The magical minutes that set Glanmire free

READY TO DAZZLE: Glanmire captain Ellen Twomey, left, and Gráinne Prior of Leitrim outfit Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins get to grips with the Intermediate Cup at Croke Park earlier this week. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Glanmire were three minutes from a fourth consecutive county intermediate final defeat. Glanmire are now 60 minutes from All-Ireland glory.

There is no need to waste time raking through Glanmire’s season. The moment, or rather injury-time minutes, in which their season turned is staring us in the face.

Bridesmaids to Clonakilty, Valley Rovers, and Castlehaven in 2020, ‘21, and ‘22. Their county final margins of defeat was a closing door. Three points, then two points, while last year saw them beaten in a 25-metre free-taking shootout after extra-time ended in stalemate.

In two of those deciders, they held and let slip a winning hand.

2023 was different. 2023 had them chasing.

At half-time, they trailed Naomh Abán by three. As the sandglass near emptied passing the hour mark, Glanmire trailed 1-7 to 0-9.

Sub Ríona Crowley levelled matters with an injury-time free. From the restart, they regained possession and Crowley threw over the winner.

Glanmire were unshackled. No more would they be defined by a fixture that had thrice haunted them.

Liberated, they took flight.

Gaultier, Boherlahan/Dualla, and Monagea were captured and impounded on their provincial travels. A conquering visit was paid to London’s Tír Chonaill Gaels. Leinster champions Na Fianna were edged out to clear the road to Croker.

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslin's are the last hurdle to the steps of the Hogan Stand.

“To get across the line in the county final was so, so important for the club,” says captain Ellen Twomey of their fourth-time-lucky Cork intermediate decider win.

“The standard in Cork is phenomenal. There are so many clubs with various different plans. Playing against teams of different levels of skill and physicality, it prepares you for the Munster and All-Ireland championship.” 

Mentally, the county final prepared them for anything and everything that came after.

“We trailed for the majority of that match. We had a player sin-binned, and while we were down to 14 players, we conceded a goal.

“But from there on, we said it is do-or-die. Everyone stood up. Subs came in and made a huge difference. It just showed the depth of the panel.

“This year has been great experience-wise and a learning curve for us. As the games have progressed, we are getting better and better.” 

Overcoming a horrific county final record wasn’t the sole challenge in Glanmire’s season.

Their lengthy campaign, which ran in tandem with Sars’ camogie-winning exploits all the way to the All-Ireland semi-final stage, meant a loaded and, at times, ridiculous games schedule for their nine dual players.

A third of that dual contingent - Evie Twomey, Ellen Murphy, and Ava Fitzgerald - are starters on both teams. Had Sars overcome their namesakes from Galway in the All-Ireland senior club semi-final, Twomey, Murphy, and Fitzgerald would be facing into two finals in the space of 24 hours at GAA HQ this weekend.

What they’ve had to negotiate in recent weeks flies in the face of player welfare, insisted captain Twomey.

Integration of the three associations, she hopes, will bring an end to the annual lament regarding female dual players and the hoops they’re made to jump through.

“We went to London one weekend on the Saturday (All-Ireland quarter-final) and they had the Munster camogie final the next day. The following weekend, the All-Ireland camogie semi-final was Saturday and football semi-final was Sunday.

“If the associations are harping on about player welfare, I just don't understand how they can back that up when asking players to play four matches in eight days. That is something that has been going on for years.

“I know the lads have their schedule and timetable set out at the start of the year. Theirs seems to be working. Maybe if there was a possibility of following the lads' timetable, it could be played off that way and it would be better for the players. I do feel for the dual players because I personally wouldn't be able to do it.

“Unfortunately, the camogie lost out in the semi-final. It would have been great if they got to two All-Ireland finals just to show the hard work that they've put in this year, but it wasn't to be. Hopefully we can get across the line on Saturday.”