Loughgiel (Antrim) were crowned the AIB Ulster Junior champions on Sunday on a score-line of:

Loughgiel (Antrim) 1-08 Lacken (Cavan) 2-04

Although Lacken, as defending Ulster champions, entered the fray as firm favourites, Loughgiel got off to a blistering start and had registered 1-02 before Lacken got their second wind! However, enter Roisin O Keefe (otherwise known as Miss O Keefe, in Our Lady’s Secondary School Castleblayney) and suddenly the gap was reduced to two points. Lacken added another point and the game really came alive. O Keefe continued to torture the Loughgiel defence and was directly responsible for another Lacken goal followed by a point. Just before half time both teams traded points leaving Lacken ahead by a goal at the break: Lacken 2-03 Loughgiel 1-03

From the re-start however it was Loughgiel who asserted themselves and scored three points without reply, bringing the teams level. Under severe pressure in defence, Lacken took the unusual step of moving Roisin O Keefe to half-back along with Miranda McIntyre and Aoife Brady. And while this was effective as a defensive tactic, it also left the Lacken attack lacking O Keefe’s dynamism. In fact, with 10 minutes to go Lacken still hadn’t raised a flag! However, with mere minutes remaining, an all-important point pushed their noses marginally ahead, and sent the pulses of the spectators racing. But Loughgiel quickly replied to level matters again. Deep in injury time a clearance from the Lacken defence found Loughgiel’s Ciara Dobbin virtually unmarked. Cool as a breeze, she slotted the sliotar over the black spot thereby sealing the fate of the Ulster Junior Championship for 2015.

For Roisisn O’ Keefe there was the consolation of being awarded ‘Player of the Match’ a tribute to the role she has played, not just in this final, but in the competition overall.

In the Bridie McMenamin Shield final, Cargin of Antrim had a runaway victory over Longstone (Down) on a score-line of Cargin 6-08, Longstone 0-11

Second level schools Blitz

Fifty-eight first, second and third year girls took part in the first of this years second level school blitzes, played in Cloghan on Wednesday last. Girls from St Louis Convent Monaghan, Castleblayney College, St Louis Convent Carrickmacross and Inver College Carrickmacross participated. Congratulations to our own club members who were involved and thanks to Clare Dowdall, Regional Development Officer, and Aidan Kelly, Hurling Development Officer in Monaghan, for organising the event. Thanks also to the staff of the various schools for accompanying the teams. Again I would appeal to our club members to involve themselves in camogie training sessions being organised by the staff in their schools.

Club training

Indoor training will commence after the mid-term break for many of our under-age members. As per last year, the Community Centre has been booked for 2 sessions each Thursday – 5.30pm to 6.30pm for our younger members and 6.30pm to 7.30pm for the second level school girls. A message will be sent to all parents in the coming week.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to visit Mary on Friday last in St James’s Haematology Unit, prior to her being discharged to the ‘apartment’ overnight. As always, Mary was the height of fashion, virus or no virus, and in great form. Hopefully her stays in the ‘apartment’ will be extended again and before too long it will be the ‘apartment’ in Clontibret she’ll be returning to! Keep up the tremendous work, Mary, and remember when you reach Day 100 you will really have cause to celebrate!!

Finally, a huge thank you to all those who have supported Seamus McMahon’s forthcoming fundraiser, on Thurs Oct 29 in the Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan. The event is to raise money for a gene sequencing machine for the Oncology Unit of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. While all 500 tickets are sold, a limited number of seats may still be available for anyone who missed out on a ticket. Once again, thanks to everyone for their support!