MINOR, U22, JUNIOR and SENIOR CAMOGIE Round-Up 2022.
Adult camogie 2022 started with usual expectations and ambitions. A new Management team was ratified and in place for 2022. Led by new Senior Manager SEAMUS KELLY there was an air of excitement as Seamus came with huge experience and huge success with camogie teams in the previous 5/6 years at all levels, inter-county adult, intermediate, underage and colleges. The challenge laid down by Seamus was simple, to try break into top 4 at senior level in 2022 while along the way grow and improve as camogie players.
Seamus gathered a team of experienced coaches/selectors in John Caldbeck, Ann Marie Hoyne, John Kenny and Adrian Ronan.
All girls registered and expressed an interest from the beginning and at one stage we had over 53 girls registered – the loss of Marie Doheny to Australia was huge but the return of great stalwarts Bronagh Neary, Therese Muldowney, Aisling Dunphy and Kay Ryall brought renewed hope and huge experience to the field.
Training and gym work started in February with a great response from all considering the challenges as we had a number of girls playing County Intermediate, county minor, senior colleges and third level colleges so no rest for some girls.
The first sign of progress was in MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS BORRIS CARLOW for a 7 a side tournament where St. Brigid’s had 2 even teams and both contested semi-finals with the WHITES reaching the final but were convincingly beaten by an excellent CLARA team in the final.
There were huge signs of hope here as the young and experienced showed great spirit, character and skill. This offered great hope for all 4 teams at Minor, U22, Junior and Senior as most girls were involved in most of these teams.
JUNIOR C was given the lead during the months of May to August and great victories over Clara, Conahy, St. Martin’s and Gowran meant we had a Quarter Final to play against St. Martin’s.
A great win over St Martin’s and a semi-final win over Mooncoin meant the JUNIORS had a final date v Gowran.
On a lovely Sunday morning in Palmerstown, St. Brigid’s enjoyed a great victory over Gowran. A few injuries leading into the game and a few injuries on the day tested the depth of the panel and it was the panel that helped secure a great victory for this group of girls. A great mix of youth and experience brought great enjoyment to all involved.
Panel: Miriam Walton, Emma Boland, Therese Purcell, Robin Delaney, Roisin Casey, Kellie Lanigan, Kate Everard, Aoife Power, Lisa Hogan, Kayleigh Nolan, Reece Delaney, Kay Ryall, Isabel Caldbeck, Lauren East, Molly Butler, Ava Brett, Anna Robinson, Lauren Ronan, Stephanie Brennan, Bronagh Neary, Laurena Murphy, Therese Muldowney, Margaret Maher, Christine Caldbeck, Celine O’Dwyer, Amy O’Brien, Claire Quigley, Katie Brennan.
MINOR A: Theleague/championship was played during the summer and here we were at the top table with a very young team. We had a great league campaign with a super draw against the mighty Dicksboro, followed up with wins over James Stephens and Conahy. As there were only 5 teams in A in 2022 this meant we had a League Final date versus our friends and neighbours Tullaroan/St. Anne’s. What a great game served up by both teams on a beautiful evening in Tullaroan, end to end hurling with super scores and great defending, this game had it all but of course there has to be a winner and on the night Tullaroan-St. Anne’s deserved their victory. Championship was a mixed bag with some teams not available and we ended up playing James Stephens in Semi-Final at the end of October 22. This was away and always going to be tricky as we had beaten them twice during the year. The Village were on the back of great Intermediate win and with 6 of the girls playing minor and intermediate, they were that bit brighter and smarter on the day. With 2 minutes to go we were 2 points up and hoped to hold on. However, The Village got two great points to level the game and bring to extra time. It was here that the Village pulled away, they got two goals in the dying minutes to win by 7 points. Injuries caught up with us in extra time but credit to the Village they battled out a great win —final still to be played.
Well done to our girls, this bunch have given us great days out over the past 10 years as most go on to adult camogie.
Huge thanks to BRIDGET BRENNAN AND MONIQUE FITZPATICK for all their help with the minors of 2023.
Panel: Stephanie Brennan, Joanne Brennan, Ava Brett, Georgina Casey, Kristen Cody, Shannon Comerford, Molly Conroy, Grace Delahunty, Robin Delaney, Claire Doheny, Sarah Dowling, Lauren East, Nicola Kenny, Siobhan Kenny, Ellie Lanigan, Katie Maher, Emma Marnell, Millie Moloney, Aoife Murphy, Moya O’Brien, Amy Walton, Aoife Power, Katie Ronan, Lauren Ronan, Emily Tynan
SENIOR: Well this was where we hoped to break into TOP 4 at championship level——–starting in early February in S/C the girls were responding brilliantly with high numbers in the gym and field for first few months. The draw for the Senior League (excluding county girls) had us in a group where we had the county champions DICKSBORO in the opening round. After a baptism of fire we lost out but there was some green shoots. Victories over CONAHY, ST. MARTINS and YOUNG IRELANDS landed us in a League Quarter Final v Windgap where we secured a narrow victory. Semi Final day brought us against one of the favourites, Thomastown, and after a thrilling game a last minute goal from Laurena Murphy had us in the League Final v Dicksboro. Bank holiday Monday against Dicksboro and we nearly pulled off a huge surprise, losing out narrowly on a score line of 1-12 to 1-10 we were buzzing or so we thought. Championship was around the corner and we were in the toughest group possible, Dicksboro, Piltown and Windgap, 3 of teams who were winners and County Finalists of past the 2/3 years. We had reason to be hopeful for the championship 4 weeks in a row Sunday after Sunday but we knew the ask was huge considering the opposition.
Dicksboro were up first and we were off —v Piltown we had a great first half, went in level, but failed to drive on in second half and lost out by 3 points. Windgap was the one we needed to win to offer an easier passage in Round 1 but on a beautiful Sunday morning we were second best and came up short. Those results meant we had an opening Round 1 against the fancied Thomastown on the worst of Sunday mornings. We were down by 7 at half time but had the wind for second half, but the wind went and with that our chances of making the Quarter Final. Final score Thomastown 14 points St. Brigid’s 7 points. The 3 teams we played reached the semi finals and Thomastown went on to win the final in style against a fancied Dicksboro so we were in good company but were so disappointed with our performance after the League Final in early August. These are a great bunch of girls with an excellent mix of experience and youth, they will if they stick together, have senior success in years to come. An enjoyable year for most but a disappointing ending.
Panel: Bronagh Neary, Ellie O’Neill, Miriam Walton, Emma Boland, Ann Doheny, Nicola Butler, Tara Walsh, Moya O’Brien, Kate McCluskey, Caoimhe Murphy, Laoise Prendiville, Laura Hennessy, Aisling Dunphy, Lauren East, Orla Ryan, Amy O’Connor, Tara Ronan, Leah Brett, Eimear Keoghan, Claire Doheny, Lauren Ronan, Ava Brett, Molly Butler, Laurena Murphy, Kay Ryall, Isabel Caldbeck, Roisin Casey. Reece Delaney, Robin Delaney, Katie Brennan, Sarah Dunphy
U22 ROINN B commenced late November and after a few training sessions we faced Piltown away under lights on a cold Friday night. Piltown had narrowly lost out on the U22 A Final a few weeks previous so were fancied. Surprise surprise we turned up gave the display of the year that resulted in a draw at full time. Confusion gathered and after a lengthy discussion extra time was played and St. Brigid’s girls just clicked and played like we all knew they could. A great win, a great lift had us in a Semi Final versus Emeralds/St. Anne’s. Here, while not as good as the Quarter Final we battled over the line on a score-line of St. Brigid’s 4-4 Emeralds/St. Anne’s 1-8. Goals win matches and we were fortunate that we got 4 great goals. Final to be played in January 2023 as we await the winners of St. Martin’s v James Stephens.
Fingers crossed we click on the day, get a performance and hopefully the result will be in our favour.
Panel: Ellie O’Neill, Roisin Casey, Kate Everard, Moya O’Brien, Robin Delaney, Reece Delaney, Maggie Maher, Laoise Prendiville, Isabel Caldbeck, Stephanie Brennan, Ava Brett, Lauren East, Aoife Murphy, Molly Butler, Tara Ronan, Kate McCluskey, Katie Brennan, Lauren Ronan, Ellie Lanigan, Laeh Brett, Claire Doheny.
So with all TEAMS we mixed the good with the not so good
Senior League Final runners up, Junior C County Final Champions, Minor A League runners up, U22 as of now Finalists, some clubs would consider that a successful year but most of us are tired of being second so fingers crossed.
Huge thanks to all who helped in every way with Camogie 2022—to Gussy and the Ronan family for use of both pitches in 2022—both the camogie and hurling committee, First Aid especially Mary Keoghan, the umpires, the referees, Josie Ronan and of course the girls themselves. Apologies if we left anyone out.
Finally, to Seamus Kelly for making camogie 2022 so enjoyable and bringing a hugely professional set up to all in St. Brigid’s. Best of luck to Seamus with both the Kilkenny Intermediates and Kilkenny Seniors.