*Clare star Eimear Kelly is joint captain of the Truagh/Clonlara side. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Truagh/Clonlara are delighted to be in the county senior camogie final for a second successive season according to joint captain Eimear Kelly.
There was a novelty reaching the decider for the first time in 2021 but they are more determined this time round. “When you get there the first time it’s a massive novelty but to get there a second time it’s a bigger achievement to back it up. We are preparing as best we can to put our best foot forward on Saturday. There is that bit of extra hunger this year which we hope will stand to us,” she said.
Her fellow joint captain Michelle Powell believes that the South-East Clare outfit will benefit from their run to the final last year. “We had the drawn and replayed final last year so we know the team that will be up against us. We have to get ourselves up to that level and I have no doubt but that we can do that. It’s a matter of putting our best foot forward, concentrating on what we are doing, meet Scariff/Ogonnelloe head on and hope that it will get us over the line”.
Eimear is of the view that the standard of camogie in Clare has risen considerably in recent years. “There has been fantastic competition within the groups in the last two or three years. Kilkishen/Bodyke have been pushing every single team. We all saw how they got on this year, only losing out on score difference. You can never write Inagh/Kilnamona off. Feakle-Killanena are coming through. It makes the whole championship from start to finish more beneficial. We are really delighted about the fact that the final will be in Cusack Park and we are hoping that it will be a good game for the spectators”.
Michelle is equally delighted that the final will be played in Cusack Park and she is confident that there will be big support. “The support we had last year was incredible. It was like a cauldron in Clarecastle the first day with the crowd that was there and there was even more at the replay and I have no doubt but that the crowd will be there again this year. It’s such a lift when the team comes onto the field and when you are in the depths of the match to hear the crowd and I expect it will be the same in Cusack Park”.
On the way to the final Truagh/Clonlara beat Feakle/Killanena in their opening game and then accounted for Clooney/Quin. “We had a really tough game against Kilkishen/Bodyke in the third round and we then met Inagh-Kilnamona in the final game which was a winner takes all with victory ensuring top spot in the group. In the semi-final we had a great battle with Kilmaley. It’s been a real good championship which has been really competitive”, Clare forward Eimear recalled.
She went on to say that the fact that a number of young players have come into their panel has helped the preparations. “The interest in camogie has increased and there is a great bond there with the younger players. Our minors played in Cusack Park already this year along with Scariff. We are in the junior A final. There is a great buzz. It’s great to see the underage players down around when we are training”.
“You always want to be playing the best. Scariff/Ogonnelloe are coming off a great campaign last year. They are the Munster champions, they got to the All-Ireland semi. We are under no illusions as to what we are facing. I have no fears of the fifteen that will be starting for us and the girls that will come off the bench”, Michelle concluded for the Truagh/Clonlara joint captains who, no doubt, will be delighted to climb the steps in Cusack Park to accept the McMahon cup if they manage to be ahead when the final whistle sounds.
