O'Looney and Core outstanding as St Joseph's triumph

O’Neill’s Post Primary Schools All-Ireland Senior Camogie ‘B’ Championship Final

St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge 2-6

Coláiste Íosagáin, Dublin 0-3

The senior camogie girls from St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge were full value for their nine-point win against Coláiste Íosagáin, Stillorgan in last Tuesday’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie ‘B’ championship Final at Donaghmore/Ashbourne.

The manager of the victorious team, Sarah Crosby, speaking briefly while the post-match celebrations continued, said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the girls. I’m a little bit stunned to be honest!”

The girls in sky blue and navy were comfortable winners albeit after what a worryingly slow start for their large group of supporters present.

However, the manager wasn’t unduly concerned: “We had the wind, but we’re known for starting slowly.

“I knew they weren’t playing to their full potential for the first 20 minutes or so. Thank God, they pushed on, got their few scores and that lifted everyone.

“The goals before half-time were great, but we knew we had a lot of work to do in the second half against a very strong wind.

“The girls in defence were super and didn’t give them an inch really, and any time Coláiste Íosagáin had the ball they were in on top of them putting pressure on them.

“Our girls never let up and that was the difference in the end. It would have been easy for Coláiste Íosagáin to get a few scores in the second half, but our girls just weren’t letting them.”

Not for the first time, the performance of Hannah Core caught the imagination of friend and foe alike on the day. Crosby agreed, but she was keen to apportion the praise for her side’s wonderful win: “Yes, Hannah was brilliant, as she always is.

“She was very heavily marked in the first half and didn’t get the space she would like to have, but she still got a few scores in. But the rest of the team worked for each other and they created the space for Hannah. It was a nice finish by Katie Coleman.

“Ava Balfe was super on the wing. In fact, all the girls played their parts today,” Crosby concluded.