It was a weekend to remember for Round Tower’s Senior Camogie Team as they triumphed at the Feile na mBan tournament in Glasgow.The following report captures the weekend’s action.
The Senior B Naomh Padraig/Na gCloighthiCamogie team arrived in Gallowgate, Glasgow on Saturday 1st of October to participate in the 2011 Féile na mBán tournament. As we were fashionably late we missed the morning fixtures and the torrential rainfall. Captain on the day was Lisa ? and vice captain was Grainne Quinn. Our first match was against St Kevin’s with each game 7 minutes a half. The match started and Kevin’s having played 3 of their 5 games already were well warmed up and off to a quick start putting the ball in the back of Denise Mullins net within the first minute. Naomh Padraig/Na gCloighthi got into the game then and after a fine hand-pass from Caroline Fallon to Jenny Byrne who finished with style to the net. Before we knew it the first half was over. The second half saw a goal and a point to each of the teams and the game ended in a draw.
The second of thedays games started straight after with the competition being Crumlin. Crumlin had lost one game all day and had been hot favourites before the Pats/Towers team arrived. With 3 County players on the Crumlin team the Pats/Towers girls weren’t intimidated. The defense played really well with Rachel O’Connor and Niamh Gaff covering the back line like a tag team. Gráinne Quinn showed her County experience getting the ball in the back line and running the length of the pitch to score time after time. Niamh Drummond also showed fitness and skill creating scores and taking them herself when the opportunity arose. Pats/Towers won the match by the small margin of a goal.
Next up was the Naas team. Eoin decided to give a few of the girls a rest after the last two games so started a relatively new team. Cliona Ward who usually plays in the back line was given her first chance in the forwards proved herself by netting 2 goals. Ciara Ryan also played forward and scored twice. Pamela Tormey played in the full back line and had a solid performance. Pats/Towers girls won yet again so it was into a semi-final for the girls.
The next match was against the hosts TirConaill Harps and to our surprise an ex Round Towers Intermediate Camogie player Mary Dowds was on the Scottish team. At this stage in the afternoon it had started to rain yet again so there was plenty of surface water on the pitch. Lisa Fogarty got a ball in the forward line and slipped but while on the ground managed to put it over the bar. Caroline Tormey played in the half forward line and distributed ball after ball to the forwards, dropping her hurl and hand passing bringing what we’ve done in training onto the pitch. Helen Diamond got plenty of room on the 20 metre line and was able to stand and hit ball after ball over the bar. Christina Fallon gave a lesson in Camogie to the Scottish team in mid-field lifting, batting and soloing the ball. Once again the Pats/Towers team won and as we were undefeated all day we were in a final against Crumlin.
As we had beaten them already we were happy going into the final however, after playing 4 games and Crumlin having had an hour break we couldn’t take any chances and the more experienced players took to the pitch. Crumlin had one player who ran at the defense and the Pats/Towers back line were able to stop this attack. Once again every player on the pitch gave their all and when the whistle blew for the end of the first half we were well ahead. At this stage we could enjoy the second half and there was great encouragement from the line directed particularly at Pamela Tormey. At the final whistle Crumlin had scored only one point and the Pats/Towers team 4 goals and 6 points. It was time to leave Gallowgate we were cold, wet and tired but it was a great performance from a team who had only gotten to know each other in the last 6 months.
Many thanks to Eoin and Christine Ryan for organising the weekend away. A special Thank you from all the girls to Christine for being the only supporter on the day. The weekend was a great bonding session for the players and may prove very valuable in deciding the future for the amalgamation and Championship campaign in 2012.
