Scariff/Ogonnelloe’s championship winning manager has said “it will take some team to beat us” as they prepare to launch a provincial campaign.
By Derek Dormer
For the second time in three seasons, Scariff/Ogonnelloe were crowned Clare senior camogie champions, when they overcame Truagh/Clonlara following a replay.
Tipperary native, David Sullivan lauded the contribution of his charges following their seven point win on Saturday. “The first fifteen minutes we were on the ropes but like boxing it’s important not to suffer the knockout blow, to keep swinging and stay at it. We got to the water break and had to reassess things. We withdrew our full forward line to the half forward line our half forward line to midfield, our half back line to the full back line, we had to just sit in and eek out the period before half time. We got to the interval and drove on from there. We were making no mistakes today”.
A defensive masterclass was evident from the champions as they responded superbly to quieten their opponents. “Our defence was unreal, Susan Vaughan, Susan Daly, Ciara Doyle, they showed their experience, they know the ins and outs of winning and once we swallowed up Eimear Kelly and Áine O’Loughlin we took away their scoring threat”.
In his first year with Scariff/Ogonnelloe, Sullivan will be content to have secured county honours. Portumna’s Alan Gorman plus Lorrha duo JP Holohan and Ronan Moore like Sullivan were clocking up the miles to make training in Scariff, their efforts made worthwhile when Amy Barrett and Mairead Scanlan raised aloft the McMahon Cup.
He is determined that Saturday will not be their last time grabbing silverware. “Managing this group is unbelievable, I said to the girls I didn’t want to just win a county title I wanted to win with them. We have girls who come from Carlow, Galway and Cork for training and never complain. 104 sessions and no complaints, we slogged them so hard, they just did whatever they were asked. We will represent Clare now and I’m telling you it’ll take some team to beat us”.
