August 28th ‘12
Castleblayney reclaim Senior Camogie Championship after an eight year wait.
Most of the Castleblayney team who defeated Inniskeen in the Royal Jade Senior Camogie Championship on Sunday last would have been mere children observing from the stands with their parents when their club last lifted the Gael Linn Cup for a 13th successive year in 2004..
Both teams were hungry for success going into this final with Clontibret defeating Castleblayney by the narrowest of margins in the 2011 final. And Inniskeen had been knocking on the door for success these past number of years.
This young Blayney side never looked in danger as they out classed a more experienced Inniskeen squad in Drumhowan G.A.A grounds when “Player of the Match” Eileen Mc. Elroy raised the green flag in the 5th minute when she hit a beauty to the corner of the net. Amber Lam converted a free 3 minutes later and Niamh Brennan seized her chance for a second goal when she spotted an unmarked Rachel Markey at the end of the first quarter.
Eileen Mc. Elroy who was obviously on a” high “from the previous day when she played a major role with the winning Monaghan Ladies team who defeated Mayo to gain a semi final spot with Cork, sent a long ball into Elaine Mc. Kernan who tapped it over the bar.
Inniskeen who had been trying unsuccessfully for scores were awarded a free in the 20th minute which Carmel Mc. Skane collected from Isobel Kiernan and sent it between the uprights to register their first score of the game. They were unfortunate minutes later when Mc. Skane shot for goal but was denied by Blayney Goalie Roisin Mc. Kenna. At the other end of the park Bernie Mc. Gahon took off a similar good save from Mc. Elroy but she subsequently hit the rebound over the bar.
The Inniskeen defence came under severe pressure towards the end of the second quarter before Linda Callan claimed a second point for Inniskeen to leave them with a 7 point deficit.
Castleblayney 2 – 3
Inniskeen 0 – 2
Castleblayney widened the gap in the opening minutes of the second half when goalie Bernie Mc. Gahon once again took off a Niamh Brennan shot only to concede from a Mc. Elroy rebound. Scores were hard to come by before Linda Callan converted a free for Inniskeen in the 5th minute. An unmarked Mc. Elroy edged Blayney further in front when she ran from the half back line to add another point to their tally.
A tit for tat mode ensued for a lengthly period before Inniskeen sub Pauline Jones intercepted a pass from Isobel Kieran and slotted one over but Mc. Elroy cancelled it out seconds later when she did likewise at the other end. In a last ditch attempt Isobel Kieran picked an opening in the goal when she converted a free for Inniskeen in the 26th minute.
Elaine Mc. Kernan put the icing on the cake for Blayney when she hit a rebounding ball to the net in the final minutes and Eileen Mc. Elroy and Amber Lam both earned their side points apiece before the final whistle, to bring Castleblaney to a comfortable win and lift the 2012 Royal Jade Senior Championship Cup on a score line of 4 – 7 to 1 – 4.
When I caught up with Paul Forde, Manager of the Castleblayney squad, he was ecstatic with their achievement.” They were a very young skillfull and committed bunch of girls and I knew that when I took them over last year that they had potential I was very confident going into the match knowing that they had gained a 11 point victory over Clontibret and defeated Inniskeen by 12 points in the round robin series leading up to the final . It was an all round team performance today and I am looking forward to the Ulster Championship where we meet the winners of Cavan on 23rd September”
Teresa Lam representing the Royal Jade Restaurant, Castleblayney ., main sponsors of the Championship and in her capacity of Leas Cathaoirleach paid tribute to both teams on a good sporting match she also thanked Pat Walshe the referee and his umpires also Drumhowan Geraldines for the use of their facilities. She also thanked all the sponsors for the final . Mc. Elroy Trophies, Castleblayney, Kavanagh Country 10Krun, Treanor Quality meats, Monaghan,and Supervalu Auhgnacloy, Teresa preceded to congratulate Castleblayney on their win before presenting Roisin Mc. Kenna Captain of the Castleblayney team with the Gael Linn Cup. Teresa also presented Eileen Mc. Elroy with her trophy for “Player of the Match”
A minute silence was observed prior to the start of the match for Maureen Mc. Ardle, grandmother of Inniskeen team member Linda Callan. Ar dheis De raibh a ainm
Castleblayney Team :
Roisin Mc Kenna Lisa O ‘Connell Kelsey Lam Kelly Fisher Louise O’Connell Orla Mc Carthy Emma Heavin Amber Lam(0-2) Reegan Lynch Eileen Mc Elroy (2-4) Emma Mc Kenna Elaine Mc Kernan(1-1) Kate Deasy Niamh Brennan Rachael Markey(1-0) Karen Markey Anita Kennedy Mary Mc Elroy Noeleen Mc Bride Donna Mc Kenna Emma Forde
Inniskeen team
Bernie McGahon Maggie Boylan Aisling McGeeney . Louise McArdle Alice McGahon Isobel Kierans(1-0) . Edel Kieran Tracy McGeeney Josie Fitzpatrick. Carmel McSkane(0-1) Julianne Finnegan Linda Callan (0-2). Lorraine Lynch . Mairead McGahon Katrina Byrne . Sinead Lynch Gillian Hamill . Pauline Boylan . Jemma Woods . Dearbhla Crawley . Maria McConnon Pauline Jones (0-1) Karen Croften
Sympathy
The Monaghan Camogie Board wish to extend their sincere sympathies with the family of the late Joey Clarke, Killanny who was laid to rest recently.Joey was Manager with the Monaghan County Camogie Team back in the 90’s. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
By michael Tue 28th Aug
