*Photograph: John Sheridan.
A leading figure in Inagh/Kilnamona and Clare camogie teams, Fiona Lafferty is well placed to comment on the task facing St Josephs, Spanish Point in Saturday’s Munster post primary schools senior A ladies football final when they will stake on Mercy Clonmel.
They face on Loreto SS of Clonmel this Saturday at 13:30 in Banteer.
“It’s a big occasion and a massive one for the school and the girls. In recent times school teams have progressed through the C and then the B grades to the top division. This is quite a young team and we went into A competition not knowing what to expect. The team has improved in every game”, the Kilnamona native explained.
“We beat Hospital in the first round when the girls were excellent and they have been on the up since. Finals are there to be won and here we have two schools with a strong tradition in football. Both schools have been doing well In the younger age groups. Clonmel have been there before and they are a physically strong side”, explained Fiona.
Continuing the camogie star said “we have a very young team which included a number of second year students. Our girls have nothing to lose, they play with great freedom. There is a great bond and mix within the squad”.
She went on to say “there is a great tradition of football in the school, the boys are through to the Clare senior colleges final where they will take on Ennistymon while the under 15 boys team is doing well in the Munster competition. There are brothers and sisters playing for the school and some parents are on the road every couple of days to attend the games. The school teams have great support and that will be the case again on Saturday. A lot of the girls are on Clare squads at the moment from under 14 to minor and also there are some on the Clare intermediate panel. For now the focus is on Saturday’s Munster final. We will go and give it a go and see where it takes us” Fiona concluded.
The St Joseph’s Spanish Point panel comprises: Ella Cushen, Emma Talty, Aoife Martin, Ide O’Connor, Ellie Hanrahan, Kayla Talty Darcy, Michaela Sexton, Aoibhinn Mescall, Emma Griffin, Emma Darcy, Abbie Cushen and Isobel Moloney (all Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Leah Darcy, Aine O’Keeffe, Abi Kelly, Emily Shannon, Nikki Meade, Kate Murphy, Siobhan O’Keeffe, Aoife Shannon, Ellie Durkan, Lucy Foran, Chloe Malone (all St Joseph’s Miltown) , Abbie Gallagher, Aoibheann Ryan, Sarah Bermingham, Mia Conway, Orlaith Hynes (all Doonbeg), Simone Considine, Allisha Ryan, Julianna Fee, Rachel Townsend, Emma Townsend, Clodagh Mescall (all Cooraclare), Aisling Collins (Kilmihil).
The team mentors are Paul Reidy (Manager), Eimear Considine, Shauna Harvey and Fiona Lafferty.
