ALL IRELAND JUNOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 - THE ROAD TO THE FINAL
2011 - The year Tara Camogie Club of London reached an All-Ireland Club Final.
As Senior London Camogie Champions 2011, Tara earned a place in the All-Ireland Club Championship.
The first hurdle was a trip away to Antrim in the quarter-final against Ulster Champions Ruairi Og.
Next up the semi finals where Leinster champions Myshall of Carlow travelled to Ruislip.
Following the epic semi final win, Tara were to play the Final a week later in Ashbourne against the Munster Champions, Inagh of Clare
who had seen off defending champions Four Road in their semi-final.
SPONSORS
We won the semi final on the Saturday and the Final was fixed for the following Sunday at Ashbourne. Anyone that has ever been involved in organising a team trip, will appreciate the work and planning involved in organising flights, hotels, buses, food etc.
We organised a Raffle to help aid the trip but we must thnak the many Irish Contractors and Clubs in London that contributed towards our costs; without you it would have cost us all individually a fortune!!
Contributors:
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ALL IRELAND JUNOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Sunday 27th November 2011
Inagh (Clare) 5-4 v Tara (London) 2-4
Ashbourne, Meath
Tara Camogie Clubs dream of clinching their first ever All Ireland Junior Club Championship ended in defeat at the hands of Inagh on Sunday afternoon in Ashbourne, Meath. Tara had just 8 days previously bagged their place in the final with a win over Myshal, Carlow. Inagh saw off the challenge of reigning champions Four Roads a week previously, who had in previous years scuppered Taras chances of making it to he final. Played in brilliant winter sunshine in the magnificent setting of Donoghmore Ashbourne, Tara had a dream start when having won possession right at the throw in and sent it straight down the field, where Grace Hamilton was on hand to gather and send her shot to the back of the Inagh net. However Tara did not capitalise on this and press on, instead it was the Inagh girls who upped the ante, and playing with the aid of a stiff breeze opened their tally with a point from play by Fiona Lafferty in the 3rd minute. Inagh could have levelled the match but erratic shooting saw them send 2 shots wide. However when Lafferty send a long shot in to her forward line in the 9th minute, it fell to Emily Lynch who this time made no mistake and rattled the Tara net to send Inagh ahead by the minimum of margins. This was a tough physical battle between the two sides and play centred around the middle of the field for the next 15 mins. Inagh squandered chances to fiorge ahead as they were guilty of 5 wides befor Lafferty again pointed from a free. Taras forays into Inagh territory did not yield them the rewards they sought and at half time it was the Clare side who held a 3 point advantage. If Tara had the dream start to the opening half , it was Inagh who had the better start to the second half when Lafferty goaled after she broke through the Tara defence despite the efforts of Bid Grennan and Sheila Fernades, and struck for goal to push Inagh in front by 6 points. Tara, realising that this game could slip away from them now hit a purple patch and with great combination work from Rosie Cusack and Meabh Brennann field, who were now the dominant pairing in mid field and kept a supply of ball in to the full forward line, from which Denise Gilligan and Angela Kenneally hit 4 unanswered points to reduce the deficit down to 2 points by the end of the 3rd quarter. Disaster however was to strike for Tara when Inagh hit for 3 goals in a 6 minute period, Patricia O’Loughlin, Helen Hehir and Tara Rynne all managing to send their shots past Tara goalie Niamh Dolan who had been tireless in her efforts to keep Tara in the game. With the title practically in the bag, Lafferty converted another free in the 58th minute to put 4 goals between the sides. Tara, to their credit however kept the fight up, and when Kenneallys shot on goal was deflected by the Inagh backs out wide, Gilligan was on the target when she hit a long range 45 which sailed over the Inagh defence and to the back of the net for the final score of the game, leaving Inagh victors o a final score 5-4 to Taras 2-4.
Tara: Niamh Dolan, Niamh Keating, Ann Gleeson, Sheila Fernandes, Catherine Higgins, Bid Grennan, Karen Fitzpatrick, Meabh Brennan, Rosie Cusack, Joanne Hamilton, Helen Murphy, Yvonne Donnelly, Angela Kenneally (0-2), Denise Gilligan (Capt.) (1-2, 1-1f), Grace Hamilton (1-0)
Subs Siobhan Convery for J. Hamilton (23 mins), Joni Traynor for Fitzpatrick (46 mins), Donna Gallery for G. Hamilton (56 mins), Susanna Gill for Fernandes (56 mins)
Player of the Game Fiona Lafferty (Inagh)
Referee Donal Ryan (Dublin)
Thanks to all the support from family, friends and past Tara players including our Presidents Carmel Dillon and Majella O'Neill.
Also for those of you that remember Ann Hehir that played with Tara 88-92, well her daughter Helen played full-forward for Inagh and scored.
Thanks to Clare PRO Brid for her reports and photos.
ALL IRELAND JUNOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL Tara earn All-Ireland junior club camogie place
Saturday 20 November 2011
Tara (London) 2-6
Myshall (Carlow) 0-6
Denise Gilligan was the scoring star for Tara as they made history by beating Myshall at Ruislip on Saturday, to reach the All-Ireland junior club final for the first time.
The Exiles' captain scored 1-6 of her side's tally and will be chasing her sixth All-Ireland medal, having enjoyed the ultimate success at vocational schools and inter-county level, most notably a two-goal hero when Galway won their only senior title in 1996.
Myshall will make the return journey with plenty of regret though, as they had more than enough possession of the ball, but the failure to turn that into scores as they racked up wide after wide proved telling in the end.
It was nip and tuck early on and the teams were level on 0-3 apiece when Gilligan pounced on a rare mistake by the otherwise outstanding Niamh Quirke to arrow a ground shot to the net.
That helped Tara to a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead but they had to withstand a concerted onslaught from their Carlow opponents in the second half. Some wayward shooting proved a sever handicap for the visitors though and their fate was sealed when Meabh Brennan pounced for an injury time goal to spark delirious celebrations.
Scorers - Tara: D Gilligan 1-6 (0-5fs); M Brennan 1-0
Myshall: O Maye 0-3(2fs); C Quirke 0-2; C Mullins 0-1
Tara: N Dolan; N Keating, A Gleeson, S Fernandes; C Higgins, B Grennan, K Fitzpatrick; M Brennan, R Cusack; H Murphy, J Hamilton, Y Donnelly; A Kenneally, D Gilligan, G Hamilton.
Myshall: S Ryan; F Jordan, N Quirke, J Joyce; P Whelan, K Nolan, Mairéad Doyle; C Mullins, T Wilson; O Jordan, K Foley, Marian Doyle; R Mullins, O Maye, C Quirke
Referee: G McGough (Dublin)
ALL IRELAND JUNOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINAL Historic day for Tara and London Camogie
Sunday 30th October 2011
Ruairi Og 0-11 v 2-9 Tara
Tara Camogie Club London are through to the All Ireland Junior Club Semi final making it third time lucky having beaten Ruairi Og of Cushendall Antrim 2-09 v 0-11.
A woman of the match performance was put in by each and every Tara player, so much so that no one could be singled out for their efforts
Ruairi Og were the quicker off the mark however with a quick shot over the bar from Laura McMullan. The Tara backline were convinced the shot was wide only to be overruled by the umpires which served only to get the blue and whites backs rearing to make amends!
Leading the Tara charge from the front was Captain Denise Gilligan (Craughwell - Galway) who notched up 2-06 (3frees) for the blue and white. The first of two goals was scored following a Galway combination started from a puck out from goalkeeper Niamh Dolan (Craughwell - Galway). Yvonne Donnelly (Kilimor - Galway) moved the ball swiftly on in the centre of the park with a long ground strike in to the path of Gilligan who let it fly passed Ciara Campbell in the Ruairi Og goal.
Settled and hungry for more scores Tara's midfield duo of Meabh Brennan (Cork) and Rosie Cusack (Australia) battled against Ruairi Ogs Coleen Patterson and Naomi McCurry in the middle of the field for every puck out. Any loose ball was cleared by Tara's dependable centre back Bid Grennan (Kilkenny) who had a phenomenal game clearing left right and centre all over the pitch.
Grennan needed to be on her game as Ruairi Ogs forwards of Laura McMullan and Alex McLoughlin put Tara's defence under severe pressure lifting the sliotar and soloing for goal at every opportunity.
Tara's backline stood firm however and Catherine Higgins (Derry) worked her socks of putting her head where most players wouldn't put their hurl for the Tara cause earning herself a head injury for her efforts, but stopped Ruairi Ogs forwards going clean on goal. The result being Ruairi Og only scored one point from play in the first half and went in to the dressing room at half time down 1-06 to 0-5.
Tara fielded the second half having made one change with Niamh Keating (Limerick) on for corner back Sheila Fernandes (Galway). With a more determined look in their eyes Ruairi Og set about to quickly close the deficit scoring two points from frees in quick succession both by Orla O'Hara.
Tara's backs kept their heads up with the next Ruairi Og strike blocked down by Susi Gill (London). It was to be her last action of the match following a foot injury and a like for like replacement was made in Joni Traynor (Antrim). It went on to be a second half of superb block downs none more so than by Tara's Helen Murphy (Kilkenny) who blocked 3 shots in quick succession in the middle of the park to prevent a Ruairi Og strike in to the waiting forwards.
To sure up defence in the closing stages Angela Kenneally (Kilkenny) was pulled back in to the half back line and in partnership with Karen Fitzpatrick made several clearances to feed forwards Joanne Hamilton (Antrim) and Donna Gallery (Clare) up the field
It was a nerve biting finish for the London outfit. Ruairi Og piled on the pressure and had a shot on goal cleared with superb defensive play by full back Ann Gleeson (Tipperary) and goalkeeper Niamh Dolan (Galway). Had the sliotar crossed the line it would have been a tighter race towards the end line.
With tiring legs Tara's had a superb panel of substitutes to choose from and Grace Hamilton (Antrim) came on for Donna Gallery (Clare) and swiftly switched play to the right wing only for a Ruairi Og challenge on sister Joanne to be deemed a free in Tara's favour. Denise Gilligan (Galway) expertly converted and Tara's finished the game out 4 points to the good to jubilant celebrations from the blue and white.
Tara's having made it third time lucky are now through to the semi final against the Leinster Champions, which are yet to be decided.
Tara
Niamh Dolan, Susi Gill, Ann Gleeson, Sheila Fernandes, Catherine Higgins, Bid Grennan, Karen Fitzpatrick, Rosie Cusack, Meabh Brennan, Helen Murphy, Joanne Hamilton, Yvonne Donnelly, Angela Kenneally, Denise Gilligan, Donna Gallery. Subs: Niamh Keating, Joni Traynor, Dearbhail O'Neill, Rachel Hawkins, Tina Enright, Janine O'Neill, Janine O'Gorman.Lyndsey Shanks and Jennifer Tomb.
Ruairi Og
Ciara Campbell, Seana Cosgrove, Lisa McAuley, Shauna Healy, Sorcha Cosgrove, Bronagh Heggarty, Coleen Patterson, Naomi McCurry, Brianna McDonnell, Orla O'Hara, Maureen McAlister, Tessa McDonnell, Alex McLoughlin, Helena McAlister, Laura McMullan
Subs: Eimear O Hara, Noleen Cosgrove, Nuala McQuillan, Terri McNaughton
ALL IRELAND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Tara, as Senior Champions, will represent London in the All Ireland Club Championship, at quarter final stage and play Ulster champions Ruari Og on Sunday 30th October 2011 at 12 noon in Cushendall.
Four Tara girls will return to their native counties this weekend. Sisters Joanne & Grace Hamilton hail from up the road in Cushendun. Both joined Tara back in 2007 and have helped the club go on to win a hat-trick of senior championships since 2008. Rachel Hawkins (Belfast) is a relatively newcomer to camogie whilst Joni Traynor of Loughgiel only joined Tara a couple of months ago since arriving in London to study Law.
Tara have been the on form team in London this year, making it a double winning the Senior Championship and Senior League finals. With a strong panel Tara’s manager Ambrose Gordon (Galway) has a tough time narrowing the panel down to 22. This will be a mammoth challenge for the girls in blue and white however they have stepped up to the challenge so far. Intensity has been upped in training over the last few weeks and everyone has been through their paces.
Having reached the Quarter final stage last year and 2009, having lost out on both occasions to Four Roads of Roscommon who were crowned All Ireland Junior Club champions last year in Croke Park, Tara are hoping to make it third time lucky.
Taras opponents were decided last Sunday when Ruairi Og (Antrim) beat Crosserlough (Cavan) 2-05 to 1-05, with the younger sister of Kevin McMullan (Robert Emmetts & London fame) scoring 1-3 from wing forward. She’s bound to be nipping like Kevin so will need to be watched.
Tara’s will look to the strength in their team to see them through. In defence Tara will look to the experience of Ann Gleeson for leadership. Gleeson hailing from Holycross, Co. Tipperary has been part of the back bone of Tara camogie for a number of years now. She has been solid in defence for Tara all year. Responsibility will also rest on the experienced shoulders of centre back and last years Captain Bid Grennan to rally the team. An injury to full back Niamh Keating during a challenge game is a blow but theres a great chance that she may feature at some point.
Up front Captain Denise Gilligan will be leading the Tara attack. Free taker and goal scorer Gilligan will need to be on form for Tara . Sharp shooters Angela Kenneally and Joanne Hamilton will also be relied on to control the half forward line.
Tara will also be hoping that the flu which has swept through the team and kept 3 girls from the last few training sessions doesn’t inflict any further damage. Janine O'Neill who broke her arm in a recent league game has just had her cast removed so may also be a doubt.
Unlike their opponents, Tara are made up of a collection of girls from all over Ireland , America , Australia and London . Tara will go in as underdogs to this game - a title that suits the blue and white. With a strong panel everyone will play their part and Tara will be hopeful that it will be third time lucky to make it through to the semi finals.
