“We made hard work of it but got there in the end”
THREE years on from their Division Four triumph in the same venue, an injury-time point from Siobhan Hurley secured the Division Three title for Kildare’s camogie side in Donaghmore/Ashbourne last Sunday. Speaking in the direct aftermath of the game, Kildare manager Tom O’Mahoney freely admitted that it probably wasn’t their best performance of the campaign, but he was nonetheless delighted that they got over the line in the end.
“I suppose for the spectator it was great. We might as well win by one as ten. We got there in the end. We made hard work of it, but we didn’t play as well as we can play. We showed great character at the same time to grind it out in the end. Out there in the second half, a lot of the decisions were going against us. But we hung in there, and we’re delighted in the end,” O’Mahoney stated.
Having lost to an injury-time free in last year’s decider against Meath, it was fitting that Kildare secured the title in the same manner this time round. Though O’Mahoney felt that their 2011 reverse didn’t play on the minds of the players, he was still thrilled that they got through in the manner that they did.
“I suppose we didn’t dwell on it too much [last year]. Our goal all along has been to get out of this division. To come here today and do that, we’re kind of happy with that. I
“It was hard to take last year, it was nearly a reverse. We lost by a point in injury time from a free last year, so maybe the Gods were looking down on us today.”
In getting the game’s winning score, Hurley showed remarkable composure, and O’Mahoney was full of praise for the way that the Johnstownbridge forward performed on the day.
“Siobhan would love that! The only reason she would have come here today was to score the winning point! She was fantastic. She had a great first half as well, and she showed her experience in the second half. I think they all did, but Siobhan was outstanding.”
Next week sees Kildare starting their Leinster Championship campaign, before they begin their Premier Junior odyssey in July. This is something that O’Mahoney and his side are looking forward to, and after their successful league voyage this year, they can approach it with a certain degree of confidence.
“We’re out in Leinster now next week. I don’t know what shape we’ll be in for that. Championship is coming then in July, and we’ll be focused on that then. It will be tough, but we’re looking forward to it at the same time. Bit of pressure off after this campaign, and we’ll see what happens down the line,” O’Mahoney added.
-Daire Walsh