Monaghan duo delight with hybrid game
December 31, 2009Following on from the corresponding international contest in 2008 when five Monaghan girls earned 'caps' on international duty, this year the Oriel County was represented on the national squad by Castleblayney ace Roisin McKenna (for the second successive year) and Truagh star Sharon McQuillan.
The two girls linked up with the rest of the squad at Dublin Airport on Friday, November 6th before flying out the same evening to Inverness to prepare for the game the following day before returning home victorious on Sunday.
Reflecting on the entire weekend experience and Ireland's 8-0 triumph, Shinty rookie Sharon (McQuillan) was the personification of joy:
"I was very excited beforehand 'cause talking to the other girls about it, I knew it would be a fantastic honour and a great experience to be playing with different players from around the country and it was all that and more.
"I had never seen Shinty being played but I imagined it would be a lot like ground camogie but I found it to be a lot tougher.
"The ball travels way faster too but we had a good team and matched them in every position and deserved to get the win."
It was goals by Cavan's Margaret McBride and Ashling Corr of Tyrone which paved the way to Ireland's eight-point win over Scotland at Bught Park, Inverness .
In mixed weather conditions, both defences stood firm in the opening half until McBride burst through for a 26th minute goal.
Scotland enjoyed early dominance in this game but were unlucky not to find the target with a succession of early wides. Managed by Cavan's Eddie Brady, Ger Moran of Roscommon and Louth's Mary O'Connor the visitors really upped the ante on the restart. Ireland dominated possession in the second half with Player of the Match Colette McSorley of Co. Armagh and Cavan's Lorraine Day very much to the fore.
In recognition of their achievement the Irish team were invited to attend the All Star Camogie Banquet in the City West.
A very versatile player, Sharon proved a decided asset to Ireland. Ironically, she wasn't sure where she was going to be employed by the Irish selectors as she has played both up front and in midfield for Truagh and in defence for the county senior team.
Ultimately, it was in her latter role that she impressed watching scouts when Monaghan competed in the Maire Ni Chinneide blitz earlier in the year and, unsurprisingly, it was into the backline that she was pitched by the Ireland selectors in the second half of the match against the Scots.
"I was surprised that I got the call from Geraldine (Clarke) but having said that I felt the blitz went pretty well for me and having Roisin (McKenna) behind you in the goal does give you a lot of confidence.
"The shinty was a whole new experience though and on occasions I was tempted to catch the ball once or twice or maybe kick it which isn't allowed so it all took a bit of getting used to."
As things panned out, Sharon proved herself a quick learner and she proved adept at mastering the hybrid game across the water.
The wenty-six year old Sharon acknowledges though, by dint of the shinty/camogie compromise rules, the Scottish girls did go into the international game with a distinct advantage.
Nevertheless she says all the Ireland players gave it their all and made little of the perceived built-in rules' advantages lent to the hosts:
"They were able to drive the ball huge distances and they were physically very strong in the tackle and were a lot more confident in passing it to each other and lining up a shot.
"But we're all pretty well experienced playing camogie and we wouldn't have been selected for the national team if we weren't competitive.
"They were better at the ground hurling whereas we were more adept at getting it up on the hurl and running with it.
"I was surprised by the margin of victory at the end but I wasn't surprised that we won even though Ireland has had a poor record in the matches over the years.
"Hopefully the series will be maintained. I'd love to play it again and represent Ireland once more but there are other very good players at Truagh who deserve a chance but we'll wait and see what the form is like in 2010."
For her part, 21 year old Roisin says getting the nod to link up with the Ireland squad once more was a great source of pride and joy following on from the intercounty blitz in Rooskey last August which featured the best of talent from other highly-ranked counties such as Carlow and Roscommon.
Although she was disappointed that Monaghan failed to emerge victorious from a group composed of the likes of Donegal, Cavan and Wicklow, she confesses that getting the call-up to the Ireland shinty/camogie squad was a great consolation!
"I was alright on the day but overall I didn't think I played that well in the blitz," the 'Blayney ace explains.
"A couple of goals went by me. I had two fractured fingers in my right hand and I wasn't really meant to be playing but I'm glad that I did line out."
Roisin has been playing camogie for 'Blayney seniors since she was 14 so at this juncture she has gained invaluable experience between the posts.
Having played for her county at U14, U16, U18 and senior level, she has amassed the sort of experience that proved more than useful in Inverness.
And the reasons behind Ireland's triumph?
"I thought our off-the-ground hurling won it for us; they didn't like us picking the ball up on our hurleys.
"But overall I thought we had the most skilful players too and I had only one or two saves to make altogether.
"It was a very fast - much faster than camogie - tough and physical game; the ball is smaller and harder and the shots are way harder to save but my experience from last year meant that it wasn't all new to me.
"It was a fantastic experience, a great weekend and the outcome of the match made it a perfect break abroad. I'd still prefer camogie though."
And the difference between this year's disappointing result and 2009's happy tidings?
"On the day we had more of an appetite for the win than they did but the training we did this year was very important and made a big difference.
"Last year we just got together for the match itself whereas this year we had three or four get-togethers and it was just a better set-up this year."
Confident that Ireland can go on and make it back-to-back wins, Roisin says she would love to be part of future Ireland squads.
And Sharon? "Definitely. It would be great to have another go at playing it and meeting up with the girls again." Tweet
