Memorable year for camogie
April 30, 2010Camogie in Westmeath continues to go from strength to strength with 2009 being one of the county's most successful years.
At inter-county level, the highlight was unquestionably the under 16 team's achievement in winning the All-Ireland 'C' championship following a thrilling victory over Tyrone in the final at St. Tiernach's Park, Clones. The historic success was masterminded by Jackie Jackson - wife of Castletown-Geoghegan and Westmeath hurling legend Ger Jackson - and Cally O'Donovan. On their return to the Lake County, the team was given a rapturous welcome by members of the Brownstown camogie club in Clonmellon.
On the club front, Raharney claimed their third senior championship on the trot, while Lough Lene Gaels and Drumraney were crowned intermediate and junior champions respectively.
As the county's first All-Ireland underage success, the under 16 victory has given Westmeath camogie a major shot in the arm. A lot of work went into preparing the team and it paid off handsomely on May 9 when they defeated Tyrone in the final by 6-9 to 5-3. The Lake County girls had displayed impressive form throughout the campaign, having qualified for the decider by virtue of a 4-6 to 4-1 semi-final victory over Cavan at Mostrim (Edgeworthstown).
Westmeath started the All-Ireland final nervously and fell behind to an early point from Caoimhe Rafferty and a goal by Jane Canavan. But after full forward Caitriona Murtagh opened their account, the midlanders stunned Tyrone with two goals in quick succession from Sinead Connell and Louise O'Connor.
The Red Hands steadied the ship, though, and were soon back in front thanks to a Canavan point and a second goal from Rafferty. But Westmeath finished the half with four unanswered points from Murtagh (two), Niamh Lynch and Louise O'Connor to take a 2-5 to 2-2 lead into the break.
Murtagh fired over two more points on the restart, only for Tyrone to reply with a scrambled goal. Westmeath, however, showed their grit and responded with two well-taken goals from team captain Sarah Jaskson (daughter of manager Jackie). The scores continuing to flow with Caoimhe O'Callaghan netting on the counterattack for Tyrone.
Jackson sent over a superb point at the other end before Caitriona Murtagh slipped her marker to crash home her side's fifth goal. Tyrone refused to give up and scored a fifth goal before under 14 star Avril Fagan sealed the win with a sixth Westmeath goal following good combination play between Nadine Grace and Louise O'Connor.
With Fagan on board, Westmeath also enjoyed a fine run in the Leinster under 14 championship which culminated in a 1-0 to 2-5 defeat to Carlow in the final at Cappagh, Co. Kildare. Aoife Boyle netted for the Lake County in the first half, but Carlow led by 2-2 to 1-0 at the interval and pulled away with three more points in the second half.
At senior level, Westmeath experienced a mixed year under their joint-managers Martin Craig and Mick Heffernan. After losing to Kildare in the National League Division 4 final in the springtime, they beat Louth in the opening round of the Leinster junior championship before losing to Wicklow in the semi-final. In the separate All-Ireland junior championship (Nancy Murray Cup), they defeated Carlow, drew with Tyrone and lost to Roscommon, Kildare and Armagh.
After years of St. Munna's dominance, Raharney have emerged as the new force on the Westmeath club scene. They captured their third senior championship in-a-row at Cusack Park on September 4 when they eased to a 1-16 to 2-1 victory over their Turin rivals. Team captain Pamela Greville led by example for the Deelsiders, helping herself to 1-9 (1-4 from play) in a player of the match display.
Raharney never looked back after Greville scored a fortuitous goal after only five minutes. Aileen Lawlor twice found the net for St. Munna's in the first half, but they still trailed by 2-1 to 1-7 at half-time to a stronger and slicker Raharney team.
St. Munna's had wind advantage in the second half, but they were unable to make any headway against Johnny Greville's charges, who fired over nine points without reply. While Greville led the charge, Aisling Doyle, Adriana Doyle, Ammy Dunne and Karen Shields also found the target.
Retaining their county crown capped a great year for Raharney, who also retained their Leinster League title in April. They defeated Camross of Laois in the final by 3-5 to 0-9 at Naas and afterwards a very pleased Johnny Greville said: "There were only 12 teams in the competition last year, but 22 competed this year. It's a great competition and we're delighted to have won it again."
In the curtain-raiser to the senior final at Cusack Park, Drumraney finished strongly to edge out Clonkill on a 3-2 to 2-2 scoreline and bring the cup back to South Westmeath. Oonagh Loughlin's goal had given Clonkill an early advantage, but a Ciara McCormack brace ensured the south county outfit of a 2-1 to 1-2 interval lead.
Clonkill looked to have turned it around when Dinah Loughlin blasted a free to the net to give them the lead midway through the second half, but Drumraney were not to be denied and after Lorraine Duncan's goal had restored their advantage, Aoife McCormack fired over the insurance point with time almost up.
In the intermediate championship (13-a-side) final at Ringtown on June 29, Lough Lene Gaels powered to a 6-7 to 2-2 victory over St. Munna's with Celeste Dermody, Naoimh Lynch and Caitriona Murtagh each scoring two goals. The sides were level on 2-1 apiece at half-time, but it was all Lough Lene Gaels after the restart.
The Collinstown club, who will celebrate their 25th anniversary next year, also won the Clane 7-a-side tournament following victories over Blackhall Gaels (Meath) and Naas (Kildare) in the semi-final and final respectively.
The Gaels enjoyed a very successful year at underage level, winning the minor 'A' championship for the third year running, the under 16 'A' championship for the fourth year in-a-row and the Feile na nGael for a remarkable sixth successive year, beating Crookedwood in the final by 7-4 to 0-0.
Castletown-Geoghegan won both the under 10 and 12 'A' championships, while the under 14 'A' championship went to Raharney.
The Westmeath team that claimed the All-Ireland under 16 'C' title was: Alana Nash; Sarah Purcell, Lorna Daly, Tammy Commons; Emer Flynn, Aisling Boyhan, Saoirse O'Neill; Sarah Jackson, Nadina Grace; Niamh Lynch, Louise O'Connor, Chloe Kelly; Emma Kincaid, Caitriona Murtagh, Sinead Connell. Subs: Avril Fagan, Grace Mulvaney, Linda Heffernan, Nicola Fagan, Debbie Ennis, Emma Flynn, Roisin Scally and Ellen Taite.
The Westmeath under 14 team that faced Carlow in the Leinster final was: Lynda Heffernan; Dearbhla Reilly, Sarah Patton, Aisling Egerton; Amy Kenny, Roisin Scally, Ciara Corcoran; Nicola Fagan, Jenna McKeogh; Anne-Marie Kennedy, Ellen Taite, Aoife Boyle; Fiona Glynn, Avril Fagan, Laura Coyne. Subs used: Caoimhe McCrossan, Debbie Ennis, Kelly Dobson and Amy Moffatt.
Raharney's senior championship winning team was: Louise Flynn; Olive Weir, Sandra Greville, Jacinta Goonery; Adriana Doyle, Liz Shaw, Fiona Leavy; Elaine Finn, Helen Weir; Pamela Greville, Lisa Burke, Aisling Doyle; Tanya Goss, Amy Dunne, Carol Finch. Subs used: Karen Shields and Jean Flanagan.
Lough Lene Gaels' intermediate winners were: Karen Murtagh; Sheila Carroll, Sinead Lynch; Breege Dobson, Veronica Gavigan (captain), Laura Reilly; Aoife Higgins, Michelle Murtagh; Nadina Grace, Sinead Sheridan, Ciara Cosgrave; Naoimh Lynch, Celeste Dermody. Subs used: Shauna Briody, Caitriona Murtagh, Aoife Cooney, Sinead Connell, Jennifer Cooney, Dawn Buckley and Marie McMyler.
The Drumraney team which won the junior championship was: Aine Cunningham; Caoimhe Mackey, Breda Slevin, Monica Higgins; Edel Hanley, Megan McCormack, Amy Duncan; Aoife McCormack, Lorraine Farrell; Lisa Browne, Ciara McCormack, Eimear Murphy; Maggie Nugent, Lorraine Duncan, Eileen Cunningham. Sub used: Siobhan Farrell. Tweet
