Seamount College, Kinvara 1-8
Coláiste Phobal, Roscrea 2-1
SEAMOUNT College, Kinvara were crowned All-Ireland junior C camogie champions at Killimor last Saturday, when they defeated Colaiste Phobal Roscrea.
Having won the toss, Seamount elected to hurl with the breeze at their back in the first half. A substantial gale meant that a significant advantage would be required by the break.
After a slow start, Cliodhna Walsh got Seamount off the mark with a well-taken point from play, followed by a converted free from Emma Helebert. Further frees from Helebert and a point from play by Nicola Brennan saw Seamount stretch their lead to five points. Roscrea were making little inroads at the other end with Kinvara’s midfield pairing of Brennan and Lisa Casserly, along with centre-back Eleanor Stafford in total control.
A wonder point from Brennan from 50 metres out on the right sideline and an injury-time free from Helebert left the half-time scoreline at 0-7 to 0-0 in favour of Seamount. The breeze was strengthening all the time and there were many worried Galway supporters amongst the sizeable attendance.
Only five minutes into the second half, Roscrea had pounced for a goal, their opening score of the game and the deficit was suddenly very surmountable from their vantage point. However, Seamount circled the wagons and resumed taking the game to their opponents, opting to carry the ball into the wind. It was in the next 15 minutes that Kinvara reaffirmed their superiority.
Although they didn’t manage to score themselves, no further score was conceded. Eventually, with a little over 10 minutes left, Lisa Casserly scored a wonder goal from 25 yards. In truth, the Roscrea goal line had led a charmed life. A mixture of good fortune, excellent shot stopping and composure had seen ‘keeper Carly Wright hold firm until then.
A second Roscrea goal from a free and a late point saw the margin reduced once more to three points, before corner-forward Katie McMahon rounded her marker and struck over a classy insurance point. After injury time, the referee called full-time, which was greeted with elation by the large Galway following.
Megan Carr, from Ardrahan, accepted the cup on behalf of her team and in an eloquent speech paid tribute to all those who had contributed to the success, as well as commiserating with the beaten Roscrea side.
The victory was the first Galway win at All-Ireland level since 2005 and Seamount’s second ever. The first was in 1998, also at junior level.
The panel of 30 players that togged out for Seamount were all drawn from four local clubs, Ardrahan, Ballinderreen, Clarenbridge and Kinvara. It has been a good year for camogie in Seamount as they won the Connaught Junior B and contested the Senior B final.
Seamount College: Carrie Dolan (Clarenbridge); Megan Carr (Ardrahan), Niamh Murphy (Clarenbridge), Kaley Comyn (Kinvara); Siobhán Connolly (Kinvara), Eleanor Stafford (Ardrahan), Emma Helebert (Ballinderreen); Lisa Casserly (Ballinderreen), Nicole Brennan (Clarenbridge); Katie McMahon (Ardrahan), Ciara Murphy (Clarenbridge), Keelin O’Grady (Ardrahan); Cliodhna Walsh (Ardrahan), Jenny O’Dea (Kinvara), Eva Dolan (Clarenbridge).
Subs: Anna Whelan (Ardrahan) for Dolan, Elaine Kennedy (Clarenbridge) for O’Grady, Siobhán Quirke (Ardrahan), Simone Hanbury (Clarenbridge), Eimear Costello (Clarenbridge), Alannah Donohue (Kinvara), Sarah Kearney (Ballindereen), Ciara Helebert (Ballindereen), Tara Bermingham (Kinvara), Eve Maloney (Kinvara), Sinéad Keane (Kinvara), Ciara Keane (Kinvara), Avril McHugh (Kinvara), Ciara Droney (Kinvara) and Cliona Keely (Kinvara).
Scorers: Emma Helebert (0-4), Lisa Casserly (1-0), Nicole Brennan (0-2), Cliodhna Walsh and Katie McMahon (O-1 each).