All roads lead to Ballycahill on Wednesday night for a late throw in time of 8pm. When St.Marys U14
camoige team who had started back training in early January with S&C classes with Richie Crowe
faced a well fancied Roscrea team in the shield final.
Roscrea from the word go attacked the St Marys defence and in the fourth minute they were denied
a certain goal by a point blank Nicky Quaid style save by the brave young goalkeeper Isabelle Fahey.
In a very evenly matched first half Joint Captains Niamh Ryan and Niamh Power were absolutely
outstanding and right up to the final whistle in extra time. It may have something to do with both
girls fathers are from County Waterford.
Seonadh Hopkins and Holly McCarthy both played their best match all season and kept the Roscrea
scores on the board to the bare minimum with outstanding blocking , hooking and accurate
handpasses out of the danger zone.The quietest member on the team Zoey Hewitt contributed with
a huge performance in midfield against a very physical Roscrea presence around the middle of the
field.
Up front Moya Cotter Gemma Magee Anna Landers Neansai Connell Siofra Mangan played key and
vital roles throughout the final as they rotated their positons in the full forward line in a 12 a side
competion. At halftime there was the bare minimum between the sides due to Isabelles accurate
free taking and vital saves and our 2 joint captains shutting down the attacking Roscrea team.
With the half forward area congested, a tactical change paid dividends when a top class solo run by the speedboat Rosie Hallinan
followed by a pass to Eva Power who rattled the back of the net to get St Marys back into the game
in a very tense match it was clear this game was going down to the wire.
The half forwards Orna Doran and Sadbh Devane continuous work both attacking and defending as
wing back style players was a key factor to the teams victory both girls prevented the Roscrea half
back line from both launching dangerous ball into the forward line and stopped them from carrying
the ball out which normally Roscrea get most of their scores from that build up is a key tactic to their
game.
The game ended as a draw in normal time and at the halftime the girls where level in extra
time.With a reply on the cards.In the teams final huddle and after their fifth jaffa cake of the night
both team and coaches focused on getting this deserved win over the line. Katie Compton one of our
outstanding players of last season had unfortunately picked up a bad ankle injury which kept her out
this year was introduced onto the field to see out the game for Marys .
Into the last moments of the game Isabelle stepped up with her Cait Devane style approach and calmly scored the winning point
for her team to claim the County Shield Final 2024.
As the team celebrated on the pitch everyone acknowledged the hard work throughout the
championship from the ever present Emma Harvey, Lilly Curry, Emily Tobin and Aoife Hennessy.
With the trophy in hand all the girls with their new kindly sponsored jerseys for all the girls in our
group aswell as the older girls went back to The Talbot Hotel for well earned late night food .
It was like a scene on tv years ago on the first Sunday of September when the winning All Ireland hurling
team came back to The Burlington Hotel when the girls starting coming in with their proud parents.
Congratulations to the entire panel and their superb mentors, Pa Power, Michelle Ryan and Ann-Maire Landers for their time and efforts with the group.
camoige team who had started back training in early January with S&C classes with Richie Crowe
faced a well fancied Roscrea team in the shield final.
Roscrea from the word go attacked the St Marys defence and in the fourth minute they were denied
a certain goal by a point blank Nicky Quaid style save by the brave young goalkeeper Isabelle Fahey.
In a very evenly matched first half Joint Captains Niamh Ryan and Niamh Power were absolutely
outstanding and right up to the final whistle in extra time. It may have something to do with both
girls fathers are from County Waterford.
Seonadh Hopkins and Holly McCarthy both played their best match all season and kept the Roscrea
scores on the board to the bare minimum with outstanding blocking , hooking and accurate
handpasses out of the danger zone.The quietest member on the team Zoey Hewitt contributed with
a huge performance in midfield against a very physical Roscrea presence around the middle of the
field.
Up front Moya Cotter Gemma Magee Anna Landers Neansai Connell Siofra Mangan played key and
vital roles throughout the final as they rotated their positons in the full forward line in a 12 a side
competion. At halftime there was the bare minimum between the sides due to Isabelles accurate
free taking and vital saves and our 2 joint captains shutting down the attacking Roscrea team.
With the half forward area congested, a tactical change paid dividends when a top class solo run by the speedboat Rosie Hallinan
followed by a pass to Eva Power who rattled the back of the net to get St Marys back into the game
in a very tense match it was clear this game was going down to the wire.
The half forwards Orna Doran and Sadbh Devane continuous work both attacking and defending as
wing back style players was a key factor to the teams victory both girls prevented the Roscrea half
back line from both launching dangerous ball into the forward line and stopped them from carrying
the ball out which normally Roscrea get most of their scores from that build up is a key tactic to their
game.
The game ended as a draw in normal time and at the halftime the girls where level in extra
time.With a reply on the cards.In the teams final huddle and after their fifth jaffa cake of the night
both team and coaches focused on getting this deserved win over the line. Katie Compton one of our
outstanding players of last season had unfortunately picked up a bad ankle injury which kept her out
this year was introduced onto the field to see out the game for Marys .
Into the last moments of the game Isabelle stepped up with her Cait Devane style approach and calmly scored the winning point
for her team to claim the County Shield Final 2024.
As the team celebrated on the pitch everyone acknowledged the hard work throughout the
championship from the ever present Emma Harvey, Lilly Curry, Emily Tobin and Aoife Hennessy.
With the trophy in hand all the girls with their new kindly sponsored jerseys for all the girls in our
group aswell as the older girls went back to The Talbot Hotel for well earned late night food .
It was like a scene on tv years ago on the first Sunday of September when the winning All Ireland hurling
team came back to The Burlington Hotel when the girls starting coming in with their proud parents.
Congratulations to the entire panel and their superb mentors, Pa Power, Michelle Ryan and Ann-Maire Landers for their time and efforts with the group.
