*Eugene Foudy. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
INAGH/KILNAMONA’s comfortable win over neighbours Kilmaley in the Clare Credit Union’s senior camogie semi-final on Saturday has bridged a four year gap for the Mid-Clare side to their last final appearance.
On that occasion they won the title and went on to contest the Munster final where defeat was their loss.
On Saturday evening team manager Eugene Foudy will be hoping that his charges can complete the senior double as they captured the league crown earlier this season when beating their championship final opponents Truagh/Clonlara.
“We have had some great battles with them, including this year’s league final which we won by two points. Since then teams have sharpened up a lot and Truagh/Clonlara have come through a tough battle to get to this final”, Eugene told the Clare Echo ahead of Saturday’s final.
When they took to the field in Clarecastle for last week’s semi-final it was the club’s eleventh Clare senior semi-final in a row. To date they have won the Clare senior title on four occasions and they have contested the final seven times
“Thankfully we have a clean bill of health which means we have a full panel to select from. Camogie is huge in the parish and just last week we contested the intermediate final when our second team lost out narrowly to Ruan’s first team. It’s great to have teams competing at both senior and intermediate grades. It means we have young players coming through and challenging for places on the senior side”, the senior manager said.
These young players include Katt Dowling Alisha Rynne, Anna and Hannah Shannon and they are linking up with the experience players in Fiona Laffertty, Clare Commane and Clare Hehir. “It’s one game at a time for us. that’s the way it has always been. One can never look past the next game. You must give respect to all teams and that’s the way we take things”, the Inagh/Kilnamona manager added.
“There is a lot of coaching going on in the clubs and in the schools. The game is being developed across the board. Facilities are good which is great for the game. There are serious coaches in every club. Promotion is improving”, the Inagh man said.
For now, however, the focus is on Saturday’s final. “There is a big buzz around the parish and we are looking forward to the game. Truagh/Clonlara are the champions, they have been the best team so far and they will carry the favourites tag into the game”.
