Ciara Golden on being St Finbarr's match-winner: It's an amazing feeling to be heading to Croke Park

Picture the scenario, it’s into injury time in extra extra time and the ball breaks to you on the wing.

You’re playing at half-back and would be the first to admit you’re not one of the top scorers for your side and in most games tend not to score.

But you know that if you point the chances are you will send your side to Croke Park and their first ever club senior camogie All-Ireland final.

Miss and it goes to a shootout, and anything can happen there. That’s what faced Ciara Golden when the ball broke to her on the wing as St Finbarr’s took on Loughgiel Shamrocks in the AIB All-Ireland senior club camogie championship semi-final at Donoghmore Ashbourne GAA Club in Meath on Saturday.

Keeping a cool head, she arrowed the ball between the posts and the rest as they say is history as the Barrs won by 3-15 to 3-14.

Reflecting on what had just happened and what her score meant Ciara was almost lost for words.

“It’s just an amazing feeling to be in the final and it’s just such a special day for all involved, it’s unbelievable really,” said Ciara. "Asked what was going through her head when the ball broke to her Ciara added: “I know I needed to score and it just had to go over.

“I knew that the clock was ticking. I was saying, like, if this doesn't go over, it could be it. 

I was thinking after we fought and fought, you know, there's no going back now and it has to go straight over the bar and thankfully it did.

“I knew I was kind of close, and I was saying Jesus I have to just turn now and go for it. When it went over there is just no feeling like it.”

The game itself was a battle from start to finish, with both sides enjoying periods of dominance and both looking at different times like they had it won.

The Barrs had been down the road of extra extra time in the Munster semi-final against Newcastle West and Ciara felt that stood to them on Saturday.

“There's great character in this team, I think that's the thing about us. We just keep going and fighting and fighting for each other and even then, with the girls that are coming on they add to that. No matter who's on the pitch, we just fight and fight till the end because we know that’s what we must do to win.”

SHOWDOWN

Their Munster final win came just a week ago and now a week later they find themselves heading to Croker on December 14 for an All-Ireland final.

It doesn't get much better than that, to be going up there with the Barrs it's just going to be an unbelievable experience. 

"We never won Munster before not to mind heading to Croke Park so it's something to look forward to. We’ll enjoy celebrating this win first and then start preparing for the final.”