AIB All-Ireland Intermediate camogie final Clonduff (Down) 0-12 James Stephens (Kilkenny) 1-6
WHEN Clonduff Shamrocks won their first AIB All-Ireland Intermediate club crown in March 2019 in Croke Park, they depended heavily on Paula O’Hagan and the Carr sisters, Sara Louise and Fionnuala, to get them over the line. All the scores that day came from this trio.
This has already been a momentous year for all three, as they became mothers for the first time in 2022. Each got back training and returned to play big parts in the bringing the All-Ireland trophy back to the Mournes.
Sara Louise picked up player of the match with some big plays and three points to add to the magnificent six she picked off in the semi-final marathon a week earlier. O’Hagan fired over six points including five from frees, four of which came from fouls on Sara Louise.
Meanwhile, Fionnuala looked after the house at the back.
That house was under a lot less pressure than it had been four years ago mainly because so many of the Clonduff team have matured into strong players in their own right.
Katie Morgan was magnificent at half-back, capping a fine performance with the last score of the game. Claire McGilligan and Isabella O’Hare have become a strong midfield pairing that forage and hassle and keep the ball moving into the forwards.
With O’Hagan and Graffin up front there are always possibilities, while the Fitzpatrick sisters on the wings kept defenders under pressure throughout. Ceallagh Byrne also saved her best performance for Croke Park.
The Down and Ulster champions were a much better team than their opponents who included in their ranks three players who had picked up All-Ireland senior medals in August. James Stephens struggled to get scores from open play, Sophie O’Dwyer was really their only source, mainly from frees as the Clonduff defence closed out space.
This was a physical encounter and Clonduff held the aces, along with their superior game management. Yet, there was only a gap of three points at the end and the danger that O’Dwyer might have blasted a late close-in free to the net.
Clonduff dominated the opening 20 minutes and deservedly led by 0-5 to 0-1 with two points each for Sara Louise Graffin and Paula O'Hagan. Their opponents didn’t manage a worthwhile attack until the end of the first quarter when O’Dwyer put over a free from her own half.
However, the game changed in the 25th minute when a harmless lob towards the Down side's goal was blocked down into the path of O'Dwyer who slid in to find the corner of the net. She then added another free and the teams turned around on level terms, 0-5 to 1-2.
However, Clonduff pushed on after the break with three points from O’Hagan frees and one from Graffin to open up a three-point gap.
Although O’Dwyer and Niamh Deely brought the gap down to a single point in the 46th minute, Clonduff were always the stronger side and they reopened the gap during the final quarter. Another score from O’Hagan brought her match total to six, and Isabella O’Hare and Katie Morgan added insurance scores as the clock wound down.
Clonduff: K McGilligan; E Rafferty, J Boden capt, N Murray; C Kearney, F Carr, K Morgan (0-1); I O’Hare (0-1), C McGilligan; C Fitzpatrick, O Gribben, B Fitzpatrick; P O’Hagan (0-6, 0-5 frees), C Byrne (0-1), SL Graffin SL Graffin (0-3)
Sub: O McCusker for N Murray (36), C Cowan for O Gribben (46), A Morgan for O McCusker (60 + 2)
Temporary sub: O McCusker for O Gribben (BS 18-22)
James Stephens: L McGrath; M Burke, E Gafney, H Larkin; E Manogue, A Cantwell, H Scott; M Teehan, A Doheny; S O’Dwyer (1-5, 0-5 frees), N Deely (1-5, 0-5 frees), N Butler; C Delaney, R Leahy, E Smith.
Subs: C Moran for N Butler (H-T), T McGuire for C Moran (60)
Referee: C McAllister (Cork)
