CAMOGIE: JUNIOR FINALS
Dominicans and Louis in dreamland
Daire Walsh
IT was a red letter day for both Dominican College and St Louis HS, Rathmines last Friday, after they were crowned Dublin Junior ‘A’ and Junior ‘C’ camogie champions at Naomh Mearnog.
Following their senior side’s tremendous victory against Loreto Beaufort a week earlier, the Dominican U16s were also paired with the Rathfarnham school in the Portmarnock venue, which played host to four finals. A number of the squad were featuring in a top-tier final for the second time in the space of seven days, including dynamic full-forward Eile O Ceallaigh.
While Anna Sullivan got the ball rolling for the Drumcondra girls, they found it difficult to escape from the defensive clutches of Loreto. When the half-time whistle was sounded, the teams were locked on six points apiece.
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Though the tie was finely-balanced on the restart, Dominicans registered 1-3 without reply to steer themselves into a commanding position. After O Ceallaigh shook the Loreto net, Aifric Mangan, Sullivan and Isabelle McGarry bolstered their tally with white flag efforts.
A similar third-quarter blitz had aided the cause of their U18 equivalents, but their southside counterparts had plenty left in reserve. They grabbed two goals on the bounce to restore parity in the 50th minute.
The prospect of a draw was beginning to loom large, until O Ceallaigh’s magnificent three-pointer propelled Dominicans towards a 2-15 to 3-7 success. Before embarking on their own journey into the national arena, their seniors will face St Mary’s, Nenagh in a All-Ireland Senior ‘B’ semi-final at St Mobhi Road on Saturday, February 9.
It proved to be a historic outing on the northside for St Louis, who defeated Dunshaughlin CC on a scoreline of 5-5 to 2-8 to secure their first schools camogie championship success. With Kevin’s, Faughs and Ballinteer St John’s heavily represented, they ultimately overcame a stern challenge from their Royal County opponents.
Although they fell behind to an early Dunshaughlin goal, Louis gradually gained control of the proceedings. Courtesy of outstanding efforts by Meadhbh Hicks, Eve Young and Leah Roe-Ashe, they held a slender advantage during the interval.
Dunshaughlin maintained an attacking threat when the action resumed, but Louis netminder (and captain) Charlie Butler blocked their path to goal on several occasions. Driven on by their vocal travelling supporters, they ultimately established an unassailable cushion.
In addition to the scoring prowess of Hicks, Young and Roe-Ashe, Caoimhe French, Eve Leslie and Elise Doyle were outstanding throughout for the determined St Louis. Even though a flurry of late Dunshaughlin points kept them on high alert, they weren’t to be denied their day in the sun.