ARMAGH were the success story in 2016.
The Orchard girls had a less than impressive 2015 season but the return of players like Bernie Murray, Niamh Markey, Bronagh Mone and Andrea McAlinden, combined with the experience gained by many of the younger players, provided the perfect blend of youth and experience. This paid off as Armagh saw off Roscommon by five points to claim the National League Division Three title.
Jim McCormick and Paddy McArdle’s charges suffered a heartbreaking 4-10 to 2-7 defeat in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship Final as Carlow claimed their first ever title.
Armagh and, indeed, camogie fans everywhere were lucky to witness one of the finest goals Croke Park has ever seen as Ciara Donnelly doubled over her shoulder on a high ball into the square to find the net.
A crowd of 20,037 were in Croke Park on finals day and they saw Kilkenny take home both the O’Duffy and Jack McGrath Cups. A Shelly Farrell goal helped the Cats see off Cork by four points on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-9 to end a 22-year wait for a senior title.
The same teams contested the intermediate decider. A great performance from Keeva Fennelly ensured that Kilkenny took home the title. Fennelly hit two goals as the Cats overturned a four-point deficit to see off Cork 3-6 to 1-11.
Armagh’s Ciara Donnelly and Bernie Murray picked up Junior Soaring Stars Awards alongside Carlow’s Eleanor Treacy and Ciara Quirke, Kelly Hopkins of Roscommon and Westmeath’s Dinah Loughlin.
Antrim’s Raquel McCarry received an Intermediate Soaring Star nomination with Eimear Hayes, Rachael Merry and Collette McSorley of Armagh all receiving nominations for the Junior Soaring Stars Awards.
The 2016 Allstars team was dominated by Kilkenny. The Cats took eight places, while All-Ireland runners-up Cork received three awards, semi-finalists Galway got three and Wexford completed the line-up with one award.
There was further success for Kilkenny as manager Ann Downey was named as Manager of the Year and Denise Gaule collected the Camogie Association/WGPA Senior Players’ Player of the Year award.
Ciara Holden of Kilkenny was named the Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year, while Eleanor Treacy of Carlow was chosen as the Junior Players’ Player of the Year. The 2016 Intermediate Soaring Stars Awards went to champions Kilkenny’s Jenny Clifford and Ciara Holden, Cork’s Linda Collins and Chloe Sigerson, Aisling Burke of Laois and Jane Dolan of Meath, who picked up her fifth Soaring Stars Award.
On the county scene, Derry had a forgettable season. After four years at senior grade, the Oak Leafers have decided to regrade to intermediate level as they undergo rebuilding. Under the new management of Declan Napier, Down will hope that 2017 can bring success.
Antrim are also undergoing a period of rebuilding and will hope to turn around their fortunes in 2017 and after a few years of absence, Tyrone have entered the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Division Three League.
Armagh also had interest in the AIB All-Ireland Club Championship, but Ulster junior champions Tullysaran fell to Scariff-Ogonnelloe. Despite a late surge the Clare side could not overcome Kildare’s Johnstownbridge as they retained their AIB All-Ireland Junior Camogie title by a single point, 1-10 to 1-9.
Granemore also created history this year as they claimed their first ever Armagh senior title in their 40th year but they fell to Tyrone champions Eglish in the Ulster intermediate final. They will face Gaultier of Waterford in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club Championship Senior semi-final on Sunday, January 29 with Cappataggle and Myshall contesting the other semi-final.
Slaughtneil became the new queens of Ulster camogie as they claimed their first ever senior title. The Emmett’s, who retained their Derry crown by seeing off Ballinascreen, snatched victory at the second time of asking when Mary Kelly grabbed a goal deep into injury-time to seal a famous 1-8 to 1-5 victory over Loughiel.
The Shamrocks were hoping to make it three Ulster Senior titles in-a-row after seeing off Dunloy to win the Antrim crown. Slaughtneil will now take on Tipperary side Burgess Duharra in the AIB All-Ireland Senior Camogie Club Championship semi-final on Sunday, January 29.
The other semi-final will see Galway side Sarsfield's take on Thomastown of Kilkenny.
