Camogie success story De La Salle happy doing their own thing

HIGH HOPES: De La Salle joint captain Keeley Corbett-Barry was lifted high in the air after her side won the County final this weekend. Photo: Noel Browne

De La Salle and St Finbarr’s will meet in the AIB Munster senior camogie club championship showdown in FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday, 1pm. On a headline day for two first-time finalists, history will be written by the winners.

The De La Salle Facebook page describes their club as ‘in its infancy stage’. Nonetheless, big strides have been made in a short period of time.

Junior (2015), intermediate (2016) and a first senior title arrived in 2022. Last month, the Waterford city outfit claimed a third senior championship in four years over arch-rivals Gailltír.

Mark Douglas is the man at the helm.

“I’m a supporter of De La Salle all my life. I got involved in the club in the last 15/16 years through the hurling side of it. I have a 21-year-old son so that brought me into coaching at underage,” he explains.

“I would be a childhood friend of John Mullane’s. While he was on the camogie side and pretty much has been there from day one, he’d see what I was doing on the hurling side. He asked me a couple of years ago if I would get involved in the camogie, so last year I went in as a selector and this year I took over as manager.

“I have daughters playing underage, but they won’t get to senior for a couple of years yet.” 

Waterford legend Mullane is in Douglas’ backroom team, while his daughter Abbie Mullane fills a similar position to her father in attack.

Management also includes Joey Carton - father of five-time All-Star Beth and former POY.

“The club was set up by Joey in 2008. He is a huge influence on everything that is good about camogie at the moment. We’ve had success at all levels in the last few years winning 14s, 16s, minors- it’s been a real success story. We’ve huge numbers and we’re attracting a lot of girls from a lot of the schools in the city. Other clubs don’t have the set up.

“Prime example is Keeley Corbett Barry, who is the first girl to win senior camogie and football finals in the county this year. She’s from Comeragh Rangers, which is Rathgormack. They have no camogie club, so we were lucky enough she came in to play with us.” 

Beth Carton is arguably the best player ever to don a Déise camogie jersey.

“Unbelievable,” says Douglas. “I can’t put into words how in awe of her we are. Everything she does is in such a professional manner. It’s incredible. Sadie is her sister and is breaking through to the senior set up at the moment. She is only coming out of minor and has a bright future ahead of her as well. It is great to see both of them playing alongside each other in the forward line.” 

Appearing in a first provincial final means a great buzz around Gracedieu.

“Anticipation is probably the word. There is a buzz, but a nervousness as well that we are trying to keep out of the camp. Look, they are looking forward to it. After the Thurles (Sarsfields) game, they would have preferred if the Munster final was the next day. They were that buzzing.

“As the weeks go on, it is only natural that different things kick in. We seem to be in a very good place, the unity in the group is phenomenal. The girls are coming to training with a smile on their face. No one wants this journey to end. We emphasise for them to go out and express themselves and enjoy it, and that’s what our mantra has been all year.” 

Two new finalists. A 50/50 game?

“You’d be a fool to think any different. At the end of the day, it is the Waterford champions taking on the Cork champions. Playing in Semple Stadium will bring out the best on both teams, good teams bring out the best in each other.

“I didn’t actually know that (it's St Finbarr’s first final). We don’t tend to do too much research into other teams because we’re not in control of the other team, we’re only in control of what we do ourselves. We’re doing our own thing and we’re going to see how far that gets us.”