Quill: all systems go for finals
For now, that is.
Association officials are in touch on a daily basis with the St Rynagh (Banagher) and Ferbane clubs in Offaly which host the senior and junior deciders respectively this weekend. As of yesterday, the pitches were playable despite the elements but the situation will be monitored until hours before throw in.
Quill also pointed out that a ‘Plan B’ was being put in place with Kiltoom in Roscommon being touted as one possible alternative should conditions deteriorate at the first-choice venues.
What officials are anxious to avoid, apart from a postponement or abandonment, is a repeat of last weekend’s intermediate final between Brian Boris of Tipperary and Dubin’s St Brigid’s at the Peregrines club on Dublin’s northside. Though the pitch held up well for long periods, it was described as a “bog” by one spectator by the finish. Not surprisingly, the weather was uppermost in players’ thoughts at yesterday’s photo call in Croke Park.
One woman for whom the sun has certainly been shining this year is Rena Buckley, whose Donoughmore side face Monaghan’s Donaghmoyne in the senior final. Buckley won All-Ireland football and camogie medals with Cork in recent months and is hoping to “finish off the year on a real high” with the club this weekend.
She said: “We had a great year with the county. We achieved what we set out to at the start of the year and it was fantastic to have the club to go back to. There has been a fierce buzz around the club this year.”
Twice All-Ireland champions in the earlier part of this decade, Donoughmore come to this final having defeated Inch Rovers and Mayo’s Carnacon, both of whom contested the previous two national deciders.
However, Buckley and chairman Ger Walsh were quick to point to the credentials of an opponent who won this title only three years ago once talk turned to who would be lining out as favourites.
“We are just fortunate that we are in this position,” said Buckley. “We have enjoyed the matches up until now but Donaghmoyne have been knocking on the door the last few years as well.
“They last won it in 2006 so, even though we have experience from years gone by, they have the more recent experience to draw on. They are well battle-hardened but hopefully we can keep this roll going.”
It’s been a thrilling journey so far, none more so than in the semi-final when Buckley was to the fore in an incredible endgame which saw the Cork side end Carnacon’s quest for the three-in-a-row.
Trailing by six points with less than five minutes to go – and with a player in the sinbin – Donoughmore staged a remarkable recovery with Buckley’s speculative ball forward deceiving the keeper and handing her side the lead.
Manager Mossy Barrett said it was the most remarkable finish he had ever witnessed and Buckley ranks it up there with all her days winning medals in Croke Park with the county.
“We really took the game to them in the second-half but we were finding it really difficult to get the scores. At the end it was crossing our minds whether we’d get the scores at all and then a few started to come. It was one of the best highs I have ever experienced on the field because it all happened so quickly at the end. It was an amazing high and if we can get that work rate going again at the weekend we will be in with a great chance.”
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