Cork camogie semi-final preview: Cloughduv will be underdogs again as they face Seandún

IT’S a big weekend in the SE Systems senior camogie championship with a doubleheader of semi-finals in Castle Road on Sunday afternoon.

Sarsfields and Seandún are there again, joined this year by Cloughduv and St Catherine’s.

Cloughduv and Seandún take to the field first and Cloughduv will again go into the game as underdogs despite a very impressive championship. That’s not to say they aren’t capable of winning; they’ve proven that they are. They didn’t have an easy run into this semi-final.

They fell just short in their game with Sars, 2-11 to 1-19, beat Courcey Rovers in a titanic battle 1-11 to 0-12, and took the direct route to the quarter-finals as second-placed in their group. That put them in line to play a first-placed team and they were drawn against St Finbarr’s, the team no side wanted.

Cloughduv took on the challenge and in the shock of the season defeated the strong favourites. Belief grew within their squad.

They don’t have a side with senior inter-county names, they don’t have one or two key players you select to mark and you’re halfway there.

They have a balanced, controlled, hard-working side, defensively incredibly tight and capable of climbing the scoreboard as regularly as their opponents. Teams don’t find it easy to get goals against them.

In fact, Cloughduv have conceded just one goal from five outings, and that to Sarsfields from a penalty. The Barrs had scored 15 goals coming into the quarter-final and failed to raise a green flag. So, facing dynamic forwards like Katrina Mackey and Amy O’Connor won’t faze them.

Seandún looked a little disconnected against Courcey Rovers in their quarter-final, not having had a game in four weeks.

But that tough game two weeks ago and a few sessions since should see greater fluency in their play.

Manager Trevor Coleman appreciates the task they face.

“It’s a semi-final and every semi-final is a huge game. Cloughduv are flying and we’re expecting a tough game.

“They played for their jersey against the Barrs, and we’ll have to do the same if we hope to win. We don’t want to give up our title. We’ve got the Mackey’s this year which is a great asset, but we’ve lost Katelyn Hickey and Michelle Murphy and they’re a bit of a loss around the middle of the field.

“Unless we bring a committed desire to Castle Road we won’t win. The girls need to really want this. We’ll be hoping that our Blackrock players come through their intermediate semi-final on Saturday unscathed.”

PROGRESS

Ann Marie Healy has been involved with Cloughduv camogie all her life following in the footsteps of her mother Kathleen. Since she retired from playing, she continues on the sideline alongside another long-term presence, manager John Cronin, who must be involved 30 years at this stage.

Tim Barry Murphy another who has given so much can be heard from the stands now after stepping aside this year.

Cloughduv’s Tadgh O’Riordan and Tracton’s Cathal Murphy have joined the management team. Getting into the county semi-final against the reigning champions is a huge achievement.

“We’re a small club,” says Ann Marie. "But in fairness, the girls work hard. It's down to them. This year they’ve put in savage work. A lot of work has been done with the underage over the years.

We’ve a few good coaches underage who are putting the work in. The likes of Amy Sheppard and Niamh McNabola have come up the ranks.

“You have to add a little bit of youth every year for it to progress.”

Facing Seandún, Ann Marie stated: “Seandún will be a battle. But we’ll take the games as they come. It’s what we’ve been doing all year.”

Reflecting on the fact that only one goal has been scored against them this year and that, a penalty to Sars, Ann Marie acknowledges that “it’s a huge testament to our defence.

“Ciara [O’Leary] brought off two great saves against the Barrs. But our forwards also, their taking their scores.

“Everyone of them fighting for each other.”