The adventure continued on a smashing Sunday morning in a resplendent and well attended Athboy on a morning that would warm the cockles of your heart.
Suzanne Kelly and her astute selectors,Donie Mooney and Caroline Duffy lined out the team as follows:-
Kaylinn Mooney
Katie Duffy Hannah Morgan Emily Lynch
Lauren Finnegan Helana Garry Deirdre Mac Hale
Katie Buchanan Orla Daly
Ellie Keenan Niamh Keaveney Sadbh Nelson
Katie Callaghan Laura Casserly Grace Stenson
Subs.Rachel Duffy, Aine O Brien,Lauren Travers,
Ciara Huesoff.
I thought this selection exactly reflected the semi final performance and offered the best opportunity to at last garner some winning silverware for this team who have exhibited such perseveres in trying their best this last five years.Not to mention their management.
Kildalkey are a serious proposition in any contest with the Caman and have made serious progress sine starting up Camogie only a few short years ago.Must be something in the water there.
They matched us for size .
Nothing wrong with the Dunderry water either .
The ball is in the game is on.We are strong up the middle.So are they.In about six positions we dominate.In the balance they have the edge.After initial sparring the game enters a pattern.We break even at midfield but they have an edge and our backs are under constant and sustained pressure.We break for two isolated points.They score six goals.
We are bursting ourselves but to no avail.they are slightly sweeter and have a number 14 who is as good for her age as I have ever seen.And she is not alone.
The half time whistle blows.
Suzie tries to raise morale and truthfully says that the top goal is the scoring goal.Give it a lash she says.And they do.Rachel Duffy is now in goals and Kaylinn is in the forwards.But within a short time Katie Buchanan and Grace Stenson are forced ashore by Knee and shoulder injuries.(none serious as far as I know.).You would fear for us now.
Helena has her hands full now and is breaking even with her marker at best.The vanquished Athboy opponents from the semi final are there cheering us ,but mainly her on.A vignette shows that practise makes perfect.During a long break in play she practices her pucking with a friend on the sideline.
We don't give up and struggle manfully ( womanfully ? ) to the end throwing all in our armoury at them.
WE score 2-2 to their 2-4 ,a remarkable achievement given our injuries.Maybe just maybe they took the foot off the pedal slightly.
We were beat fair and square by a superior team on this occasion.No excuses.
Orla Daley played out of her skin for the hour.Katie e Buchanan for as long as she was on and the rest gave it all they had.Ellie Keenan made some telling hooks as well as playing well in general play But Katie Duffy to me played as plucky a game as you could wish.
No shame girls.Ye have runner up medals .As an aside I played from 10 yeas to twenty one years and won only one winners medal in all those years. I guarantee that if ye stick with the mentors ye have ye will do far better.
Thanks for the adventure.
And thanks for inviting me back to the Clubhouse for the very tasty refreshments served up with such hospitality.
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