Senior Camogie League underway

The London Camogie senior league got underway last weekend, with Fr. Murphy’s facing Tara in the first round. Having played Tara twice already this season – in the final of the Birmingham Festival and the final of the Tara CC 7-a-side tournament, where Fr. Murphy’s were victorious on both occasions – the girls in purple and gold knew that this was never going to be an easy game.

Injuries to key players and other absences meant that Fr. Murphy’s would field under strength with only 12 players, which included Hannah Noonan who made her camogie debut. Tara were also affected by injury but their large squad meant that they still fielded a strong 15.

Tara started the strongest, with Bid Grennan looking sharp up front and they raced into an early lead. Fr. Murphy’s defended well but struggled up front and Tara’s three extra players were proving vital as they snuffed out the Fr. Murphy’s attacks.

Towards the end of the first half, however, Fr. Murphy’s began to find their form and Grainne Hunter scored a wonderful point just before the half time break to get the girls in purple and gold off the mark. With a half time scoreline of 3-05 to 0-01 in Tara’s favour, many may have thought that the game was over for Fr. Murphy’s, but the second half was a much different story.

Fr. Murphy’s are renowned for their fighting spirit and the second half of this game was a prime example. The girls in purple and gold upped a couple of gears and piled the pressure on Tara. Stand-in goalkeeper Liz McGrath pulled off a few wonderful saves, and the back line of Bronagh McLernon, Tina Quinn, Jade O’Neill, Ruth Foley and Sinead Kirk ensured that all breaking ball was cleared up and nothing was given easy to the Tara forwards. Goals from Niamh Keane and Brenda Kerr, and a further point from Grainne Hunter brought Fr. Murphy’s right back into the game. With Keane and Claire Towey in midfield working tirelessly, they ensure that the ball stayed up the Tara end of the field. Sinead Kirk and Emma Taylor ran at the Tara defence and were unlucky not to net a couple of goals between them. Their hard work paid off however when the ball broke for Hannah Noonan and the London footballer kicked the ball into the back of the Tara net.

Tara did not lie down, however, and got the ball down the field on a few occasions. Scores from Meabh Brennan, Kathleen Noone and Bid Grennan ensured that they held the lead throughout. A further goal from Niamh Keane and point from Grainne Hunter kept Fr. Murphy’s in touch but it was Tara that ran out winners, despite a spirited Fr. Murphy’s fight back, on a scoreline of 5-07 to 4-03.

Fr. Murphy’s team: Liz McGrath, Tina Quinn, Bronagh McLernon, Jade O’Neill, Ruth Foley, Sinead Kirk, Niamh Keane, Claire Towey, Grainne Hunter, Brenda Kerr, Emma Taylor, Hannah Noonan.