All Ireland Colleges Camogie final preview 2018
Ten years ago Cross & Passion College became only the second Ulster school to collect and All Ireland title when they beat Loughrea in the All Ireland Junior final at St Peregrine’s GAC in Dublin. They had beaten St Pat’s Maghera in Ulster final at Glen Maghera to book an All Ireland semi-final spot against the Clare and Munter champions
In a never to be forgotten day the girls from the Convent wrote their names in the history books with a fantastic win in a game that flowed one way, then the other, before CPC sealed the title with a late scoring flurry.
Below is the report and photos of the game which appeared in the Ballymoney Times
All Ireland Colleges Junior Camogie Final 2008
Cross & Passion College Ballycastle made history on Saturday when they came from behind in the last ten minutes to beat Galway and Connacht champions St Brigid’s Loughrea in the All Ireland Junior A Colleges Camogie final at St Peregrine’s, Dublin.
In the opening half the Ulster Champions made a promising start but failed to trouble the scoreboard operator, and when Loughrea fired over three unanswered point’s things looked worrying. However a great run by Aisling McFadden opened up the St Brigids defence and when the ball was transferred to Orla O’Hara, the corner forward found Louise McKeown who rounded her marker before blasting an unstoppable shot to the Loughrea net. That score completely transformed the game as CPC took control, with the Galway side failing to scorer in the remaining 20 minutes of the half. Aisling McFadden was putting on a show for the Antrim side and gave a master class of score taking, hitting three from play to make the score 1-4 to 0-3 at half time
Left – Louise McKeown, a really dynamic player who caused the Loughrea defence no end of problems. Right – Aisling McFadden’s great run through the middle led to the score that got CPC going after a shaky start.
After leading by four points at half-time, (having played against a stiff breeze), the Ulster champions appeared to be coasting to the title, and when top scorer Louise McKeown put them five clear early in the second-half victory seemed assured.
However the Antrim girls were rocked back on their heels as Loughrea hit back with two goals inside a minute to take the lead, and suddenly the game appeared to be slipping from their grasp.
Louise McKeown settled them with a well taken point from play, but when Loughrea went two clear again in the fiftieth minute it looked like being another day of heartbreak for an Antrim team in an All Ireland final in Dublin.
But when things looked bleakest the Antrim girls dug deep and produced a storming finish to turn the game back in their favour. Team captain Rebecca Walsh pointed a free to cut the arrears to the minimum before corner-forward Orla O’Hara made a great catch under pressure from two Loughrea defenders and broke through to score her team’s second goal.
Orlagh O’Hara made a great catch under pressure from two Loughrea defenders before breaking clear to score the match winning goal.
There was further anxiety for the large band of travelling C&P fans when Loughrea were awarded a twenty metre free three minutes form time.
Loughrea full-forward Rachel Monahan went for the goal that would have put her team back in front, but the Cross & Passion defence held firm, with Colleges All Star Emma Connor showing her class stopping the shot on the line and striking the ball well into her own half. At this stage the Cross and Passion girls dominated forcing errors from a tiring opposition. A Rebecca Walsh sideline found Louise Mc Keown who sealed the win with another cracking point, a score that sparked scenes of great celebration.
On such an occasion youngster Aisling Mc Fadden really shone alongside team captain Rebecca Walsh and forwards Samantha McKillen, Orlagh O’Hara and Louise Mc Keown.
Louise Watt in goal held her nerve and made crucial saves and interceptions to hold off a strong Loughrea attack, defenders Aine Connolly, Maria Donnellly, Aoife Laverty and Laura Connolly were superb and the first touch and determination of Michaela Beattie and Claire Neill all played their part to take the title back to Ulster for only the second time.
Emma Connor saves a late free by Loughrea before clearing the ball out beyond midfield
The CPC team who made history were :
1. Louise Watt
2. Maria Donnelly
3. Laura Connolly
4. Aoife Laverty
5. Michaela Beattie
6. Aine Connolly
7. Clare Neill
8. Emma Connor
9. Rebecca Walsh
10. Aisling Mc Fadden
11. Kerri Smyth
12.Samantha McKillen
13. Niamh Donnelly
14. Louise Mc Keown
15. Orlagh O’Hara
Team captain Rebecca Walsh with te All Ireland Cup after CPC’s great win.