St Finbarr's camogie players have time to enjoy Christmas before All-Ireland final rematch

St Finbarr’s and Athenry will have to do it all again after their AIB All-Ireland Club Camogie championship final ended level at Croke Park on Sunday.

With time running out the Barrs looked like they were going to run out winners as they led by 0-15 to 0-9.

But Athenry hit 1-3 late on, with Kayla Madden getting the equalising point with the last shot, to take it to a replay in January on the weekend of 3-4, with details to be sorted during the week.

After the game, Barrs manager Brian O’Sullivan, who has seen his side go to extra, extra time twice already this season, said that at least they hadn’t lost it late on.

“My immediate reaction is we've another chance, we've a game now on January 3 or 4, whenever and wherever it will be,” said O’Sullivan.

I suppose we had chances to win it, we were comfortable enough at times but that is the nature sport and we've been on the other side of it.

“You're playing for 63-64 minutes, so you know, happy enough in the end. Our first day out at Croke Park and I think we put in some great displays at times and we were a bit off in other patches, you're going to get that in an All-Ireland final.”

Looking at the last few minutes and when his side were six points up O’Sullivan said he never thought it was over. The experience of other games this season have shown him that.

“It's never in the bag, we saw that when we were six points up against Newcastle West in injury-tie and they came back to draw. So, no, we're not in a position to be underestimating anyone. 

It's just the nature of the way a game goes, it ebbs and flows and I never thought it was in the bag to be honest.

“Athenry are a very good side, they were going to come at us and have their purple patches, similar to what we did at times. So yeah, we're looking forward to having another crack of it in January and dust ourselves down to go again.”

LEARNING CURVE

It was the first time the Barrs reached an All-Ireland club camogie final and O’Sullivan said they will learn a lot from today.

“For the younger girls who are less experienced and maybe didn’t get the chance to play here before, this is what you dream of. But we felt coming into it, we managed the week well and the day itself fine.

“We were winning at half-time, we were six up at one stage, you learn a few things, maybe a bit more about the opposition. Seeing them up close and face to face but we won't be changing things too much.”

On playing so early in January, he said that 'Christmas is Christmas' and the players have to be allowed enjoy themselves, but maybe take it easy on the desserts!

“We'll review things over the next week, put a bit of a plan in place and we'll be ready to go again in a few weeks. 

"These girls are in tip-top shape but it's Christmas lads. 

It's an amateur sport and they have to be able to enjoy themselves. 

"We might ask them to take it easy on the desserts though!”