All Ireland Post Primary A Camogie final preview

It’s been a long journey for the Cross & Passion girls! Eleven of Saturday’s panel came through the school doors as nervous eleven year olds back in 2013. Their introduction to Colleges camogie was soon underway and success followed them with each passing year. When CPC beat St Louis in the Ulster final back in January, eleven of them collected their seventh Ulster medal, a remarkable haul of silverware.

Over those seven years they have trained together hundreds of times in preparation for yet another big day, first under the tutelage of Una Kelly and Elaine Dowds, and as the years went on Barry Kelly, Orlagh O’Hara and Marty Jamison joined the management team. They trained at Pairc MacUilin on Thursday afternoon for probably the last time (barring a replay) and it is fair to say it was quite emotional at the end as they formed a circle and Marty J gave his last pep-talk before the big day.

The Ulster titles have come thick and fast along the way but the Holy Grail has always been the All Ireland Senior A title, the one that would set this team apart from the rest. Since the school won the Junior A All Ireland title back in 2008 this has been the dream. There has been near misses and heartbreak along the way and last year they came oh so close when losing out to All Ireland specialists Loreto of Kilkenny in a thrilling final. When the Kilkenny girls led by 2-10 to 0-2 at half time the best anyone could hope for was saving a little face, but CPC battled back brilliantly, outscoring Loreto by ten points in the second half and with a bit of luck they could easily have won it in the end. As the tears flowed freely in Darvar that day we tried to console them with the old adage “There is always next year”

Next year has arrived!                                                                                           The chance of immortality is waiting once again. They face a tough challenge against new kids on the block, St Angela’s of Waterford, last year’s Junior A All Ireland winners, who beat CPC in the semi-final along the way. They also added the Senior B title and are now bidding to add the Senior A at their first attempt. Five of the team started for Waterford champions Gailltír in last Sunday’s All Ireland Intermediate Club final against Clonduff of Down, while a sixth player was brought on as a sub in their one point defeat. Leah Sherridan and Hannah Flynn were wing backs, while Clodagh Carroll, Katie Lynch and Annie Fitzgerald formed a strong half forward line, and Aoife Fitzgerald was brought into the forward line during the game.

CPC face a tough challenge, but they are well aware that All Ireland titles don’t come easy. They have the players to perform on the big day. The core of the team that started their run back in 2013 like Roisin McCormick, Maeve Kelly, Charley Carry, Anna Connolly and Aoife O’Mullan, have been strengthen by the likes of Katie Laverty and this year’s Junior team members like Rianna McBride and Aine Magill, players of immense talent.

As Marty Jamison said in that final ‘huddle’ at training on Thursday whether they win or lose on Saturday will not define this team. The journey together over the past seven years has been full of success, great fun, and a few tears along the way. However the spine of this team will not contemplate defeat. They know they are within reach of history and they are determined to grab it with both hands.  

Saffron Gael went along to one of the team’s training sessions this week to caputre the action

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”198″ display=”pro_mosaic”]