Unsung heroes step up to the plate as Bennekerry/Tinryland made history

‘I can almost see it That dream I'm dreaming But there's a voice inside my head saying You'll never reach it’ The lyrics of the adopted Bennekerry/Tinryland anthem ‘The Climb’ suggest somebody with an inner doubt about achieving their dream. On Saturday, they turned in a display that couldn’t be further from that as proved they belong on the big stages.

This could easily be a piece about Lauren Dwyer, Clíodhna Ní Shé or Sinead Hayden, the three players that got the scores that won the day in Croke Park. It would be easy to wax lyrical about all three.

Dwyer has added the kind of X-Factor to the team that all All-Ireland winners have. She came off the bench tin the in the Carlow county final to decisively swing the game in her team’s favour, came up with crucial moments through the Leinster run, scored an early goal in the All-Ireland semi-final and then delivered a player of the match performance on the biggest stage of all.

Ní Shé has come so close to leading Carlow to Croke Park in recent years but given the chance to step out onto the hallowed turf in her club jersey she grasped the opportunity with both hands. She finished the game with 2-4 but her performance was much than just her scores. She must have got more touches than anybody else on the pitch and on a day when calm heads were needed, she was the calmest on the pitch.

Then, there’s the busy bee that is Hayden. An absolute nightmare to mark, she covered a huge amount of ground, kicked two superb points and won the penalty that ultimately decided the game.

But this article isn’t about those stars who stepped up and delivered such fantastic displays.

As much as those scorers did the damage on the scoreboard, Saturday’s result was about the many unsung heroes throughout the Bennekerry/Tinryland team.

It’s easy to why Shannen Cotter is such a good captain. Immensely popular with her team mates, she produced big saves at vital moments. Saves that might be forgotten by the end of the game given how dominant Bennekerry/Tinryland were for the most part but goals change games and had Annaghdown got in for a second major the game could have taken on a very different path but Cotter was superb. Hard to believe just 12 months previously she had a very different experience in Dublin when she was outside the Santry Clinic in tears after receiving confirmation of her cruciate injury.

Then there were the three experienced players in the backline. Leah Mullins is 39 according to the matchday programme but if you didn’t know any better you would be forgiven for thinking she was 20 years younger looking at her out on the Croke Park pitch. The vast dimensions of the ground there can test the fitness of the very best but Mullins was a woman on a mission and protected the defence superbly.

Nuala Mohan played in this final 20 years ago for her home club Tyholland and went close to national glory with Foxrock Cabinteely as well but this wasn’t a chance she was going to let pass her by and along with Leanne Corcoran, led a defence that up to the 52nd minute had only conceded 1-3. One interception by Corcoran in the first half was absolutely key in protecting the Bennekerry/Tinryland goal.

Although she is the youngest of the backline, with Clodagh Mahon unfortunately missing after picking up a shoulder injury in the semi-final win, Marie Cranny showed a wonderful understanding of where to be on the pitch and how to just get a hand or foot in at the vital moment.

Then there is Ruth Bermingham, a player that manager Chris Townsend said always delivers a 8 or 9/10 performance. The county captain might not have the armband for her club but that doesn’t stop her being a leader.

Across the middle third, Bennekerry/Tinryland strangled the life out of Annaghdown and forced so many turn overs. Liz Lowry, Aoibhín Webb and Katie Bullen, as well as midfielders Elaine Ware and the aforementioned Ní Shé were all key to this.

Further forward, Orla Woods and Sarah Nolan might not have got on the scoresheet but they set the tone with their effort and workrate and many of the occasions where Bennekerry/Tinryland won the ball back high up the pitch were down to their hard work.

Maeve O’Neill contributed just as well upon her introduction from the bench and it was no surprise that one of the biggest cheers of the day from the travelling support was for Deirdre Tomlinson making her entrance late in the game. There will be people from all over Carlow thrilled to see her enjoy such a moment.

That it was such a team performance was a fitting way for this group to win an All-Ireland title. The bond between them is obvious to see and success like this only strengthens that.

There will be reunions in ten years, 20, 30, 40, 50 years when this group will gather again and reminisce about the perfect year. The year when they climbed the mountain to complete the impossible dream.