All roads lead to the St. Rynagh’s GAA grounds in Banagher in Offaly on this Saturday for supporters of the Colaiste Muire junior camogie side.
They take on their namesakes from Johnstown in Kilkenny in the All-Ireland colleges junior B (under 16.5) final at 1p.m..
As the venue will be subject to a pitch inspection later this week, patrons are advised to check before travelling. Coláiste are jointly managed and coached by Aidan McGuane, Kilmaley and Barry Donnellan from O’Callaghans Mills, they have played six matches en route to this final.
When the team lost their opening game in the Munster championship by a margin of ten points to Clonakilty from Cork few would have predicted that they would now be preparing for the All-Ireland final.
Wins over Loretto, Fermoy and Ursilines from Waterford saw the Ennis side emerge from their group and qualify for a Munster semi-final meeting with their Ennis neighbours St Flannan’s College, a game they won after extra time in Clarecastle.
This set up a final against their first round opponents Clonakilty and here Colaiste turned the tables and recorded a four point victory.
Their opponents in the All-Ireland semi-final were Our Lady’s from Terenure in Dublin whom they overcame to set up Saturday’s final when they will be attempting to win the title for a fourth time having been successful in 1999, 2005 and 2023.
“We have trained twice a week and we came together during the recent Mid-Term break to prepare for this final. Our panel is made up of players from twelve clubs and our joint captains are Katie Conlon (Eire Og) and Blaithnaid Hegarty (Inagh-Killnamona)”, joint manager Aidan McGuane told The Clare Echo this week.
They were due to finalise their preparations for Saturday’s final by having two teams take part in a Clare junior blitz on Wednesday. “All of the panel will be getting some game time in this blitz”, according to Aidan who will have a full squad to select Saturday’s team from.
“The majority of the panel are junior cert students while there are also some TYs and some second year students”.
Asked about their final opponents he said “Kilkenny camogie is strong and they won all of their games by comfortable margins and they beat Seamount from Kinvara in the All-Ireland semi-final. They have players from Kilkenny, Tipperary and Laois and we know we are facing a tough challenge”, he concluded.
The members of the Colaiste Mhuire panel are
Aimee Glynn Crusheen
Aisling Kelly Eire Og
Aoibhin Daly St Joseph’s Doora Barefield
Aoibhinn Barry Kilmaley
Aoife McGann Newmarket On Fergus
Blathnaid Hegarty (JC) Inagh Kilnamona
Cait McCarthy St Joseph’s Doora Barefield
Cara Hegarty Inagh Kilnamona
Ciara O’Leary Newmarket On Fergus
Clodagh Griffin Inagh Kilnamona
Croia Corcoran Broadford
Croidhia Hassett Inagh Kilnamona
Criodhe Murray Newmarket On Fergus
Eabha O’Reilly Banner
Eadaoin Barry Crusheen
Emily Frawley St Joseph’s Doora Barefield
Emily Sue Daly Ballyea
Emma Jones Newmarket On Fergus
Eryn Moroney Ruan
Eva Whelan Eire Og
Grace O’Loughlin Inagh Kilnamona
Hollie Earls Newmarket On Fergus
Katie Conlon (JC) Eire Og
Laoise Moore St Joseph’s Doora Barefield
Laura Coffey Banner
Lily Considine Banner
Maebh Cullen Clarecastle
Mairead McNamara Clarecastle
Mairead Queally Inagh Kilnamona
Maisie O’Malley Ruan
Mary McMahon Crusheen
Rachel Kerins St Joseph’s Doora Barefield
Roisin Murphy St Joseph’s Doora Barefield
Siofra Quinn Clarecastle
Sophie McNamara Newmarket On Fergus
Sophie O’Sullivan St Joseph’s Doora Barefield
Sarah O’Grady Sixmilebridge
Sarah Warren Kilmaley
