Mighty Murphys Triumph Again

Fr. Murphy’s Camogie team had another fantastic victory on Saturday last when they won the Tara CC 7-a-side competition in Greenford for the first time in the club’s history.

Having reached the final of this competition last year, where they were beaten by Holycross of Tipperary, the girls in purple and gold were determined to go one better this year. And that they did in style.

Fr. Murphy’s were drawn in a group with CBC Kevins (Dublin), Bros. Pearse (London), Craughwell ‘A’ (Galway) and Craoibh Chiarainn ‘A’ (Dublin).

First up for the London Senior Championship and League winners of 2008 were CBC Kevins, where Fr. Murphy’s ran out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 10-06 to 2-01.

The girls in purple and gold then faced London rivals Bros. Pearse, who they knew would be much tougher. This was a tighter and much more physical game, but the champions upped a gear and again ran out winners on a scoreline of 4-04 to 1-01. This score for Fr. Murphy’s included a wonderfully-taken point by goalkeeper Mel Hogan straight from a puckout.

Following this, Fr. Murphy’s saw off the challenge of Craughwell ‘A’ on a scoreline of 8-06 to 1-03 and finally Craoibh Chiarainn ‘A’ on a scoreline of 6-05 to 0-04. By this point, every Fr. Murphy’s player had gotten her name on the score sheet during the group stages, ensuring that Fr. Murphy’s finished top of their group and qualified for the cup final.

The other group on the day consisted of Tara (London), Liverpool Hope University, Croydon (London), Craughwell ‘B’ (Galway), Na Magha (Derry) and Craoibh Chiarainn ‘B’ (Dublin). Tara finished top to set up an all-London Senior Cup Final.

In an entertaining final, which was a repeat of the final of the Birmingham International Festival in March, where Fr. Murphy’s ran out two-point winners, it was the girls in purple and gold who were out of the blocks first. Scores from Katie McAuley, who had been proving more than a handful for opposition defenders all day, Emma Taylor, Sinead Kirk and Grainne Hunter ensured that the Murphy’s went into the half time interval in the lead, despite a Denise Gilligan goal for Tara on the stroke of half time.

Fr. Murphy’s took up where they left off in the second half and led throughout. A Katie McAuley goal in the last minute extended Fr. Murphy’s lead to seven points and sealed victory on what was to be a memorable day for the London champions.

London Camogie President, Ettie Kelly, presented Fr. Murphy’s captain Bronagh McLernon with the Senior Cup after the match, while a full presentation took place later in the clubhouse at Greenford.

Fr. Murphy’s would like to congratulate and thank Tara CCC on organising and running a very successful 7s tournament.

Fr. Murphy’s team: Mel Hogan, Eimear O’Higgins, Bronagh McLernon, Grainne Hunter, Ruth Foley, Sinead Kirk, Emma Taylor, Katie McAuley, Jade O’Neill, Liz McGrath.

Manager: Sean Quinn

Mentor: Larry O’Leary