Sacred Heart Create History by Winning the Munster A Camogie Championship!
This day will go down in the annals of Sacred Heart Secondary School for a number of reasons. Firstly it was back to back Munster camogie titles for the West Cork outfit. Secondly, the All-Ireland B winners of 2019 took it one step further by winning the Munster A championship by defeating Tipperary Kingpins, Urslaines of Thurles.
The game was played in glorious winter sunshine at the excellently prepared Castleroad venue. The Clonakilty students started in whirlwind with two early goals within 3 minutes, from the speedy Katie O’ Driscoll. Clonakilty exploited the slow start from the opposition, which was ultimately to be the difference between the two sides at the end. A hard pressing game was adopted, particularly evident around midfield where Lydia Sutton and Millie Condon dominated. Sacred Heart’s centre back Erica Harrington was a rock and was ably assisted by Mary Murphy and Ciara White, with little passing the half back line.
The emphasis on hooking, blocking and closing down space made life very difficult for the Tipperary students. A fabulous hook by Orla Deasy allowed Millie Condon in for a beauty of a point and it was 2:1 to no score after 10 minutes. Opportunities did arise for the Ursaline students from the dead ball, but many were from difficult positions. Michelle Flanagan did manage to raise the white flag from a free 55 metres out to get the Tipp students off the mark. This score lifted her team and the game evolved in to a very competitive affair. It was the full back line of Niamh Kennedy, Kate O’ Donovan and Alannah O’ Brien who stood tall thwarting any attack and clearing the lines. It was the cool, efficient and athletic O’ Donovan who didn’t put a foot wrong that stood out and is a player with much potential.
The hardworking Aoife Whelton and Maeve Kingston did an amount of running and hard work for their team often dropping back to support the Sacred Heart defence.Caoimhe Murphy on the “40” hurled very well, with her strength often needed in this tight contest. Captain Eimear O’ Brien showed her true class any time she got on the ball and added a free after 20 minutes. But it was all Ursalines now going into the final 10 of the first half. A change in free taker saw Katie O’ Dwyer edge another one back for the Tipp girls leaving the score at half time 2;3 to 0;2.
A lovely point from O’ Driscoll after 2 minutes of the 2nd half gave the appearance that the Clon students were in the ascendancy but it was Ursalines who would be making the biggest impression for the next 15 minutes. Their physicality aided by lenient referring of the game saw the Tipp girls to the fore scoring 2 goals and a point. The West Cork students looked to be in trouble. But this outfit have many leaders, none the more than Millie Condon who showed that she can mix it with anybody. Her positional sense, ability to get out of all sorts of skirmishes with ball in hand was a joy to watch. Eimear O’ Brien was moved to centre back and the curtains began to come down for Ursuline’s as Sacred Heart drove at the defence, winning frees that were perfectly dispatched by O’ Brien. Orlaith Deasy showed her pace and caused all sorts of bother, Kate Nowlan contributed significantly when introduced, passing intelligently and working to a standstill. Naimh McCarthy looked dangerous when introduced at full forward. In goals Siofra Patwell was excellent, with her massive puck outs and to be fair was at no fault for the goals conceded, the first of which looked like a throw!
It’s on to the All-Ireland semi-final now (to be played in Clonakilty) where Galway opposition awaits. Coaches Mr. Daly and Mr. Mulcahy were delighted with their squad of players but are already planning for the next step!
