Staunton: self-belief drove us to title
“We have a great bunch of girls and they have this never-say-die attitude,’’ she commented. “We are not champions for nothing!’’
Commenting that the goal scored by Inch Rovers 25 seconds into the second half could have killed off any team, she felt that while they might have been lucky with their first goal, it enabled them to drive on. “We knew the wind was strong and we had been terrible in the first half. We made a lot of mistakes. Their goal after half-time was their only (other) score and that helped us.”
Fiona McHale, a popular winner of the player of the game award, agreed that their quick response to the Inch Rovers goal marked the turning point. “The opening was brilliantly spotted by Natasha (Beegan) and luckily it went over the head of the goalkeeper. It gave us the lift we needed.”
Inch Rovers manager Noel Connor felt they were unlucky not to accumulate a bigger score in the first half, when they were well on top. “The goal we conceded after half time was a killer. We found it very hard to get scores after that. Carnacon have brought defending down to a fine art. They seemed to win a lot of 50/50 balls and turn us over a lot. When you are under savage pressure like that, mistakes happen. They got the scores and they punished us with the frees.”
Full-forward Amy O’Shea said it was devastating to lose again. “They are a fantastic team and dug deep. The second goal turned it for them. After that, they decided they were going to win. I don’t think if we put 15 players behind the ball it would have made a difference.
“We missed a few chances, but they did too. If you don’t have luck on the day, it’s very hard to win.”
l Inch Rovers will be in action tonight in the semi-final of the Cork senior camogie championship.
They play Rockbawn in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.45pm. Éire Óg are already through to the final.
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