Fennelly was stunning. Mc Donald was great. And Gaule was great at what Gaule can do- have a squint at the scoring stat. Ciara Holden, Aine Manning, Louise Dunne, and Eileen Brennan contributed oodles to a great victory. Anna Farrell too never flinched from whatever was presented to be addressed.

Castlecomer will take plenty of pride away from this game. Never easy to accept defeat, but even though the score looked somewhat lopsided, nevertheless, they took on the best that this good Callan team could fire at them. They never reneged from giving of their best, and if on the day, their best was just a little short, well beig lá eile ag an bpaorach. They too had sterling performers in Ann Marie Walsh, Nicola Hennessy, Annette Morrissey, Noreen O’Keeffe, Joanne Kelly, Eimear Mulhall, Mariga Nolan, Marie Dargan, Rosie Maher, and Michelle O’Keeffe.
It was an honour to be in Dr.Cullen Park on Saturday.

Scorers

St.Brigids: Denise Gaule (2-7, four frees, ’65); Aine Manning, Ciara Holden (1-1); Mischelle Farrell (1-0); Leanne Fennelly, Anna Farrell (0-1 each).
Castlecomer C.S.: Mischelle O’Keeffe (1-0); Mariga Nolan (0-2, one free); Maeve Mansfield (0-1).

St.Brigids: Laura Walker, Chloe Corrway, Alison Walsh, Dawn Holden, Lisa Carey, Kate Mc.Donald, Mairead Power, Leanne Fennelly (capt), Michelle Farrell, Eileen Brennan, Denise Gaule, Louise Dunne, Aine Manning, Anna Farrell, Ciara Holden.
Subs:Laura Dunne, Jennifer Cunningham, Niamh Dowling, Tarah O’Hanlon, Meighan Farrell, Edel Frisby, Nicole Corrway, Imelda Aylward, Vivienne Ryan, Orla Neary, Eimear Roantree, Doireann Mackey, Clodagh Phelan, Rachel Dowling, Joanne Cody, Laura Woodcock, Eleanor Lacey, Niamh Phelan, Emma Boland.