Linda Mellerick on camogie: Cloughduv's victory over the Barrs was the shock of the season

Mid Cork side progressed to a semi-final with Sars after a huge upset
Linda Mellerick on camogie: Cloughduv's victory over the Barrs was the shock of the season

Keeva McCarthy, St Finbarr's, gets tangled with Niamh O'Leary, Cloughduv. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

THERE is one certainty in sport and that is, that there are no guarantees in any game!

Cloughduv provided the biggest upset in the senior championship last weekend when defeating St Finbarr's in the quarter-final by a point. 

I was in Brinny covering Seandún v Courcey Rovers at the same time and the result was met with wide-eyed surprise, to say the least. News of the outcome shot around the ground. 

I’d imagine no one outside of the Cloughduv camp saw them beating the Barrs. 

There was no way based on the group stages could you come to the conclusion that they would. 

St Finbarr's were in the toughest group, containing St Catherine's, Glen Rovers and Killeagh and were controlling games, scoring 121 for and 44 against from four games, their average win was 14 points against the named three. 

INTENSITY

They were hotly tipped to take the title and I felt they could go further than that in the Munster and possibly All-Ireland campaigns. But as I said last week, games aren’t won on paper and Cloughduv brought their renowned intensity to the pitch. 

 Sorcha McCartan, St Finbarr's, battles Rachel Hurley, Cloughduv. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Sorcha McCartan, St Finbarr's, battles Rachel Hurley, Cloughduv. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

I’d imagine the Barrs felt they’d pull back when they went 1-4 to no score down seven after minutes against the wind and scoring six points in seven minutes in the last quarter of the game showed they could but once again a dogged Cloughduv defence held firm. 

I’m disappointed to have missed the game. 

Having the four quarter-finals at three separate venues on the same day was disappointing as most would like to see all four, particularly the remaining clubs involved, and I hope it reverts to two double-header fixtures on Saturday and Sunday next year.

For the Barrs, it’s a big upset and a step backwards, having lost last year’s semi-final and now not reaching the last four. 

Reading the match report, I was surprised to see Ella Wigginton Barrett not start but St Finbarr's does have a strong forward panel to select from. I was more surprised however that when chasing the game, she didn’t come on until the 56th minute. 

Gemma O’Connor replaced the injured Maeve Cahalane on six minutes, and I’d say the defeat brings the curtain down on an outstanding career.

Cloughduv now have everyone sitting up and taking notice. They’re under the radar no more and the remaining sides of Seandún, Sarsfields and St Catherine's v Éire Óg will give them the utmost respect. 

SCALP

While Cloughduv did all remaining title contenders a favour by taking such a big scalp they’ll know that, just like Ireland last Saturday night, while the win was something to indeed savour and enjoy in the aftermath, no medals were handed out and they’ll be very aware of that.

St Catherine's and Éire Óg goes ahead today in Castle Road at 3pm after being postponed last weekend due to the conditions. 

Every team will have excitement within now and believe.

It’s wide open again, isn’t it? Have Seandún regained the favourites tag with St Finbarr's gone?  Not on their quarter-final performance against Rovers. 

While Seandún never looked like losing the game they didn’t overly impress, Rovers battling hard and defending well. 

Most sides will play eight behind the ball or pack the middle to stop the supply to Cork's duo of Katrina Mackey and Amy O’Connor up front and finding a way to counteract that will be high on Seandún’s approach. 

Sars will also have to up their standard if they want to regain the title they last held in 2019. 

The weather conditions didn’t help last weekend to be fair to all sides and it was all about grinding out the win.

The semi-finals should be exciting. Cloughduv have another big game ahead of them in Seandún. I bet the village will be out in force. It’s great to see a small homegrown parish like them doing so well again. 

They last won the title in 2005.

The plaudits were far and wide for Matthew Twomey when he was named the PwC Manager of the year on Monday last. 

Well, he had to get that accolade didn’t he? One of life’s gentlemen it's no surprise that the honour was greeted with delight both within and outside the county. 

It’ll be a big night on All-Stars night on November 4, heading up to Dublin as All-Ireland champions for the first time since 2018.

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