O’Neills’ All-Ireland Post Primary Schools’ Senior camogie semi-finals
Senior A
Saturday February 11
2pm, The Ragg, Tipperary town: Ursuline, Thurles v Cross & Passion, Ballycastle
3pm, St Rynagh’s, Banagher: Loreto Kilkenny v Presentation Athenry
Travelling down to Tipperary for an All-Ireland just four days after an epic two game encounter to wrest the GAAstore.com Corn Uan Uladh title from St Patrick’s Maghera may or may not be ideal preparation to take on the new Munster champions Urseline Convent Thurles.
Cross and Passion Ballycastle will find an answer to that conundrum this (SATURDAY) afternoon. Certainly the quality of the Ulster final games with Maghera was a high standard of preparation for the All-Ireland – but they could have done with a little more rest and time to garner background information on their opponents.
Ursuline won their first ever Munster title with a 0-6 to 0-5 win over their Thurles neighbours Presentation four weeks ago with Eimear Ryan hitting her fourth free in the sixth minute of injury time.
Just like the two game Ulster final, not an inch was given in a battle that was fought in the trenches and from which Caoimhe Burke, Maureen Ryan and Eimear Lukeman came out with a lot of credit.
Many will feel that Ballycastle were not at their best in either of the two games this week – but all coaches will settle for a battling but winning performance instead of a swash-buckling defeat.
Having witnessed the drawn game, I believed that the replay would be a little more open. It wasn’t, but players such as Caoimhe Wright and Roisin McCormick still showed that quality up front that can edge tight games.
The Ballycastle defence however was superb over the two games and that includes goalie Aoife McGowan who inspired her teammates with a number of great stops in the Loup.
They don’t seem to have worked out their best midfield combination, trying out a completely new pairing for the replay.
Throughout the field though they have strong players, physically strong but also skilfully strong, and surviving the real test that Maghera gave them will bring them on for the Tipperary test.
However two tough games, followed by a long journey could tell a tale – but hopefully won’t. The new Ulster champions should have a real chance of making further progress.
In the other semi-final, Loreto Kilkenny, winners of eight of the last ten All-Ireland under 16 titles and a four in a row Senior portfolio 2010-13, should pull through against Presentation Athenry whom they defeated 3-11 to 2-6 two years ago in the under 16 final.
Incidentally Ursuline have to travel to Ballycastle next Saturday for the All-Ireland Junior semi-final.
O’Neills’ All-Ireland Post Primary Schools’ Senior camogie semi-finals
Saturday February 11, 2pm
Senior C
Gorey GAA: Presentation Wexford v Castleknock Comm Sch
Nenagh Eire Og: Borrisokane CC v St Patrick's, Keady
St Patrick’s Keady were mighty disappointed last year when they were pipped for the Ulster title by a single point, but they bounced back to take the GAAstore.com Fr Davies’ Cup with a 3-6 to 2-4 win over St Pius X Magherafelt.
They got out in front in the tie with goals from Cara Crilly and Eimear Grimley and were able to hold off the Magherafelt pressure during the second half to secure victory.
That was only six days ago and today’s Trip to Tipp is a real journey into the unknown since they have not been able to discover anything at all about their opponents from Borriskane CS who have also won the provincial Junior title and will be travelling to Magheafelt to play St Pius X next Saturday.
Keady will feel that there is perhaps more in their team than was seen last Sunday in a closely-fought Ulster decider in Armagh.
Of their three current Ulster Schools’ All-stars, Eimear Smyth, Hannah Hughes and Leah McGoldrick, and their team-mates will need to be at full steam if the Ulster champions are to progress. There should not be too much between the sides, although home venue will obviously suit Borriskane, but leaders on the pitch can make it a happy return trip for Keady.
O’Neills’ All-Ireland Post Primary Schools’ Senior camogie semi-finals
Senior D
12pm, Trim: Scoil Mhuire, Trim v Holyfaith, Clontarf
2pm Ballybricken/Bohermore: John the Baptist C S v Loreto, Cavan
Loreto Cavan are flying at the moment – three Ulster titles and All-Ireland semi-finals in camogie and Ladies’ football and the first of them comes up in Ballybricken/Bohermore today (SATURDAY) where they face local school John the Baptist Hospital.
The Limerick school won their Munster title three weeks ago, coming from behind to snatch victory 1-12 to 1-11, with a late goal from Méadhbh O’Neill.
O’Neill is a huge threat to Loreto as she scored all but one point of the Hospital total. Watch her and the rest of the team is quite manageable.
Cavan won their first senior title in a long time with a controlled performance against St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon ten days ago.
Quite a number of the Junior team have been doing well with the seniors, including the talented Muireann Cusack at full-forward, who is top-scorer for both successful teams, Niamh Keenaghan and Áine Brady.
However the winning of the senior title came because Clodagh Keenaghan and Katie Costello controlled the middle of the park and Brady, Megan McKenna and Darcy Beck mopped up at half-back.
That needs to happen again, and there is every reason that it should as winning, whether in football or camogie, has become a habit in Loreto and habits are hard to break.
