August 9th ‘11
Monaghan qualify for All-Ireland final with aplomb!
Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup, Junior ‘B’ Championship
Monaghan 5-23 Kildare 0-2
The scoreline says it all and indicates clearly that Monaghan camógs have qualified for their second successive All-Ireland Junior ‘B’ Final, against Wicklow, on August 28th after handing Kildare a serious drubbing in Clontibret on Sunday last. If revenge is sweet then Monaghan certainly savoured this victory having fallen victim to the Lilywhites 3 weeks ago.
In fairness to Kildare they knew before the throw-in that ‘the game was up’ so to speak having been defeated by Wicklow twice already so it must have been difficult to find the motivation needed to put Monaghan to the sword again.
Nonetheless the first half was entertaining and tightly contested with only 3 points separating the teams after 25 minutes. Yet again, Monaghan persisted in squandering possession in and around the goal area and in fact had notched up more wides than scores – 6 as opposed to 4. This aspect of their play is something that will need to be addressed well in advance of an All-Ireland final as Wicklow will certainly punish any wastefulness. Despite this Shauna Finnegan, who once again had an outstanding match, had secured 2 points from play while Catherine Tomany and Marie Greenan each had registered a point apiece – in the 2nd and 19th minute respectively. However, in the 25th minute, a nice piece of teamwork involving Karen Boyle and Finnegan resulted in the ball being laid off to the incoming Greenan. She in turn fired to the back of the net. This score in many ways opened the floodgates for Monaghan and from then until the half time whistle sounded they registered a further 1-3 courtesy of Siobhan McKenna (0-1), Marie Greenan (1-1) and Shauna Finnegan (0-1).
In the second half Monaghan took up from where they had laid off and within 3 minutes had 2 more points courtesy of Finnegan and Greenan. The introduction of Eleanor McQuaid at the break further compounded Kildare’s woes when in the 40th minute she drove the ball to the back of the net. This score really seemed to knock the heart out of Kildare and although they secured a further point in the 43rd minute, a free, converted by Gráinne Temple the Monaghan juggernaut had swung into action and from then until the end of the game it was a case of steamrolling through the Kildare defence relentlessly. Marie Greenan added a further 2 points to her tally before being called ashore while Michelle Morgan then got in on the act and racked up 0-6. The tireless Shauna Finnegan contributed an additional 1-3 while Eleanor McQuaid tagged on another point. Finally Karen Boyle got her scoring boots on and netted 1-1 bringing the final score to:
Monaghan 5-23 Kildare 0-3
Monaghan panel: Roisin McKenna, Louise O Connell, Aisling Greenan, Joanne McSkane, Edel Kieran. Isobel Kieran, Mary Meehan, Michelle Morgan(0-6), Siobhan McKenna (Capt.)(0-1), Nicola Morgan, Shauna Finnegan (1-7), Marie Greenan (2-6), Catherine Tomany (0-1), Mary McElroy, Karen Boyle(1-1), Eleanor McQuaid(1-1), Kellie fisher, Emma McKenna, Michaela McGinn, Aideen Greene, Hannah Tedore and Bernie McGahon.
Club Notes
Truagh
Seniors: Training continues tomorrow at 7.30pm and on Monday at 7.30pm. Our next game is on the 9th of September when we take on Inniskeen in the final round of the league.
Juveniles: Juvenile training on Saturday at 11am. Gillian, Sharon and Mairead are on duty this week. New players are very welcome.
Lucky Square: Congratulations to Seamus Sherry who was last weeks winner of the lucky square. Could anyone that owes for the lucky square please see Majella. Thank you to all who support.
Clontibret
After all the excitement of this past few months one might have thought that nothing further would be heard of our U-14 panel for a couple of weeks! Not so! For the McDonald family there was great excitement on Monday last when a letter arrived from Croke Park outlining how Sorcha has been chosen to represent her school – Scoil Mhuire, Clontibret, and county, in the Cumann na mBunscol Mini-Sevens match at half time during the All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Tipperary and Dublin this Sunday! What a wonderful surprise and what a marvellous honour for Sorcha, her family, her school and the Clontibret Camogie Club. We wish her well and hope that she savours every moment of what promises to be a memorable occasion.
Life for our senior players is being lived in the fast lane at present as they prepare for the Westenra Arms Senior championship final on Sunday August 21st against Castleblayney, continue to train with the county panel in preparation for the Maire Ni Chinneide All-Ireland Junior ‘B’ final on August 28th and fulfil their Armagh Premier Division League fixtures. That said however, due to the Armagh county finals taking place this Sunday in Crossmaglen, the fixture against Granemore was postponed. On Wednesday next Middletown will provide the opposition and we wish our girls well.
Congratulations to our 12 senior players who were on the Monaghan team that defeated Kildare on Sunday last in Clontibret in the Máire Ní Chinneide Cup. They were: Shauna Finnegan (vice-captain), Marie and Aisling Greenan, Aideen Greene, Michaela McGinn, Hannah Tedore, Eleanor McQuaid, Joanne McSkane, Catherine Tomany, Karen Boyle, Michelle Morgan and Nicola Morgan
This Wednesday is also a very special day for Karen Boyle, Catherine Tomany and Hannah Tedore as they receive their much-anticipated Leaving Certificate results. Every good wish to all 3 – you deserve the success that will come your way undoubtedly!
Our U-16 panel are gearing up for their first round of competitive matches. All those eligible are asked to ensure they respond promptly to messages regarding time and venue.
Castleblayney
Well done to the U-14 Squad for their recent displays in Tullysaren tournament where they beat teams from Down, Antrim and Waterford only losing by a point to the host club who were the eventual winners. They also had a successful outing in the Kill tournament which was played on a beautiful day in Cavan.
Thanks to all who supported the recent Table Quiz which was narrowly won by Martin Rafters team. Thanks also to quizmaster Pat Bolger and his words of support and encouragement for those involved in keeping all Gaelic sports alive in Castleblayney.
Our thoughts are also with the McKernan family at this time with the recent passing of Big James, grandfather of club player Elaine.
By michael Tue 9th Aug
