*Ryan Morris. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
HAVING won their first title last season, Truagh/Clonlara have no intention of letting go of the McMahon Cup.
According to Truagh/Clonlara coach Ryan Morris “it took us so long to win this title and we worked really hard for it and the focus now is very much on retaining the crown. We are not looking past Saturday’s final. We know it’s not going to be easy to get back here again so the full focus is on this final”.
He was speaking after Saturday’s hard earned semi-final victory over Truagh/Clonlara, a game which required extra time to produce result.
“It’s a quick turnaround, only a week between the games. This was a savage hard contest(semi-final). It never comes easy with Scariff/Ogonnelloe. These games will go down in history. There is never more than a point or two in it. It took a last minute goal last year. This is the second or third time that we needed extra tine against them. They are down a good few players this year but you wouldn’t notice that. They keep battling and they are the toughest opponent one could come across. C
“Credit to them but credit to our girls as well. We have been in this position before and they don’t make it easy. It’s not good for the heart but, in fairness they never give up. These girls are one of the best groups you could meet, the heart they show every time they represent the club, no one gives up. Credit to them, that’s how we got through last year and, hopefully, it will stand to us again this year”, he said.
Morris who is also part of the Clare camogie backroom team said “Inagh/Kilnamona are just as good. There has been no splitting these teams for the last three or four years. We know Inagh/Kilnamona will be as tough an opponent as Scariff/Ogonnelloe and we are going to have to up our game another bit if we want to retain this title”.
As they prepare for Saturday’s final they are waiting on news on the fitness of Niamh Powell, their midfielder. She suffered a knee injury early in the first half. “It didn’t look good and we won’t know until later in the week whether or not she will be available. Hopefully it’s not as bad as feared”.
He continued, “nothing much can be done on the field this week. It’s all about recovery and getting the mindset right for the final. Credit to the girls for their victory in the semi-final. They could have downed tools after Niamh, one of their team mates and one of their best friends, suffered the injury. They put their shoulder to the wheel and kept their focus”
Concluding Ryan said “we have some great clubs and some great players in Clare camogie. It’s a very young county in camogie terms, there are a lot of good young girls coming through There are great times ahead for Clare camogie”.
