Mercy College on the hunt for quadruple

Mercy College’s star-studded camogie team are aiming to secure their fourth All-Ireland title in as many years when they travel to St. Rynagh’s GAA Club, Banagher, on Saturday to face Kilkenny’s Coláiste Mhuire Johnstown (throw-in at 12 p.m.).

After claiming the Senior D title in 2022, the Junior D title in 2023 and the Senior C crown last year, the Roscommon Town-based school is looking to complete an incredible run of results by securing national glory once more.

Mercy College, managed by Martin McManus, and Teresa Hession, have displayed plenty of grit on their way to Saturday’s final. They overcame Our Lady’s Terenure following a replay after seeing their Dublin foes score a late 2-1 in the drawn game to ensure the sides needed to meet again in Adamstown last week.

Mercy College, formerly known as the Convent of Mercy, managed to regroup as they dug in to secure a 3-11 to 4-4 victory. Laura McSharry, Síofra Hession and Alannah Sutton netted, and despite another comeback attempt by their Dublin opponents, the Roscommon girls held on to secure another shot at All-Ireland glory.

Joint manager Martin McManus admitted that it was tough for his side to regroup in such a short space of time, given the nature of Our Lady’s Terenure’s late, late, show in their drawn semi-final. Mock exams also presented a challenge ahead of the replay.

“We were very disappointed that we let the seven-point lead slip. The mood in the dressing room afterwards was low, so we had to stay positive. We knew that we were the better team and that we had a lot more scoring chances. We just needed to hold their number 11 (Helen Duignan) better.

“We knew that if we brought the hunger and fight again, that we would have a massive chance. We were lucky with the quick turnaround that we hadn’t too much time to dwell on it. We just had to regroup and get up for the game again.

“It was difficult, especially for the Leaving Certs who had an English mock (exam) that day. They finished the exam at 12.30 p.m. and we had to leave then at 1 p.m., so there were girls studying on the way up and back for their mocks the following day. It was difficult in that sense, but they applied themselves really well,” the Loughrea man noted.

McManus notes that despite Mercy College being on a high after having already claimed four provincial titles between ladies’ football and camogie this season, they will need to be prepared for the challenge of Coláiste Mhuire Johnstown.

“You always know what you are going to get from any Kilkenny team. They are going to bring massive hunger and fight. They will have a strong panel of players and looking at their past results, they put in a strong second half performance against the Cork team (Presentation Bandon) and in the Leinster final against the Wexford team (Presentation Wexford).

“We know we have to be at 100 per cent from minute one to minute 60 to beat them, but we are really looking forward to the challenge,” he concluded.