Antrim's finest Jane Adams finally gets her long awaited All Star

The Camogie All Stars, no less athletic or dedicated to their sport than their males counterparts in hurling or football or their sisters in ladies Football, are indeed the poor relations of All Stardom with no overseas tour on the cards for the lucky 15, nor indeed this year even a goody bag of gear from O’Neills like there was other years. This was a further disappointment to those camogs nominated who didn’t get an All Star. Poor show for whoever was responsible for that lapse, especially since O’Neills received plenty of profile at the event.

The evening itself, for those of you interested, was a bit of a curate’s egg. Anyone who thinks camogs are big hallions who drink pints out of wellie boots would have had their eyes well and truly opened at the glamour on open display.

It kicked off with a display of manic drumming by four overweight lads that must have made Antrim’s Jane Adams think she taken the wrong turn in her hometown Belfast and ended up on Sandy Row on the Twelfth of July. One of the drummers had an alarming set of vibrating man-breasts that led one of the ladies on our company to suggest he should get himself a sheepdog to round them up and point them in the right direction. Whatever turns you on Liz.

After waiting for an eternity to get fed, during which time Talking Balls stomach thought the throat was cut, the food was typically good and for that City West deserve credit. Having guest Brendan Cummins speak pre-dinner was a faux pas and the after dinner activities petered out a little. There was little obvious controversy in the selections this year although Clare may feel aggrieved that although Carina Roseingrave got young player of the year, the county was overlooked in the year they won the Junior title. Defeated finallists Offaly managed one All Star, their first in Michaela Morkan. Camogie matriarch Liz Howard, who was wearing an unusual Edwardian ruff arrangement, declined to explain again who picks the All Stars. Neither could anyone explain the guy in the checked shirt and guitar from Tipperary who was allowed onto the stage to sing a few oul come-all-ye’s. As nights out go, twas passing strange.

Our thoughts are with a third-time nominee who should have been recognised last year for her performances including a tour de force in the All Ireland Junior Final. She travelled this time not even in expectation – last year’s omission compounded.

Well done to all the winners, especially Ulster solitary winner Jane Adams. Also, special mention to Cork’s Gemma O’Connor for her fifth consecutive Gong.

ANTRIM outfit O’Donovan Rossa will meet Tipperary’s Drom & Inch in the All-Ireland senior camogie club final on Sunday November 16.O’Donovan Rossa defeated Dublin’s Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-18 to 0-6 while Drom & Inch edged past last season’s beaten finalists Athenry by just a single point, 1-8 to 0-10, in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Jane Adams was the scoring heroine for O’Donovan Rossa, weighing in with a massive 2-11 haul as the Ulster kingpins raced away in the second half, having led 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time.

Ballyboden spurned a glorious goal chance just before half-time and were made to pay by Adams just 38 seconds after the restart when she scored the game’s opening goal.

Seven minutes from the end, Adams netted again before Maureen Stewart added a third goal in stoppage time for the 2006 runners-up.

This was an impressive attacking performance from O’Donovan Rossa as corner forward Ciara Armstrong also sparkled with four points from play.

In contrast, outclassed Ballyboden could only manage a solitary point from play during the second half at Casement Park in Belfast.

Meanwhile, Therese Shortt and Siobhán McGrath led the scoring charge as Drom & Inch qualified for their very first final with that slender victory against Galway’s Athenry at Cloughjordan.

A new name will be inscribed on the Bill Carroll Cup in a fortnight’s time after Drom & Inch overturned a 0-7 to 0-4 half-time deficit.

Shortt scored 0-4 from placed balls while McGrath’s second half goal proved crucial for the Tipperary and Munster champions, who will now look to emulate county colleagues Cashel, last year’s All-Ireland champions.

Athenry, heavily reliant on eight points from Galway ace Jessica Gill, were caught by Ryan’s goal nine minutes from time, a score which sent Drom & Inch 1-7 to 0-8 in front.

Drom held off a late Athenry charge and breathed a huge sigh of relief when Nicola Nally shot over the crossbar in stoppage time as the Galway girls threatened to score a winning goal.

Meanwhile, Clare outfit Kilmaley will attempt to stop Laois side Harps capturing a third successive crown when the teams contest the junior final on November 16.

Emma O’Driscoll (2), Katie Cahill and Helen McMahon scored the Kilmaley goals as they ran out 4-11 to 0-3 winners against Roscommon’s Four Roads at the grounds of St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, having led 1-5 to 0-2 at half-time.

Four Roads faced an uphill task from the 18th minute after full-forward Donna Kelly was sent off.

At Casement Park, Harps recorded a 1-10 to 1-8 victory against Lavey of Derry as Allstar nominee Louise Mahony scored 1-9 for the reigning champions.

Harps had built up a commanding lead at half-time, 1-7 to 1-2, but Lavey remained in contention as Paula McCloy replied to Mahony’s goal in the opening half.

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Scorers for O’Donovan Rossa: J Adams 2-11, C Armstrong 0-4, S Daykin, K O’Neill & O McCall 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballyboden: C Lucey & D Dolan 0-2 each, E Lucey 0-1, S Nic Coitir 0-1.

Scorers for Drom & Inch: T Shortt 0-4, S McGrath 1-1, J Ryan 0-2, N Harrington 0-1.

Scorers for Athenry: J Gill 0-8, T Maher & N Nally 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilmaley: E O’Driscoll 2-0, H McMahon 1-2, K Cahill 1-0, S Enright & C McMahon 0-4 each, M Hehir 0-1.

Scorers for Four Roads: N Coyle 0-2, E Glennon-Tully 0-1.

Scorers for Harps: L Mahony 1-9, E Mahony 0-1.

Scorers for Lavey: P McCloy 1-2, C McCloy 0-4, H O’Neill & M O’Kane 0-1 each.