National title for Inagh-Kilnamona

Inagh/Kilnamona U-14 camogie team captured the Division 2 National Féile na nGael title in Croke Park on Saturday.
In the group stages they played Castleknock, their hosts, on Thursday in beautiful sunshine and had a good win. On day two they travelled to Silverpark to play Kilmacud Crokes and Kilmessan from Meath. The weather was atrocious with constant rain and wind. However, the girls and mentors were focused on what they had to do, win all games to avoid the conundrum of extra time and possible shoot-outs.
All through the group stage they played superbly with excellent team play and work rate.
With tired limbs and some injuries, the management had to be worried going into the semi-final against St Patrick’s, Portaferry, Down at St Jude’s grounds in Templeogue.
This proved to be one of the games of the tournament, despite the driving rain and wind.
On Saturday the sun shone as the team and mentors woke to prepare for the biggest game of their lives, to-date. The opposition was provided by De la Salle Waterford and they were their strongest opposition in the tournament, as expected. At half time Inagh Kilnamona were up a point and supporters were worried. However, team and mentors stayed focused and a goal from Amy Keating after good work by Chloe O’Neill, early in the second half they drove home to a historic win, a first for Inagh Kilnamona Camogie Club.
Outstanding team play from the forward line of Amy Keating (capt), Chloe O’Neill, Sinead Power, Laoise Ryan, Chloe McNamara and Chloe Foudy played a huge part in the success. The work rate and striking of Jane Fitzgerald and Andrea O’Keeffe (capt) in mid-field and the rock solid defence of Teresa O’Keeffe, Clare Hehir, Sarah Cotter, Orlaith Cotter, Rebecca O’Leary, Róisín Clancy and Michaela Roughan together with an outstanding performance from Rebecca Keating in goal made this a special day for the mid-Clare club.
The substitutes were Michelle Flanagan, Fiona Kennedy, Natasha Moloney, Eimer O’Looney, Chloe Shannon, Ciara Hehir, Aoife Sexton and Ciara O’Connor.
The team and mentors arrived home to a huge welcome as All-Ireland Division 2 Féile na nGael champions.
The team mentors were Rita Clancy, Joe Ryan, Veronica Cotter, Nuala Cotter, Maeve O’Looney and Mary Moloney.