Clonduff 0-10 Gailltir (Waterford) 0-9
Clonduff Camogs have created their own special place in the 131 year old history of Clonduff GAA! Camogie was introduced for a second time in 1967 – it had a short reign in the early 1950s – but this time it was here to stay, they enjoyed much underage success throughout the years but it took them to 2007 to win their first County Senior Championship and they have been regulars there since! In 2014 they annexed the Ulster Junior Club title and moved up to Intermediate level. Last year (2017/18) they were beaten by Eglish (Tyrone) by a single point in the Ulster Final. They met the same opposition again this year and the tables were reversed. They met the Connaught Champions in the All Ireland semi final back in January and in a very tight game they emerged victorious knowing that a visit to the hallowed turf of Croke Park awaited. Sunday 3rd March 2019 that wait was over! In the meantime they trained and worked extremely hard to hone their skills, thanks to managers Damien Farnon and Alistair McGilligan, assisted by Derek Dunne, Ciarán Kearney and Aaron Graffin.
The final on Sunday was played in atrocious conditions – the rain was unrelenting making for poor underfoot conditions and leading to ball-handling errors from both sides (the Senior Final, played immediately after the Intermediate, finished the game with heavy snow falling!)
Clonduff flew out of the blocks and had registered five points before the Waterford girls got off the mark in the 15th minute. Once they got into their stride though they pushed ‘The Yellas’ very hard and at the break the score was 0-7 to 0-5 in favour of Clonduff. But that doesn’t tell the full story of that half – Captain Paula O’Hagan (nee Gribben) led by example in harnessing a superb performance from every girl on the field. One of the big talking points, a video of which has gone viral, was Fionnuala Carr collecting a ball outside the half-way line and taking aim and firing over a monstrous point. The other big talking point of the half also involved Fionnuala who along with her cousin Clare McGilligan and goalkeeper Karen Haughey (nee Gribben) saved a penalty with the last puck of the game – if converted that would have put Gailltir into the lead for the first time!
Gailltir had scored the last three points of the first half without reply but the second half followed a similar pattern with Clonduff dominating the third quarter and scoring two points against the elements. Gailltir dominated the game from then on and should have scored a couple of goals but for the strong defending and goal-keeping skills of the Clonduff girls – they scored the next three points to make it a one-point game before Paula Gribben fired over another long-range free but in injury time Gailltir scored another to again reduce the deficit to a single point. The Clonduff girls dug deep to keep the sliothar away from goal and when the final whistle sounded a collective sigh was audible around Croke Park just for an instant before the huge contingent of Clonduff supporters (five bus loads had left Clonduff Club on Sunday morning, with the team bus having departed earlier) responded to what this bunch of sporting heroines had just achieved!
Captain Paula accepted the Agnes O’Farrell Cup on behalf of her team-mates. She was also selected as the player of the tournament but indeed any number of girls could have received this accolade!
Following the Senior final between Slaughtneil (Derry) winning three in a row v St Martin’s of Wexford town (and big congratulations to them) it was all aboard the busses for the trip back to Clonduff Club via Hilltown Square, to Cabra with a stop-off at Mary Margaret.s, for the post-final meal, disco and refreshments!
Clonduff had by far the biggest support of the four teams in Croke Park – most families in the parish were represented – and quite a number of spectators from other clubs in various parts of Down and Ulster. It is a day that will live long in the memory of all those who witnessed it in person or tuned in across the work to the AIB YouTube Channel.
A big thank you to all those who supported and/or sponsored the girls on this ground-breaking journey; the clubs who provided indoor training facilities, coaches and challenge games; Pauline’s display in The Downshire Arms; the Diamond Restaurant for the magnificent meal; above all to the players and coaches who gave up so much of their time to bring this dream to fruition! Ádh mor oraibh gac duine!
Team: Karen Haughey, Nicola O’Hagan, Jenna Boden, Sarah Murphy, Clare McGilligan, Erin Rafferty, Fionnuala Carr, Beth Fitzpatrick, Clara Cowan, Cassie Fitzpatrick, Sara Louise Carr, Paula O’Hagan, Isabella O’Hare, Orla Gribben, Katie McGilligan. Subs used: Lizzie Wilson, M O’Reilly and Roisin Mulholland. Other Panellists: Niohmi Murray, Molly Brown, Shannon O’Hagan, Natasha Boyle, Niamh Fitzpatrick, Ellen Lively, Erin Lively, Caitlin Harper, Roisin McPolin, Hannah Wilson, Ally Magee, Orla Morgan, Ursula Kearney, Kitty Fegan
The Clonduff U12 team (bottom picture) played in an exhibition game at half time and showed great skills despite the torrential rain and the bitter cold!
