Templemore reach another Schools final

CAMOGIE: All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘C’ Semi-Final

Our Lady’s SS, Templemore 0-10

Heywood CS, Ballinakill 1-6

Report: Ronan Loughnane at St Sheelan’s Park, Templemore

Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore qualified for their second successive All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Camogie final when they held off a mighty challenge from Leinster champions Heywood College from Ballinakill, Laois on Saturday.

Having captured the ‘D’ title in 2024, the camogie roller-coaster at Our Lady’s has continued to gather pace as they now set out to complete a unique double, this one at a higher level.

As the scoreline would suggest, this was a dour affair with only four scores registered from play over the hour, but where it lacked in quality it more than made up for it in heart and determination. Both sides fought tooth and nail for every ball, but the game lacked any great flow.

We waited seven minutes for the opening score, a point from play from Heywood’s Molly Cummins. The Treacy twins, Caithlyn & Stephanie, have had a big influence on Our Lady’s camogie over the last few years, with Caithlyn in particular having a very strong game here. She dominated from centre-back and fired over a cracking free from distance to level in the eighth minute.

Our Lady’s rode their luck in the 12th minute when Eimear Murphy failed to connect with her penalty attempt, but she made amends three minutes later with a pointed free. Treacy restored parity once more in the eighteenth minute before a great run from Kaylah O’Mara set up Laoise Dunne for a Heywood point after 24 minutes.

Our Lady’s finished the half stronger with Ciara Cahill, Orfhlaith Bergin and Laurie Mullen working hard. Treacy landed two more pointed frees to leave Our Lady’s 0-4 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

The home side certainly fancied their chances as they turned to play with a decent breeze, but it was Heywood who started the brighter after the break with two pointed frees from Murphy nudging them back in front.

More good work from Cahill resulted in a free for Treacy to level it on 38 minutes before her sixth point a minute later restored their lead. Our Lady’s grabbed their only point from play in the 40th minute thanks to the impressive Cahill but they found themselves behind entering the final quarter.

Murphy pointed another free in the 42nd minute before Emily Ryan grabbed the only goal of the game to put Heywood 1-6 to 0-7 ahead with fourteen minutes to go.

The battle for possession was very intense by now and Treacy closed the gap to one in the 49th minute. Further frees in the 52nd & 57th minutes put Our Lady’s 0-10 to 1-6 ahead and some very stout defending in the closing stages was enough to see them through to final.

While Caithlyn Treacy was easily the best player on view, she was ably assisted by Orfhlaith Bergin, Mary Breslin, Aoibhe Matthews, Laurie Mullen and Ciara Cahill. It is a great achievement to play in an All-Ireland schools final but to play in two is a very special feat. Eleven of the Our Lady’s team that started last Saturday featured in last year’s final against New Ross.

Heywood College certainly played their part in this game and brought plenty of physicality to the contest. Clodagh Gee, Sive O’Reilly, Kaylah O’Meara, Maya Donoghue, Eimear Murphy and Laoise Dunne were always to the fore.

The game started fifteen minutes late due to the late arrival of the referee who came alone. I do recall lamenting the lack of linesmen at last year’s final and it seems things are not improving. As we head towards the era of integration there are many boxes to be ticked. All-Ireland final day should be the same for all.

Player of the Match: Caithlyn Treacy (Our Lady’s SS, Templemore)

Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore: Anna Cribbin; Orfhlaith Bergin, Mary Breslin, Caroline Johnston; Aoibhe Matthews, Caithlyn Treacy (0-9f), Nicole Buckley; Julie Grey, Stephanie Treacy; Brid Delaney, Michell Lee, Ciara Cahill (0-1); Laurie Mullen, Annie Phelan, Emily Ryan.

Sub: Eimear Conroy for Ryan (53).

Heywood Community School, Ballinakill: Grace Foxe; Niamh Scully, Clodagh Gee, Sinead Brennan; Grainne Dowling, Alison Curran, Sive O’Reilly; Kaylah O’Meara, Maya Donoghue; Lucy Donoghue, Eimear Murphy (0-4f), Laoise Dunne (0-1); Molly Cummins (0-1), Holly Brennan, Niamh O’Shea (1-0).

Sub: Katie Doyle for O’Shea (55).

Referee: John McDonnell (Offaly).