On an idyllic Tuesday evening in Athboy these neighbouring teams squared up in the semi final of this competition.Clanns are not that long competing at Camogie at all so it is a feather in their cap to have reached this far in the competition,I didn't know what to expect from them but figured that they must be fairly good as bad teams don't advance that far.I had seen our team play before and was flabbergasted at the improvement in their play since last year.
This team has been together since they were eight years old and have enjoyed little success over the years but this year all the training under the expert tutelage of manager Suzanne Kelly (now Finnegan ) and selectors Caroline Duffy and Donie Mooney is sure paying off and they have turned inside out.
All three have skin in the game in that they have children playing and treat all the girls as if they were their own.Suzanne I trained myself since she was a kid and she was always top drawer.Caroline Daly was an outstanding player with Trim who we always beat those days,thank God and is a great addition to the Club.Donie is a great all round Gael from a family of Gaels of impeccable pedigree and all the girls are from well and long established GAA families.
All the players are respectful to their mentors and a credit to the Club.
I witnessed one of the best games I have seen this year and one which had the entire audience riveted to the very last puck of the ball.
Dunderry Team.
Rachel Duffy
Katie Duffy Hannah Helena Garry
Lauren Finnegan Deirdre Mac Hale Emily Lynch
Orla Daly Katie Buchanan
Sadbh Nelson Laura Cassidy Ellie Keenan
Grace Stenson Niamh Keaveney Kaylinn Mooney
Sub used .Katie Callaghan.
Dunderry are well able to hurl and have all the skills.They are physically strong up the middle and the entire team are full of fighting spirit .And so are Clanns.And a daughter of Graham Geraghty played at number 11 and is some hurler.She has plenty of support and was as dangerous as her auld fella was when she got a sniff of a loose ball.They dominated the first half and we got hard to settle.The defence was under tremendous pressure in the first quarter and it took great tenacity and bravery to hold out against a fierce Clann onslaught.From the goalie to both midfielders we held resolute and how a clatter of goals didn't rattle the onion bag is beyond me.But cometh the hour cometh the woman and Helena Garry gradually emerged as an unbreakable ford which Clanns could not forge.Following in the footsteps of her aunt Teresa Rattigan who was some player in her day.And the management did the master stroke and switched her on to the young Geraghty lassie and Helena won that battle hands down.Never the less we went in at half time down 1-3 to 0-1,the bold Helena scoring our solitary point.
The management rallied the troops and the lusty roar "one,two three Dundrrry " rose pheasants on the faraway bog.We were now playing into the town goal and immediately launched into attacking mode.There was an ever so slight uncertainty in the Clann defence and a long distance free found its way into the Clann net.Game on.
Then an event you might not see in a lifetime's game watching.One of the Clanns better players got possession at the midway line proceeded to jink through our lassies forgot the change of ends and scored an absolutely brilliant own goal.God help her but these things happen.She was a brilliant player before this and remains a brilliant player .
But our lassies smelled blood and raised their game in every department and added a third goal .
It took Clanns some time to get their act together but they did rise again and reeled in a goal and a point to draw level at the cusp of time.Grace Stenson scored a goal I think and either Orla Daly ,Katie Buchanan or Katie Callaghan ,a half Kilmessan woman and the spit of her young mother when she hurled ,scored the other.(With helmets on it is hard at times to recognise the players.).
Extra time so ,ten minutes each half.
Now it was Clanns time to exert pressure and our defence were again stubborn in their resistance and held out against fierce pressure.We were lucky to draw a point apiece at full time.
It was down to willpower now and we rose to the challenge.Again the weakness in the Clanns defence appeared..We rattled in 1-3 to their 0-1 and and deservedly so.And the joy was unbridled and proper order.
On the day Helana Garry was our best by a whisker.
Granny.Grandad,Daddy ,Mammy,and grandchildren Mooney ,true blues all were on a high.
This management team is excellent and know their onions.
All the girls and the subs should take a bow.Some team.
This Sunday at 11.00 a.m. they play Kildalkey in the Final at the same venue.
Bring it on. agus beidh me ann.
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