Better days to come for Shannon Rovers - McKenna
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Shannon Rovers Aoife McLoughney accepts the Player of the Match Award from Martin Hogan (Player of the Match sponsor) in the presence of Maureen McLoughney O’Meara (FBD Insurance). Odhran DucieImage 2 of 4
Shannon Rovers - County Intermediate Winners, back row, Jordan Donovan, Vincent McKenna, Emily Holohan, Amanda O’Farrell, Emma Torpey, Katie Costello, Kellie Watson, Anna Harding, Erica Fogarty, Sarah Leenane, Megan Dunne, Orla Murphy, Áine Cleary, Nicola Kelly, Eimear Fogarty, Aisling McKenna, Áine Leenane, Ava Young, Laura Hogan, Clodagh Cahalan, Meabh Cahalan, Gillian McKenna. Front row, Seamus O’Sullivan, Ciara McKenna, Amanda Bourke, Aoife O’Sullivan, Niamh O’Sullivan, Sarah Bourke, Bethany Slattery, Rachel Hannigan, Niamh Franks, Celine Guinan, Áine Slattery, Emma D’Arcy, Aoife McLoughney, Francis Bugler, Jenny O’Meara, Stephanie O’Sullivan, Julie Brennan, Laura Leenane, Sabrina Larkin. PHOTO: ODHRAN DUCIE Odhran DucieImage 3 of 4
Áine, Laura & Sarah Leenane with their parents Linda & Ger after Shannon Rovers captured the County Intermediate Championship. Odhran DucieImage 4 of 4
Gillian McKenna shows The Carroll Cup to her nephew Paul after Shannon Rovers captured the County Intermediate Championship. PHOTO: ODHRAN DUCIE Odhran DucieBy Liam Hogan
Thirty minutes after the final whistle Shannon Rovers players are inside their dressing rooms singing their theme song as team manager Vincent McKenna looks on in admiration.
“There are better days to come,” he said.
“I’m overjoyed after a few tough years. This was our fourth final in a row. We lost three and a lot has been made of the three that they lost but people don’t realise that three years ago, three of the girls that started today were not eligible. We have built and built, and they are starting to mature. Nine of today’s team under 20 years of age. It’s a great place to be. I am thrilled that they have got over the line and it’s an amazing day for the club.”
After a tentative start, the Rovers went into the dressing rooms at half time with a two point lead with the final minutes of that have proving crucial according to McKenna.
“The game turned about two minutes before half time,” he added.
“When we turned over a ball down on the left hand side on the forty-five metre line before Aoife McLoughney pointed a free from that position. It put us two points in front. That passage of play really set the scene.
“Moneygall came very strong at us in the early stages of the second half. Our backs were outstanding, and they were unable to get scores. We finished strong and we have finished strong all year, against Boherlahan and Toomevara. We put up great scores. Some days the inside forward line will fire. But it’s the backline, at the end of the day, that set the tone.”
He added: “The standard of camogie today is savage. It takes a very good team to win a county final. They will be able to play the next day (Munster championship) with the monkey of their backs and they will be able to play with a bit of abandonment. Look we were not thinking that far. This was game nine today and that’s as far as we looked.”