Junior camogie title up for grabs this Sunday at Netwatch Cullen Park
Netwatch Cullen Park will play host to the AZAP Junior Camogie Championship Final this Sunday morning. Photo: Michael O'Rourke.
“Lost that final last year to Setanta. They are a determined bunch. They want to win it this year,” says John Joe Martin, a backroom member of the Mount Leinster Rangers junior team.
Rangers didn’t play in the league, opting to allow the players train with the seniors while they waited until the minor competition was finished before bringing back in some of the young players into the adult structure. It is all working well.
"The younger girls are mixing very well with the older ones. It is great to see them all chatting in the dug outs. Brilliant to see,” he says.
Joanne Cummins has had a good year in the goal while Megan Doyle is solid at centre back. Jean Brennan, Marie Coady, Mag Coady, Becky Dwyer and Fiona Byrne are just a number of players who are hoping to turn the clock back with a winning performance. They will look for help to some of the young ones such as Aoibhinn O’Brien, Abigail Kavanagh, Robyn Coleman and Orla Coleman.
Kildavin-Clonegal had a mixed season in the four games of the group stages in the championship.
They beat St Mullins and drew with Ballinkillen but lost to Carlow Town and Mount Leinster Rangers. Yet when it came to the semi-final they turned the Carlow Town result around and emerged victorious. Wayne Austin, the Kildavin-Clonegal manager, says that didn’t happen by accident.
“We put in a massive effort over the last couple of weeks. We looked at the group stages and knew there were things which we needed to address. We knuckled down and looked at the things we needed to address for the semi-final,” he said.
It was a last minute goal which allowed Mount Leinster Rangers to beat them in the group stages.
“We were there or thereabouts. They got the better of us on the day. They are a strong club. They will be favourites and rightly so,” he says.
The Wexford border side will look to Aoife Carroll who has been “very good” this year. Big games are expected of captain, Aoife McGuill, Sarah and Niamh Cox. Earlier in the season Michaela Roberts moved from her responsibilities in defence to where she is having a lot of success further up the field.
It is a big thrill for all concerned to be playing in Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday. This is acknowledged by all those who will play at the weekend..
“The Camogie County Board have done well to get that across the line,” says a grateful Wayne Austin.
