Cavan Camógs in All Ireland Final
August 03, 2010Sunday next sees the Cavan Camogie Team take another step towards achieving their objective for the 2010 season by taking on Monaghan in the All Ireland Junior B Camogie final. It's been a long season for the squad since they started training on the 3G pitch in Cavan town back in early February. During those long winter evenings, the newly appointed Team Manager Colm McEvoy clearly outlined his goals for the team by stating. '' There is plenty of talent within camogie clubs in Cavan and I firmly believe we can win the Junior B Championship this year. Ultimately, our objective is to get to the Junior Premier level , but we need to take one step at a time - we are on a journey, so if we stick together and put in a decent commitment over the next couple of years we can achieve our goals''.
This year's panel is a balance of experienced players and youth coming through from the U18 squad. The clubs represented on this year's squad include Ballinagh, Castletara, Crosserlough, Drumgoon, Portobello (Dublin) , Lacken and Laragh. A good platform has been provided by last season's team manager Eddie Brady who successfully captured the All Ireland Junior C title in 2009. This was as aided by the solid foundation built by Rory Donnellan as well as previous management teams. Confidence in camogie circles within Cavan is high at the moment following the 2010 Ulster Junior title, 2009 All Ireland title from which three Cavan players, Lorraine Day, Rosie Crowe and Margaret Mc Bride were chosen for the International squad. Hopefully this Sunday the 2010 panel can add to their honours list.
The panel have made steady progress throughout the year by winning the Ulster Junior B Championship and causing somewhat of a surprise by beating Tyrone to qualify for the Ulster Intermediate Championship Final against Armagh on August 21st.
As in all team sports, injuries are common place and this panel have had their share of them. However, thanks to a strong bench, other players have been able to come onto the top fifteen and have showed grit and determination as they strive to retain their places. As a result, competition for places is keen, which is a great position for any squad to be in.
Team Captain and dual player Rosie Crowe commented on the team spirit built up over recent months ''we have been training together twice a week since the beginning of February. As a result, team morale and confidence is high. A huge bonus for us this year in our early preparations was access to the 3G pitch. Being able to work on our camogie skills in the month of February at the speed you need to play championship camogie has been hugely beneficial to us. The 3G is a fantastic facility to have on our doorstep and we are very grateful to have had access to it.''
Once again Geraldine Mulvaney takes her position between the posts, a position she has secured for a number of years. Her familiarity with the players in front of her together with her vast experience ensures the defence works well as a unit.
Niamh Brady has played most of her camogie in recent years for her club as centre-back. However , with the coaching provided by Colm McEvoy she has developed into a superb full back, reading the game extremely well and clearing her lines quickly and confidently.
Sinead Brady and Jenny O Rourke (U18), take their places in the corners having claimed their positions on the starting fifteen early on in the season. This is possibly the most settled line in the team and as a result they are providing us with a very solid full back line.
Sinead Coyle who plays her club camogie at full back takes her place at centre-back. Despite the fact that this is a new position for her, she has taken it in her stride and improved week on week throughout the season. She is ably flanked on the right by Carmel McBride who has shown real determination to secure her position following a serious ankle injury. Rosie Crowe (Capt.) and dual player takes the remaining half back position. Rosie's physical strength, superb fitness and ability to read the game results in her driving forward out of defence to start yet another attacking move.
Due to the unavailability of Mairead Mc Cabe in recent weeks as a result of travel and Margaret McBride because of injury, the partnership in the middle of the park is a relatively new one. Josephine Maguire, and AndreaLynch have put in excellent performances in the semi-final against Kildare and in recent challenge matches. As a result there is a high level of confidence within the management team that this partnership can hold the middle of the park.
Every good team has a speedy, skillful set of forwards and this team is no different. Brenda Lynch, another of the more experienced players takes the right wing. She is back to her best this year having been out last year following a cruciate ligament injury. Majella Smith, one of the longest serving members of the team claims the centre-forward position where she uses her significant skills and experience to full advantage. Roisin O Keeffe, located on the left wing is the key playmaker in this forward line by virtue of the fact that she runs at defences and draws them to her thus enabling her to lay off a timely pass to team mates around her.
Sinead McKenna, Marie Brady and Brid Boylan make up the full forward line. Sinead (U 18) is growing in confidence each week as she continues to deliver a good scoring average with every game she plays. Marie has claimed this position for a number of years now and has made it her own. Given her steady free-taking she is also a frequent supplier of scores. Brid, just back from a serious hand injury, has no fear when it comes to running at defences with speed. Her ability to take up excellent positions in space enables other players to lay off a pass to her if they themselves are in difficulty.
Experience and youth can also be found on the subs bench in the players who normally take up defensive roles. Marie Murphy, Siobhan Reynolds (U18), Aoife Brady, Caroline Shalvey, Ann Marie Smith-Fay and Nicola Collins (U18) will be waiting with baited breath to get their chance to take the field and give what they can to the cause. Substitute forwards including Lorraine Day and Margaret McBride (both returning from injury), Aoishe O Reilly, Emer McVeety (U18), Mairead McCabe and Susie Mulligan will be more than happy to enter the fray if called upon.
All successful teams have people working hard behind the scenes. Joint manager Margaret Carroll has fitted in well to her management role having been a fine Breffni player herself for many years. Marie Collins has done tremendous work in a huge variety of administrative areas, many of which often get taken for granted.
A word of thanks to our three main sponsors for this season; Design Environmental Heating Systems, The Imperial Bar and The Meadow View. Your support is hugely appreciated by the players and management team. The hard work of the last six months is now reduced down to these last 70 minutes against Monaghan. There is no doubt that everyone will work hard and plug away for each other so that when the final whistle goes, there will hopefully be another piece of silverware making its way back to Cavan. Good Luck Girls!! Tweet
