Managerial Magic Roundabout A Cash Cow

Talking Balls No Comments »
Managerial Roundabout - a Cash Cow Milked by Manager Near You!
Managerial Roundabout a Cash Cow Milked by Manager Near You!
Rambling about amidst all of the furore raised by Mark Conway and the One True Belief faction last year over pay for play, was a sizeable elephant in the room. His name? Paid Managers, dumbo. This week outgoing president Nicky Brennan has stated unequivocally that the practice must stop but admits he can do nothing to stop it.

Let us examine the rumours that we have heard in the last year. One manager, now involved with a county team, left his home club, whom he he had just coached to a Senior County Championship title, to coach a rival club. The rumour was that this manager was paid more than stg £15,000 and less than stg £22,000. Talking Balls wonders aloud why a manager would leave his own home club, where his sons are part of the senior team, to manage a rival team in the same competition in the same county? Ambition, the challenge or ££££££s?

Another flamboyant coach who recently re-engaged with another county team not his own – he has been involved with a number of reasonably successful county teams over the recent past – charges a minimum of £80 for a coaching session for clubs. This on top of what he might and might not receive from the county in question. Is he being paid by his current county employers? We don’t know, but we do know he’s burning a serious amount of firestone rubber up and down the road.

A third case: another current county manager was allegedly put on the books of a business whose owner was a ‘benefactor’ of the local club team. Hand on heart if asked were they paying the manager, committee, officials and players could state ‘no they they weren’t’. And that would not be a lie. The local businessman was handing over the five figure sum, and maybe a car thrown in, all legal and above board you see, because he was giving it to one of his own employees.

We could go on, and on and on, but you know the story. It is an amateur organisation after all. Here’s what Nickey said:

“It is not too strong to say it is at epidemic proportions in some cases and it is amazing. I have met some club people who admit they are paying their managers but try and get that proof to bring them to accountability and you can’t.

“There is usually some generous benefactor that is able to do this sort of thing. It is just that the clubs are doing themselves a terrible disservice by doing that and it is a failure of club leadership not to face up to their responsibilities.

“I do know we have been criticised for not doing anything about it. At times you have to say that is fair criticism but ask me how and I just can’t come up with a formula.”

The reality is that in many clubs the pressure to win, achieve, whatever you want to call it, then means that less emphasis is put on player development and doing the right thing. Nothing’s more important than results, results, results.

The great flaw of course in the paid manager-theory is that the game is played by players, not managers. And you know what a fickle lot they can be. So how many times have you seen the big shot, well-paid and well travelled manager win Sweet Feck All? And then move on somewhere else and continue to win Sweet Feck All? Answers on a postcard please.

Camogie: Wexford take out the Galway Girls

blog No Comments »

Wexford shocked National League Division One table toppers Galway at Ballinasloe yesterday with a late goal, garnering two valuable points following their narrow 1-12 to 1-11 win. Victory for the westerners would have guaranteed them their place in the final next month, now their destiny will be determined by the meeting of Cork and the Slaneysiders on April 5.

The Red and White should prevail at home to Limerick next weekend, and if they win away to Wexford, a play-off would be necessary between Galway, Wexford and Cork.

The visitors sowed the seeds with a solid first half performance after which they led 0-7 to 0-3 – Kate Kelly’s accuracy from placed balls crucial, plus points from Caroline Murphy and Ursula Jacob. Galway can be thankful to goalkeeper Susan Earner who denied Wexford on more than one occasion.

Galway switched Therese Maher out field from her full forward post for the second half and this had a telling effect, with the supply inside increasing. Gradually, they worked their way back, and despite the challenge being tough, top-scorer Jessica Gill converted a penalty on 50 minutes to bring them within two points. Gill drew them level soon afterwards and further white flags from Aisling Connolly and Gill moved them two clear with the clock ticking down.

Amid the excitement, Wexford with Deirdre Codd and Mary Leacy in fine form, won a close in free, and sub Una Leacy held her nerve to blast to the net for the winning score. Galway did have a chance to equalise, but a free from Gill (her only miss of the day) tailed wide.

Elsewhere, in Group Two, Kilkenny played out a thrilling draw with Tipperary at James Stephen’s GAA grounds. Their 2-7 to 1-10 score means these teams will have to meet again to see who goes through to the final. Claire Grogan’s haul of nine points helped her side overcome a half time deficit of 1-3 to 0-5. The Cats’ goal came from Marie O’Connor.

A second goal came from Edwina Keane, but the Premier girls got one of their own from Geraldine Kinnane. In the end it took a point from the impressive Katie Power to give Kilkenny another bite of the cherry.

Camogie Division One Preview

blog No Comments »

KILKENNY V TIPPERARY (James Stephen’s, Sunday, 4.30pm)
The late start in this group one encounter is to facilitate Tipperary’s James Woodlock who will be involved with the Premier hurlers in Nowlan Park a couple of hours earlier. The Drom & Inch player is among the camogie backroom team.

This is a huge game as both teams are unbeaten – both have overcome Clare and Dublin. The winner will go through to the final. Camogie in Kilkenny received another fillip last weekend with St Brigid’s Callan regaining the All Ireland senior college’s title.

GALWAY V WEXFORD (Ballinasloe, Sunday, 3pm)
Galway are top of group two and victory would guarantee them a final spot. This year the winners of group one and group two go straight to the decider. The Maroon and White has already defeated Cork in their first round game, which gives an indication of their ambitions for 2009.

Liam Donoghue has an extensive panel to pick from, however, Wexford are also keen to get back to the heights they reached two years ago. The Slaneysiders will know more after this battle.

GAA In NZ Gets Wellie Boost

blog No Comments »

Wellington makes a clean sweep of national titles at St Patrick’s Day gaelic football 7’s championships in Auckland.

Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Football Club made a clean sweep of national sevens titles on Sunday last by winning the senior men’s and ladies competitions. The competition took place in Auckland on Sunday and pitted the Wellington teams against 9 other teams including 7 from Auckland, one from Taranaki and a team from Fiji.

“This was a unique achievement for Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Football club to win both the ladies and the men’s competitions,” said Columba Cryan President of Wellington Hutt Valley Gaelic Football club, “we had gone to this competition over the past few years and lost out narrowly so it’s a wonderful feeling to have won so comprehensively in both codes.”

The men’s team faced strong competition throughout the competition but played a high quality of Gaelic Football and they faced Auckland club Celtics in the final. They won the game in comprehensive fashion on a score line of one goal and ten points (13 points in total) to no goals and four pints (4 points in total).

“The most satisfying thing about this win was the fact that we are a small close knit club in Wellington made up of a great mix of Irish, Kiwis and other nationalities who trained hard and have earned this title,” said Wellington player Justin McDermott. “We are very proud to have represented Wellington Hutt Valley and that we are able to bring home the silverware.”

The ladies final was an all Wellington affair with the Wellington team ‘Rebellious rebels’ defeating the other Wellington ladies team ‘The scandalous scallions’ by three points. Earlier in the day the two Wellington teams edged out 3 Auckland sides in the qualifiers. “The strength of ladies gaelic football in Wellington is obvious given our two teams contested the final. It just great to win and bring this title home, we are all so delighted as we have a great mix of Kiwis and Irish girls so it’s a great feeling,” said Wellington ladies player Emma Foley.

The cups were presented to the winning Wellington Captains on Sunday the 15th March and big celebrations were held yesterday St Patricks Day, Tuesday 17th March in Wellington. For more information on Wellington gaelic football club please visit www.wellingtongaa.com.

To Hell with Portugal. . . Visit Clonea

Talking Balls No Comments »
Luxury Beach Resort Ideal Championship Preparation
Luxury Beach Resort Ideal Championship Preparation
Who said the GAA wasn’t recession proof or doing its bit for local industry? Wexford’s plans for All Ireland domination in both codes this coming season have been given a serious boost, not to mention Bord Failte’s plans to keep the Irish in Ireland on their holidays.

The Wexford hurling and football panels each submitted requests for warm-weather training camps in Portugal to the County Board. These requests were rightly turned down on the grounds that with the Co Board being EUR250,000 in the red, they could not afford the camps which would have cost a combined EUR45,000.
??
It was not however a complete boot in the balls for Jason Ryan and Colm Bonnar. Like two children looking to get a Cornetto and being refused by their parents and told to get a Porky Pear instead, they were told by the management committee that they could have EUR3,000 each should they wish to avail of a weekend training stay in luxury surroundings in Clonea, Co. Waterford.

The hurling squad is also seeking the provision of a video stats machine similar to that used by the Irish rugby team at a cost of between EUR16,000 and EUR24,000. Wexford chairman Ger Doyle said they had one presentation on the technology, but would have a second presentation before coming to a decision. Irrespective of the second presentation, it is believed the final choice will rhyme with Bob Hope.

Upside-down Cows in Croker and Other Dreams of Madness

Talking Balls No Comments »
Tits Up for Cross and De La Salle in Croker Club Finals
Tits Up for Cross and De La Salle in Croker Club Finals

Talking Balls has had a traumatic and busy week of it. It started with one of the feral youngsters we have runnin about the house bustin’ the brand new 37 inch LCD Toshiba television. It was a small one with corn blond hair and a sweet smile. Lethal shot with a Hotwheels car she is for all her cuteness whatever her name.

In the house of the blind the small portable from upstairs is king. While we waited, and waited, and waited that is, on the good people from Legal and General to decide whether we were insured or not, before confirming that we were but liberally bogging the arm in with an excessive excess claim. F**k them the hoors, the TV’s still not fixed or replaced.

It was followed in rapid succession by a broken car door, broken car window and, in perhaps the final indication that the feral children are winning the war, the door fell off the tumble drier. The metal sorta groaned, buckled and the door fell off on the ground. Gave up the ghost or what. (Dried knicker fatigue I’d say. I read somewhere that thongs are more environmentally friendly as they use less water to wash and less electricity to dry, not like the big drawers ye see about our house.) I digress.

At this point, severe marital discord was in the air. Did we need a new Flatscreen TV or a new tumble dryer. A no-brainer for Talking Balls but Mrs Balls was torn between the Hobsons choice of no Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy in glorious HD, or no tumble dried smalls. Sure what would ye do? Get away te f**k offside is the only answer.

Well, TB headed for Croker to watch the All Ireland club finals. After a week of tossing and turning, insomnia and the likes, Portumna, De La Salle, Cross and Crokes would be the perfect antidote. Liberally helped of course by a decent charge of stout to wash away the iniquity of the previous week and the austerity of Lent.

I must have dozed off before the Portumna match, for I dreamt that De La Salle were bate by near twenty; I dreamt that there was a fella walking about Croke Park with a washing machine or tumble dryer on his back looking for me. Another lad had a flat screen telly on his back, I could have it for £150 excess there and then. Must be from Legal and General, I thought to meself in my sleep. Next some hoor comes walking by with an upside down cow – the udders must have been silicon on her as they stuck straight up and out like Pamela Anderson’s do (or so I’m told). Some other bollix had a bookshelf and another lad what looked like a tractor. The next thing I dreamt, in the football match Kilmacud Crokes beat Cross by five.

I woke up with a start. . . Croker was dark and empty. Everyone was gone home. I hastily looked back to see if there were any more fellas with cows on their backs and then reminded meself ‘Sure it’s only a bad dream.’

In the taxi back to Connolly I asked the Lithuanian taximan if he knew the score: Sez he: ‘Portuman, bate ze deezies by nineteen and Croke beat the Rangers of Cross by five.’

‘Feck me,’ sez I to meself, ‘it wasn’t a dream. Well at least the bit about the fellas with cows and TV’s on their backs musta been.’

Ladies Football 1/4 Finals Sorted

blog No Comments »

THE Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League Division 2 quarter-final line-up has been confirmed.
Last year’s All-Ireland intermediate champions Tipperary finished top of Division 2A after securing a 2-12 to 2-9 success against South-East rivals Wexford at Horeswood on Monday evening.

The Premier County, who won all five of their group games, will now meet Longford, who finished third in Division 2B.

Elsewhere, Sligo have been pitted with Cavan, Waterford take on Meath and Wexford have been handed a clash with Down.

The four quarter-finals will be played on the week ending April 5 with times and venues for these games to be confirmed.

League table for Bord Gais Energy NFL Division 2A
Team P W L D P+ P- P+/- Pts
Tipperary 5 5 0 0 82 66 16 15
Sligo 5 4 1 0 113 39 74 12
Waterford 5 3 2 0 68 73 -5 9
Wexford 5 2 3 0 71 88 -17 6
Westmeath 5 1 4 0 47 73 -26 3
Leitrim 5 0 5 0 57 99 -42 0

Bord Gais Energy NFL Division 2A

Wexford 2-9 2-12 Tipperary Horeswod 16/03/2009 20:00 Round 5
Sligo 2-14 0-9 Waterford Markievicz Park, Sligo 15/03/2009 14:00 Round 5
Westmeath 0-12 0-10 Leitrim Ballingore, Westmeath 15/03/2009 13:00 Round 5
Tipperary 2-7 1-6 Westmeath Clougheen, Tipperary 08/03/2009 14:00 Not Played
Sligo 5-16 1-1 Wexford St Brendans Pk, 01/03/2009 14:00 Round 4
Leitrim 2-10 2-17 Tipperary Leitrim Gaels GAA 01/03/2009 14:00 Round 4
Waterford 1-15 2-9 Westmeath Lemybrien 28/02/2009 15:30 Round 4
Wexford 3-17 3-6 Leitrim Bunclody Wexford 22/02/2009 14:00 Round 3
Westmeath 1-2 2-15 Sligo Pairc Chiaran Athlone 22/02/2009 14:00 Round 3
Waterford 1-8 1-9 Tipperary Lemybrien 21/02/2009 15:00 Round 3
Leitrim 1-8 0-12 Waterford Leitrim Gaels GAA 15/02/2009 14:00 Round 2
Westmeath 0-6 0-11 Wexford Mullingar Shamrocks 15/02/2009 14:00 Round 2
Tipperary 2-10 2-9 Sligo Templemore 15/02/2009 14:00 Round 2
Sligo 4-14 0-5 Leitrim Grange, Sligo 01/02/2009 14:00 Round 1
Wexford 3-6 3-9 Waterford Gusserane, Wexford 01/02/2009 14:00 Round 1

League table for Bord Gais Energy NFL Division 2B
Team P W L D P+ P- P+/- Pts
Down 4 3 1 0 66 41 25 9
Meath 4 3 1 0 64 48 16 9
Longford 4 2 2 0 60 41 19 6
Cavan 4 2 2 0 52 62 -10 6
Fermanagh 4 0 4 0 29 79 -50 0

Bord Gais Energy NFL Division 2B

Fermanagh 0-3 1-11 Down Aghadrumsee, Fermanagh 15/03/2009 14:00 Round 5
Meath 3-6 0-12 Cavan Pairc Tailteann Navan 15/03/2009 14:00 Round 5
Longford 1-10 1-7 Down Killoe Co. Longford 08/03/2009 14:00 Not Played
Longford 5-12 0-5 Fermanagh Longford 01/03/2009 14:00 Round 4
Down 1-9 1-4 Meath Saval 01/03/2009 14:00 Round 4
Cavan 0-12 1-5 Longford Kingspan Breffni Park 22/02/2009 14:00 Round 3
Fermanagh 2-6 4-16 Meath Brookeborough, 21/02/2009 19:30 Round 3
Down 6-12 3-9 Cavan Downpatrick 15/02/2009 14:00 Round 2
Meath 1-11 1-9 Longford Trim, Co Meath 15/02/2009 13:00 Round 2
Cavan 0-10 1-6 Fermanagh Templeport-Bawnbeg 01/02/2009 14:00 Round 1

The Quarter Finals will be played on the week ending the 5th of April with venues and times TBC.
Quarter Finals Div 2:
Tipperary v Longford
Sligo v Cavan
Waterford v Meath
Wexford v Down

Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League Round-Up

blog No Comments »

By Jackie Cahill

THE Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League Division 1 quarter-final line-up has been confirmed following Sunday’s final round of group games.

The standout tie in the last eight is the meeting of defending champions Cork and Kerry, a mouth-watering clash between the Munster rivals which will be a repeat of last year’s final.

Elsewhere, Mayo will meet Clare, Laois are pitted against last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Monaghan and Leinster champions Dublin will take on Armagh, who snatched a playoff place at the expense of Ulster rivals Tyrone on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Donegal and Kildare are facing up to the prospect of Division 2 football in 2010 as their relegation fates were sealed with defeats against Kerry and Galway respectively.

In the big Division 1b relegation shootout at Menlough, Una Carroll shot 0-11 for Galway as the Tribeswomen secured Division 1 football courtesy of a 2-13 to 1-12 victory against Kildare. Ger Conneely and Sinéad Burke scored the crucial first half goals as Galway led by 2-7 to 0-6 at half-time and the winners survived the sin-binning of Conneely to land five unanswered points after half-time.

Elsewhere, Donegal’s relegation from Division 1a was confirmed as they were on the wrong end of a 1-20 to 1-7 scoreline against Kerry in Castlefin. Kerry, who finished second behind Mayo in Division 1a, had the tie wrapped up at half-time as they led by 0-16 to 1-3. Eilish Ward’s first half penalty was merely a finger in the dam as Donegal struggled to cope and although they improved immeasurably after the break, Patrice Dennehy’s second half goal added gloss to Kerry’s final score.

Mags McAlinden struck a late winning point as Armagh dramatically edged out Tyrone for a quarter-final spot with a 2-10 to 1-12 victory at the Athletic Grounds. This was a remarkable victory for Armagh, who trailed by 1-9 to 0-5 at half-time, as second half goals from Shauna O’Hagan and Sharon Reel proved vital.

Also in Division 1a, Laois and Mayo played out a 1-12 to 1-12 stalemate at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, a game which saw the lethal Cora Staunton score 1-6 for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Dublin finished top of Division 1b as they demolished Clare 6-14 to 0-4 at Naomh Mearnóg.
The Sky Blues were out of sight at half-time having established a 1-12 to 0-0 advantage, the goal scored by Amy Ring. Dublin went goal crazy in the second half as a quickfire brace from Niamh Hurley was added to by Anne-Marie Murphy, Katie Murphy and Nicky Daly.

On Saturday, reigning Bord Gáis National League, Munster and All-Ireland champions Cork slumped to a second successive defeat as they lost out by 2-8 to 0-13 against Monaghan at Cork IT. Edel Byrne scored 2-3 and Niamh Kindlon scored a dramatic late winning point for the Farney Girls as they gained revenge for last year’s heavy All-Ireland final defeat against Cork.

***

Results:

Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League Division 1:
Saturday, March 14:

Cork 0-13 Monaghan 2-8.

Sunday March 15:

Donegal 1-7 Kerry 1-20.
Galway 2-13 Kildare 1-12.
Dublin 6-14 Clare 0-4.
Armagh 2-10 Tyrone 1-12.
Mayo 1-12 Laois 1-12.

Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League Division 2 results:

Sunday March 15:

Sligo 2-14 Waterford 0-9.
Westmeath 0-12 Leitrim 0-10.
Wexford v Tipperary – to be played on Monday, March 16.
Fermanagh 0-3 Down 1-11.
Meath 3-6 Cavan 0-12.

***

Bord Gáis Energy National Ladies Football League Division 1 scorers:

Dublin scorers: N Hurley 2-1, S Aherne 0-6, M Nevin 0-5, A Ring, A-Marie Murphy & N Daly 1-0 each, C Murphy 0-2.

Clare scorers: L Henchy & A Kelly 0-2 each.

***
Armagh scorers: M McAlinden 0-6, S O’Hagan 1-2, S Reel 1-0, M Tennyson 0-1, M O’Donnell 0-1.

Tyrone scorers: J Donnelly 0-5, C Donnelly 1-0, S Donnelly 0-3, G Begley 0-2, C Scullion & N Woods 0-1 each.

***
Kerry scorers: S Houlihan 0-5 (3f), M O’Donoghue 0-5, P Dennehy 1-2, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-2, D Murphy 0-1, S-Jane Joy 0-1, M Finnegan 0-1, A O’Sullivan 0-1, L Scanlon 0-1, D Corridan 0-1.

Donegal scorers: E Ward 1-0 pen, A Doherty 0-3, N Hegarty 0-2, N Stapleton 0-1, A McDonnell 0-1.

***
Cork scorers: J Murphy 0-3, V Mulcahy, N Cleary & D Reilly 0-2 each, B Corkery, N Kelly, A O’Shea & C O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Monaghan scorers: E Byrne 2-3, N Kindlon 0-2, C McConnell 0-2, C Courtney 0-1.

***

Laois scorers: M Dunne 0-4, T Lawlor 0-3, Martha Kirwan 1-0, Mary Kirwan 0-2, E McEvoy 0-1, A Quigley 0-1.

Mayo scorers: C Staunton 1-6, S Cafferky 0-3, L Cafferky 0-2, A Herbert 0-1.

***
Galway scorers: U Carroll 0-11 (9f), G Conneely & S Burke 1-0 each, L Cohill & N Duggan 0-1 each.

Kildare scorers: A Jennings 0-7 (6f), M Moolick, T Noone, A Holton, D Duffy & B Leahy 0-1 each.

****

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL Division 1 quarter-finals:

Mayo v Clare.
Kerry v Cork.
Laois v Monaghan.
Dublin v Armagh.

Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL Division 3 quarter-finals:

Roscommon v Kilkenny.
Louth v Wicklow.
Limerick v Antrim.
Carlow v Derry.

Dates, times and venues for these games to be confirmed.
Also, the Division 2 line-up will not be known until Tipperary play Wexford on Monday, March 16.

Camogie National League and Colleges Round-Up

blog No Comments »

A strong first half display powered Wexford to National League Division One success over Limerick at Bunclody yesterday. In their first match of the 2009 campaign, the All Ireland champions of two years ago got off to a blistering start with full forward Michelle Hearne back after a 12 month absence, bagging two excellent goals, while Ursula Jacob playing at corner forward helped herself to 1-1.

The Slaneysiders were clearly the dominant force in that opening 30 minutes, but credit to Limerick they stayed in touch with Niamh Mulcahy pointing from placed balls. White flags also arrived from Moira Dooley, Sinead McAuliffe and Catriona Debhal before Joanne Clifford netted towards the end. After shipping a substantial beating from Galway last weekend, and despite being at the wrong end of a 3-7 to 1-6 score this time, manger Phelim Macken will have been much happier with this result.

Elsewhere, at Lattin Cullen, Tipperary gathered their second set of points with a comfortable victory over Dublin, 2-13 to 1-6. The Premier girls will be pleased with their performances to date, and while the Dubs put it up to them for the first quarter, once goals arrived from Joanne Ryan and Emily Hayden it put the home side into a commanding interval position of 2-5 to 0-2.

Dublin who lost midfielder Eimear Brannigan to injury before the game, pulled a goal back in the fourth quarter, but with the Tipperary defence rock solid – the half back trio of Julie McGrath, Trish O’Halloran and Aine Mulcahy in particular impressive – there were very few opportunities for Dublin to narrow the gap.

Clare were at home to Kilkenny, however, it was the Cats who walked away with the honours following a 1-14 to 0-11 triumph. The teams were level at 0-5 apiece at the changeover however the Black and Amber came out for the second half in determined mood. Ann Dalton tallied eight points (all from placed balls), whilst the goal came from the stick of Deirdre Delaney.

In spite of Roisin McMahon’s contribution of nine points for Clare, the Banner ladies, who are making great strides at the top level, still had to settle for second best. Their remaining tie is away to Dublin in two weeks time.

Meanwhile in Division Two Tipperary proved too strong for Derry in the National League winning by six points, 1.10 to 0.07.

“We were disappointed by the result, it really was a game of two halves,” said Derry manger Danny McGrellis.

“We performed much better in the second-half but unfortunately we couldn’t forge a telling comeback. The positive thing is the second-half performance, it’s just a matter of making sure that we play that way consistently,” he added.

Armagh suffered a loss at the hands of Meath yesterday in Division 3 of the National League and despite six points between the sides manager Sean Duffy is confident that his side can turn their season around.

“I did see improvements since the Laois game and I saw a lot of things that we worked on in training coming off. I thought we were the better side, we just didn’t convert our chances and when that happens it often comes back to bite you.”

In the other Division Three game it proved third time lucky for Down as they overcame Offaly by four points, 2.06 to 1.05.

In Division Four Tyrone recorded a comfortable win over Carlow, Captain Julie Lagan was in fine form in the back-line and pushed forward at any opportunity and she was rewarded for her efforts with a goal.

In the All Ireland senior A colleges final at Drom & Inch, St Brigid’s Callan retained the title with a hard-fought 1-11 to 1-6 win over Portumna. A personal total of 1-9 from outstanding centre forward Denise Gaule proved crucial.

Credit to Portumna though, who went in at the break 0-5 to 0-3 ahead, and while they remained in contention into the second half, the Kilkenny side aided by a strong breeze took over in the final quarter.

The B final in Rathoath was a highly entertaining game with Blackwater CS coming out on top, 4-5 to 3-4 against St MacNissis’s Garron Tower, Antrim. Last year’s All Ireland C victors have given camogie a major fillip in Wateford. The all-important goals coming from Michelle Tobin, Caitriona McGlone, Carole McCarthy and Aoife Hannon.

St Colm’s Draperstown needed extra time to overcome Grennan College, Thomastown, also in Ratoath. After 80 minutes, just one point decided the outcome, 1-7 to 0-9.