Camogie notes
June 28TH ‘11
Tyrone defeat Monaghan in Ulster Final
Tyrone 3-20
Monaghan 1-7
A depleted Monaghan County Camogie team suffered a devastating defeat when they were outplayed by a much more experienced Tyrone outfit in the Ulster Junior Final which was a treble header played in the Morgan Athletics G.A.A. Grounds in Armagh on Saturday last.
Tyrone got off to a ground breaking start with a melody of scores coming from “Player of the Match “ Caoimhe Rafferty with Monaghan only managing 2points from Mairead Mc. Carron and Mary Mc. Elroy in the opening half. However Monaghan got their act together in the second half when Siobhan Mc. Kenna netted a goal for her side and Eleanor Mc. Quaid Karen Boyle and Nicola Morgan got points apiece, but a little too late to see Tyrone ease to Victory.
Monaghan are out next Sunday again when they are home to Wicklow in the All Ireland Maire Ni Chinneide Cup, but they will have to pull out all the stops for points in the race to retain last years Title. Manager Malachy Treanor is confident that with everyone back on board Monaghan will give Wicklow a run for their money.
Monaghan V Wicklow in Drumhowan at 2 15pm.
Feile na nGael
Both Castleblayney and Clontibret U 14’s enjoyed their weekend when they represented Monaghan in the Feile na nGael competitions in Galway . Castleblayney were hosted by the Ahascaragh-Caltra Club while Clontibret were hosted by the neighbouring County Clare. Undoubtedly this was a great experience and a fun filled trip for these girls and will be etched in their memory for many a year to come.
Westenra Hotel Championship
Inniskeen 5 – 6
Truagh 2 – 5
A full round of games were played in the Westenra Hotel Championship on Sunday last when first up were Inniskeen and Truagh which was played in Drumhowan. Inniskeen wasted no time in getting their name on the scoreboard when they were rewarded 3 – 3 without reply in the opening minutes of the game with Arlene Mc. Geeney(1-2) getting the first goal within seconds of the throw in watched by her 4 sisters who were all togged out for their side on Sunday. Isobel (1-1) and Edel Kieran who were in outstanding form served up a great display of camogie ably helped by Sharon Mc. Gahon.(1-2) and Olivia Boylan (2-0)
It wasn’t until the 13th minute that Siobhan Mc. Kenna got Truagh’s opening point from play but Inniskeen still kept the pressure on the Truagh defence and penetrated it with another 2 goals and 2 points before the half time whistle. However Siobhan Mc. Kenna came to the rescue when she rattled the net in the closing g stages of the first half.
This was a game of two halves and although Inniskeen again started the second half with a point from Mairead Monaghan, this was to end their scoring chances and Truagh took control of the game when following a skirmish in the Inniskeen goalmouth Deirdre Mc. Carron got her name on a goal. Mairead Mc. Carron received a yellow card for an enfringment on Isobel Kieran and Edel Kieran was substituted following a leg injury. Truagh’s Selina Lynch was awarded a point from play in the 20th minute and three more points were won from frees taken by Sharon Mc. Quillan(0-2) and Orla Mc. Meel (0-1) This was still not enough to overtake the lead built up by Inniskeen who came away with a deserved win.
Clontibret 0-13
Castleblayney 1- 4
Meanwhile in Cremartin Clontibret and Castleblayney had it all to play for where the Faughs were entering the fray with a win under their belt having defeated Inniskeen in the opening round of the Championship, however Clontibret got off to a flying start with a barrage of points from Marie Greenan, Shauna Finnegan and Aideen Greene before Blayney were awarded a free which Eileen Mc. Elroy sent over. Castleblayney continued to poach for scores and Niamh Brennan was successful when she handpassed another over the bar.
Clontibret who were in flying form continued their scoring ability with points coming from Catherine Tomany, Eleanor Mc. Quaid and Marie Greenan
Castleblayney’s focus on scores came their way after the interval when Emma Mc. Kenna got a goal past the impressive Rosita Finnegan and Eileen Mc. Elroy converted a free . Niamh Brennan once again sent one over the bar which was to be their final score of the game.
Clontibret continued to notch up an array of points from Marie Greenan, Nicola Morgan and Catherine Tomany, Scores were hard to come by and from the 12th minute both teams remained scoreless. However Marie Greenan converted a free before the final whistle which also saw the removal of Donna Forde who was stretchered off injured.
Sympathy
It was with deep regret that we learned of the passing of Pat Clarke Clontibret, Father of Geraldine who is Chairperson of the Monaghan Board. The Board would like to express its sympathy with Geraldine and the entire Clarke Family at this sad time. Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam.
Club news
Castleblayney
Well done to the Castleblayney Camogie Team that represented County Monaghan in Feile 2011 in County Galway and to all the team who played 3 great games in constant rain last Friday and Saturday. It was the first time away from home for a number of these young girls who were fabulously hosted by Ahascaragh-Caltra and who represented their families, club and county proudly with exemplary behaviour and effort all week-end. Unfortunately we did not win any games but the manner in which they played against mostly older opposition was a credit to the training they are currently receiving and this will stand them in good stead in the Armagh league which resumes on Thursday evening. Thanks to the mentors Mary, Kate and Amber and to the many parents who travelled to support the girls.
Our seniors played their second of three championship games, having overcome Inniskeen 4 weeks ago. Unfortunately the lack of match practice in the intervening period had an adverse affect with Castleblayney being well off the pace in a game that Clontibret deservedly won on a scoreline of 0-13 to 1-3. This was by far the poorest performance seen from this team in the last 2 years and some serious soul searching needs to take place on the training field and elsewhere if Castleblayney are to hold any aspirations of a crack at Clontibrets title this year.
Clontibret
Clontibret Camogie News.
It was an exhausted, euphoric bunch of U-14 players that returned to Clontibret on Sunday evening last after what they declared was ‘the best weekend ever’ at Féile na nGael in Co. Clare. As well as the camogie, which they thoroughly enjoyed, the hospitality of Burren Camogie Club was second to none. Other highlights of the weekend included the parade in Loughrea, Co. Galway, the disco on Saturday night in Lisdoonvarna and a sightseeing trip around the area on Sunday.
In terms of their matches the team played Burren in their first match on Friday afternoon in pouring rain and lost out by a solitary score towards the end of the game. A much stronger Killineana team from Co. Clare defeated both teams on Saturday. Ironically, Killinean’s toughest encounter of the weekend was against Clontibret and they romped home to a facile victory over Gort, Co. Galway in the Division 5 final on Sunday. In their final match Clontibret played Longford and enjoyed a comfortable win.
While the players themselves were proud and exemplary ambassadors for their families, club and parish, the overall success of the trip was in no small way due to the huge groundswell of practical support from the large cohort of Mammies, Daddies and in some cases, entire families, who travelled to Féile for the weekend. Never was such a large crowd seen at home matches in Clontibret!!!
Marie Greenan and Michael Duffy took over the role of team managers, ably assisted by Louise McSkane, and if the players’ response in terms of performance is anything to go by, then they have bagged themselves permanent jobs!! Many, many thanks to each of them!
Finally, none of this would have been possible had it not been for the amazing amount of fundraising done in the past few weeks by the parents, supported by the whole community. Transport, rain jackets, tracksuit bottoms, runners, polo shirts, a club banner, meals etc. were all bought and paid for and the kitty still has a little nest egg. The generosity of so many people, some of whom had nothing at all to do with camogie or even sport, was incredible and the club expresses its gratitude to all who made this venture possible.
With Féile na nGael now behind them it’s back to the drawing-board to prepare for the U-14 Louth Final on Sunday, July 10th against St. Kevin’s of Philipstown. More details next week.
Our seniors got the Westenra Arms Hotel senior championship campaign off to a flying start when they defeated Castleblayney on Sunday evening in Cremartin, on a scoreline of 0-13 to 1-3. Welcome back to Karen, Catherine, Hannah, Ailbhe, Orlaith and Aoife who have returned to the panel following their exams. Helen Hughes, who had a rare ‘long weekend’ off work in England also took the opportunity to ‘hook up‘with the team on Sunday evening. On Wednesday next Clontibret play Truagh in the Senior Championship while the U-16 team play Culloville in the U-16 League on Tuesday evening.
Finally, this Sunday is D-day in county camogie as Monaghan kick-start their defence of the Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup, Junior ‘B’ Championship, by playing host to Wicklow. Time and venue to be confirmed. Best wishes to Aideen, Shauna, Catherine, Marie, Karen, Joanne, Nicola, Eleanor and Michaela who will represent the club.
Truagh
Hard Luck to the girls who were beaten by Inniskeen in our first championship game on Sunday last but all is not lost if we can keep the numbers up at training we can still go on to win our next game which is against Clontibret on Wednesday the 6th.
Juveniles: Juvenile training on Saturday at 11am. Una Ennis, Lauren and Kate are on duty next week. New players are very welcome.
Lucky Square: Congratulations to Majella Mc Kenna who was last weeks winner of the lucky square. Could anyone that owes for the lucky square please see Majella. Thank you to all who support.
