*Champagne is poured on Clare Hehir. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
RETURNING TO the summit of Clare camogie after a five year wait “means so much” to Inagh/Kilnamona.
Player of the match in Saturday’s extra time final win over Truagh/Clonlara, Clare Hehir said the victory “means so much as girls are putting in hours upon hours each week and dedicating their lives to this”.
Speaking shortly after being presented with the player of the match award she said “we do this because we love it. We do it for our parish, our family and for those who aren’t with us anymore. We dedicate this to everyone that has supported us and to those who are no longer with us. It means so much”.
Continuing she said “we were a successful team a few years ago and I suppose we let it slip by us. Our main aim today was to come here and get the job done”.
On her approach for the last-minute free which she scored a goal from, Clare recounted, “I looked to the line and they said go for it. It was just one of those lucky days and it went in”.
It looked like it may have been a title-winning score but extra time was soon on the cards. “He had to play the allotted time and they managed to level the tie. In the extra time we dug deep”.
Aoibhin Ryan’s absence meant the All Star nominee took up the mantle as freetaker. “Aoibhinn Ryan has been a phenomenal free taker all year and I had to take over today when she was injured. Someone had to work hard to win the frees and It was my job to convert them when I took over”.
Scorer of a crucial goal in the semi-final win over Scariff/Ogonnelloe she said, “all the credit for that goes to Andrea O’Keeffe who made the run and I just had to finish it off. Some days they go for you and some days they don’t. Everyone was just willing the ball to the net today and I just took it on”.
Clare told The Clare Echo, “We set out our stall early this year, game by game and it’s great now to have captured he title”.
Munster Club action sees Inagh/Kilnamona welcome Newcastle West to Inagh this Sunday at 1pm for the provincial preliminary round.
