All Ireland Senior Camogie Club Final – Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford) 3-13 Drom & Inch (Tipperary) 0-5

Oulart-The Ballagh win club camogie final

Report from the Irish Examiner web site

Oulart-The Ballagh (Wexford) 3-13 Drom & Inch (Tipperary) 0-5

The Wexford stranglehold on camogie tightened further as Oulart-The Ballagh strolled to victory to claim the All-Ireland senior club title in comprehensive fashion at Croke Park. Powered by the Leacy sisters, Úna and Mary, Ursula Jacob, Aideen Brennan, Stacey Kehoe and the outstanding Stacey Redmond, Oulart were much too powerful for a Drom/Inch outfit that failed to score in the first half. To give the Tipperary gang their due credit, they never stopped trying, with Joanne Ryan and Michelle Shortt giving all that they had, but their efforts were fruitless against a team of such power, experience and talent.

The early exchanges were scrappy enough as the teams struggled to cope with the conditions. A pre-match shower of hailstones made handling difficult but Oulart gradually imposed themselves. Drom/Inch goalie, Rosie Kenneally was called upon to be very brave when throwing her body in front of a Stacey Kehoe shot. Jacob got the scoring under way after being placed cleverly by Louise Sinnott and though Niamh Harkin was brilliantly hooked at the other end by Ciara Storey, that was to be a very rare attacking foray by the Munster champions. Kehoe had capitalised on more good work by Sinnott by the time Brennan poked the sliotar to an empty net in the 15th minute, after team captain, Una Leacy had drawn two defenders and Kenneally. Jacob and Kehoe slotted two more points before Una Leacy finished brilliantly to the net nine minutes later.

It was 2-6 to 0-0 at half time, with the closest Drom/Inch coming to breaking their drought when Harkin’s rasping shot for goal ricocheted off the upright just before the interval. Hopes of a comeback were summarily dispatched by Oulart, who carried on as they had left off and opened up an 18-point margin by the 40th minute. Brennan notched up her second goal despite a valiant attempt by Kenneally to stop her shot. Catriona Shortt finally landed Drom/Inch’s first point from a 43rd minute free and it marked a slight upsurge in fortunes.

Former Tipperary captain, Geraldine Kinane took a pass from Harkin to send a crisp shot over the bar and the industrious Ryan landed her side’s third successive point. Mary Looby and Shortt also shot points before the end but there was never any doubt about the destination of the Bill Carroll Cup, Brennan, Jacob and Kehoe all raising white flags before the final whistle sparked delirious celebrations in the Oulart camp.

Scorers – Oulart-The Ballagh: A Brennan 2-2; U Jacob 0-7(2fs); Stacey Kehoe 0-3; U Leacy 1-0; L Sinnott 0-1

Drom/Inch: C Shortt 0-2(1f, 1 45); G Kinane, J Ryan, M Looby 0-1 each

Oulart-The Ballagh: H Jacob; C Atkinson, C Storey, K Atkinson; S Redmond, M Leacy, S Sinnott; D Ryan, Shelley Kehoe; T Stamp, U Jacob, L Sinnott; A Brennan, U Jacob, Stacey Kehoe. Sub: Sharon Kehoe for L Sinnott (53); A O’Connor for U Leacy inj (56); K Dunne for Stamp (58); E Moran for Brennan (58); D Kirwan for K Atkinson (59)

Drom/Inch: R Kenneally; P McGrath, L Bourke, N Connolly; N Harrington, M Shortt, T Shortt; S Bourke, J Ryan; G Kinane, A Kennedy, E Shanahan; C Shortt, N Harkin, M Looby. Subs: A Eviston for Kennedy (25); A McGrath for Shanahan (43); M Barry for T Shortt (43); D Dunne for Harrington (53); S Corcoran for C Shortt (60)

Referee: O Elliott (Antrim)

Oulart too strong for Tipp girls

Oulart-The Ballagh (Wexford) 3-13 Drom & Inch (Tipperary) 0-05

By Daragh Ó Coinchúir for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Wexford’s grip on camogie shows no signs of diminishing as Oulart-The Ballagh claimed the All-Ireland Clunb senior title at Croke Park yesterday. Powered by the Leacy sisters, Úna and Mary, Ursula Jacob, Aideen Brennan, Stacey Kehoe and the outstanding Stacey Redmond, Oulart were far too powerful for Drom/Inch. Goals from Brennan and Úna Leacy had the Leinster champions 2-6 to 0-0 clear at half-time and the Wexford girls had opened an 18-point margin by the 40th minute when Brennan netted a second goal. Meanwhile Eoghan Rua (Derry) retained their All-Ireland Club intermediate club title with victory over Ardrahan (Galway) (2-8 to 0-12) at Croke Park.

Scorers for Oulart-The Ballagh: A Brennan 2-2; U Jacob 0-7(2fs); Stacey Kehoe 0-3; U Leacy 1-0; L Sinnott 0-1

Scorers for Drom/Inch: C Shortt 0-2(1f, 1 45); G Kinane, J Ryan, M Looby 0-1 each

OULART-THE BALLAGH: H Jacob; C Atkinson, C Storey, K Atkinson; S Redmond, M Leacy, S Sinnott; D Ryan, Shelley Kehoe; T Stamp, U Jacob, L Sinnott; A Brennan, U Jacob, Stacey Kehoe.

Subs: Sharon Kehoe for L Sinnott (53); A O’Connor for U Leacy inj (56); K Dunne for Stamp (58); E Moran for Brennan (58); D Kirwan for K Atkinson (59)

DROM/INCH: R Kenneally; P McGrath, L Bourke, N Connolly; N Harrington, M Shortt, T Shortt; S Bourke, J Ryan; G Kinane, A Kennedy, E Shanahan; C Shortt, N Harkin, M Looby.

Subs: A Eviston for Kennedy (25); A McGrath for Shanahan (43); M Barry for T Shortt (43); D Dunne for Harrington (53); S Corcoran for C Shortt (60)

Referee: O Elliott (Antrim)

Stage set for All Ireland Camogie Club Finals

Senior finalists from left to right Una Leacy, Oulart the Ballagh and Mary Looby, Drom/Inch with Intermediate finalists Aileen Moore, Eoghan Rua and Aoife Lynskey, ArdrahanRepresentatives of this year’s club finalists gathered at Croke Park in advance of Sunday’s (March 4th) double header All Ireland finals fixture at GAA HQ.

Oulart the Ballagh face Drom/Inch in the senior decider at 3.00pm and at 1.00pm defending Intermediate champions Eoghan Rua play Ardrahan.

A number of established inter-county players, such as the Leacy sisters, Una and Mary, Ursula Jacob (Oulart-the Ballagh, Wexford) and Joanne Ryan of Drom/Inch will also be aiming to add an elusive All Ireland club title to their playing honours on Sunday.

Speaking at this afternoon’s photocall President of the Camogie Association Joan O’Flynn said:

“We are delighted to be back in Croke Park for this year’s All Ireland Club Finals as the venue adds extra prestige to a momentous sporting occasion.

The opportunity of winning an All Ireland club title is something that all club camogie players aspire to. An All Ireland title at any grade is a huge honour, but a club All Ireland title is extra special because it is at club level where a player’s camogie career begins, where lifelong friendships are formed and where lasting bonds are created.

Clubs are an integral part of rural and urban communities and in many cases are the epicentres of activity in the area. Sunday’s double header finals will be a huge celebration of sport and also a demonstration of true community spirit in action as supporters rally to the cause.”

Wexford side Oulart the Ballagh recorded a convincing win over Antrim champions Loughgiel to book their final spot while a highly rated Drom/Inch side reached this year’s encounter following a superb win over champions Killimor in a re-fixed All Ireland semi-final on February 12th.

Defending Intermediate champions Eoghan Rua will be hoping to complete memorable back-to-back All Ireland wins but face a formidable challenge in Ardrahan, who defeated a strong Lismore side to reach this year’s decider.

This is the second year that the All Ireland Camogie Club Finals are taking place in Croke Park. The finals returned to the Dublin venue after a break of almost 40 years in 2011.

This year’s final also marks the return of Cáman & Run, a solo and handpass relay race in which four representatives from senior and junior schools compete at half time. In addition the All Ireland Junior club champions, Inagh will be honoured as well as the Volunteer of the Year Award recipients.