Clare champions aim to be Tipp top in Munster once again

Eoin Brennan looks ahead to tomorrow’s Munster senior camogie final in which Clare champions Scariff-Ogonnelloe look to maintain their hoodoo over Drom & Inch

It’s repeatedly stated that it’s very difficult to beat a side twice but what about three times as Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s Munster Final hoodoo over Drom & Inch is either set to continue or be exorcised in the ultimate showdown on Sunday afternoon.

While Scariff-Ogonnelloe ground out the first victory in the 2019 version in Cappamore to maintain their remarkable trailblazing journey, last year’s rematch in Mallow was snatched in dramatic fashion when goal machine Mairead Scanlan grabbed a last gasp winner to cruelly sink the Tipperary champions once more.

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for the four-in-a-row Tipperary champions when it comes to Munster Finals as only two months previous to January’s Scanlan steal, Drom & Inch had inflicted a similar heartbreaking reverse on Inagh-Kilnamona in the reconvened 2020 version.

However, the mere mention of Scariff-Ogonnelloe must be difficult to hear for the Mid-Tipp side who have had only ten months to get their revenge mission back on track.

Backboned by Tipperary senior defenders Aoife McGrath and Mairead Eviston when you add in Niamh Treacy, Mary Bourke, Miriam Campion and Eimear McGrath, Drom & Inch are certainly not short on experience or physicality.

They also seemed to have added an extra steel to their play as while one would have expected a younger De La Salle to prevail in extra-time in their semi-final bout last Saturday, the fact that the Tipperary side emerged unscathed and even looked the fitter side in the additional periods just reiterates the belief that they have unfinished business to deal with.

The thing is that Scariff-Ogonnelloe are also an improved side on their 2021 selves as while newcomers such as Abby Walsh, Labhaoise O’Donnell, Rachael Daly, Lorraine Grady and Bonnie Wiley Murphy were only in their debut season at senior level, the confidence gained by that run to the All-Ireland series is arguably immeasurable.

With an inter-county standard spine of the Dalys Susan and Lynda, Ciara Doyle, Amy Barrett, Mairead Scanlan, Abby Walsh and Aoife Power, the East Clare side have continued to defy the odds.

So while Drom & Inch’s vengeance will undoubtedly be fierce, Scariff-Ogonnelloe have never disappointed in Munster, a proud ten match perfect record stemming back nine years and four provincial crowns which would take an unprecedented shaman to halt.

Drom & Inch (Tipperary) v Scariff-Ogonnelloe at Mallow, Sunday 2pm
Referee: (Andy Larkin, Cork)