All-Ireland Senior Camogie Club Championship final
Slaugthneil’s Eilís Ní Chaiside believes her team is very composed as they face into their second successive All-Ireland final challenge with Galway side Sarsfields in Croke Park this Sunday.
“Last year, I wouldn’t say that we were not fairly well prepared individually and collectively for playing together in Croke Park for the first time. We were, and the game and the result tells you that.
“However going to Croke Park this year is nothing new for us and, having gone all the way to making our own bit of history last year, I think we are more composed this year, more sure of ourselves, more level-headed both in our approach to each game and during the games themselves.”
Indeed that calmness under pressure seemed to come through both in the Ulster final defeat of Loughgiel and then seven weeks ago in an extra-time semi-final win over Thomastown of Kilkenny.
“Loughiel hit us hard early in the Ulster final, and we trailed for the best part of the game, yet we never panicked or coughed up possession very easily and we gradually wore them down.
“It was different, yet the same, against Thomastown.
“In that game we led at half time and were trying to hold a lead through the second half.
“Again we tried to control clearances out of defence. Once the game went to extra time, I think we all felt that there would only be one winner.”
Last March Eilís at centre-forward contributed three points in Croke Park and set up the decisive goal for Mary Kelly with a beautiful reverse pass in the 36th minute.
But the eldest of the three sisters on the team ruled out a repeat performance this time.
“No, I wouldn’t think that will happen. I have a different role now,” said the teacher in Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.
“I am not really sure how it happened, but between the Ulster final and the end of January, I ended up beside Aoife (sister) in the half-back line. But I am enjoying it, although it is a long time since I wasn’t in the forward line.”
Her first ever appearance in Croke Park however, back in 2012 was at centre-half back as Derry drew 3-12 each with Galway in the Intermediate final before going on to win the replay by a point.
Her switch isn’t the only one that Sarsfields’s will notice as they plan to dethrone the champions.
“But I don’t know how much they (Sarsfield’s) will analyse us on that score.
“We found out very little about them before the final last year. We just focussed on ourselves and got what we wanted from the game.
“Yes, we have had the tape of last year’s final to look over and yes there were a few points we could highlight.
“But those were more about things we can do better and our training etc has always been geared towards getting the best out of the Slaughtneil players.”
Camogie Side Lines
Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 2, Section 2
Saturday 3pm in The Ragg: Tipperary v Derry
Laois surprised Derry with a late winner last Sunday and that effectively means that the Oak Leaf girls will not qualify for the semi-finals, something that has to be a bit of a disappointment given their impressive opener in the league.
Of course they have had to run longer than expected without the Slaughtneil contingent – and they fielded without Aine McAllister and Grainne McGoldrick against Laois. Then they lost the other half-forward Karen Kielt to what suspiciously looked like a cruciate injury.
McGoldrick and McAllister should be available again, but a trip to Tipp on St Patrick’s Day for a game that will mean little even if they win it is not a recipe for success.
Manager, and Tipp native, John O’Dwyer will probably continue to use his full panel for the game and what he sees will prove useful when it comes to trimming his numbers for the championship, assuming the All-Ireland club finalists flood the panel during the next month or so.
But this game should be a win for Tipperary.
Sunday, 2pm in Granemore: Armagh v Laois
Armagh with two defeats from two outings play a Laois team who have collected two wins from two starts including a surprise 4-5 to 2-9 success in Owenbeg against Derry.
Granted Derry, on the day, were much weaker than the side that easily defeated Armagh in the opening fixture also at Owenbeg. However Laois’ physicality in breaking the tackle and bearing down on goals has been paying dividends for them.
For a team just after gaining promotion to this level, Armagh are game enough, but limited in several areas of the pitch. For example they overly rely on Ciara Donnelly for scores, and the Eglish forward has been used a lot in midfield to win ball.
If they can cope with the physical nature of the Laois challenge, then they could have a good chance of improving on the two previous games, but in reality Laois are at a slightly higher level of development after winning the Junior last season and they should clock up a second win.
