Tara Camogie 7’s Tournament ~ Saturday 18 April 2009
With the weather on Friday very wet and cold it looked as if this years Tara Tournament was going to be another wash out like last year. However the sun was splitting the stones in TCG in Greenford on Saturday morning. As the travelling teams began to arrive the Tara backroom team were getting the last bits organised to make sure that everything ran smoothly.
SENIOR COMPETITION 2009
Craughwell (Galway x 2 teams)
CBC Kevins (Dublin)
Craobh Chiarain, (Dublin x 2 teams)
Na Magha (Derry City)
Liverpool University
London teams = Bros Pearse, Croydon, Fr Murphys, Tara (hosts)
Following the draw the home team Tara were drawn against London rivals Croydon, Derry, Craoibh Carainn B, Craughwell A and Liverpool Hope Uni in Senior Group 1. Group 2 contained Brother Pearces, Fr Murphy’s, CBC Kevins, Craughwell B and Craoibh Carainn A. Tara came out top of Group 1 win convincing wins over all opposition. Bid Grennan was on form for Tara along with newly signed Angela Kenneally. Ann Gleeson was solid in defence with Becky Purcell pulling off some great saves between the sticks. Denise Gilligan was as clinical as ever in up front for Tara.
The runners up in this group were Na Magha from Derry, with Andrea Shepherd and Michelle Rogers steering the team to 3 out of 4 wins. They booked their place in the Senior Plate Final. Meeting them in the final was Brother Pearces who were runners up in Group 2. Sinead Tracey and Bronwan Keeshan standing out for Brother Pearces. Fr Murphy’s come out on top of this group. Eimear O’Higgins as ever was as always involved in everything good from Fr Murphy’s. Katie McAulley who has transferred back home to Derry but flew back for the tournament was in great form all day. Her mid field partner Grainne Hunter was living up to her high standards also.
The Senior Plate Final was closely contested in the first half. Susanne Deacy worked hard up front for Brother Pearces. A long day of tough games and both teams started to tire in the second half. It was Na Magha who still had something left in the tank and hit the net twice in the second half to run out winners.
The Senior Cup Final was a replay of the Birmingham Tournament Final against Tara. Fr Murphy’s started strongly and bagged 2 goals. Bid Grennan looked dangerous but her scoring form from earlier in the day let her down at clinical moments. Mel Hogan in goal for the Murphy’s pulled off some great saves and denied Grennan and Gilligan. At half time there was a goal between the teams. There were some great battles through out the field. Angela Kenneally again completed another fine performance and worked tirelessly in midfield for Tara sending a lot of ball into the forwards and picking off some lovely scores. Gleeson at the back was strong along with Cat Higgins. For Murphy’s McAulley was doing a lot of damage up front while Bronagh McLearnon was picking up loose ball from the back line and setting up attack after attack. The vital chances missed by Tara were the deciding factor and Murphy’s just had the finishing power up front. Fr Murphy’s ran out 4-6 to 3-2 winners in the end. With the teams facing each other again next weekend in the first round of the Senior League there is no love lost between the teams. Two out of two for the Murphy’s so far this year. Kenneally was awarded Senior Player of the Tournament following great performances all day for Tara.
Thanks to all the Competitors:
Craughwell (Galway x 2 teams), CBC Kevins (Dublin),
Craobh Chiarain, (Dublin x 2 teams), Na Magha (Derry City), Liverpool University
Bros Pearse, Croydon, Fr Murphys, Tara (hosts)
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