Novel pairing set for senior camogie final showdown
The Oran senior camogie panel that will be aiming to win the club's first senior title since 2002 when they face St. Dominic's in Saturday's final at Ballyforan.
St. Dominic’s reclaiming the throne or a potential new era for Roscommon camogie?
That’s the main storyline heading into Saturday afternoon’s Senior A camogie championship final in Ballyforan at 3.30 p.m. when 2019 and 2022 champions, St. Dominic’s, face a rising force in Oran who are searching for the club’s first crown in 22 years.
Oran have already broken new ground this season by winning the club’s first senior league title since 2001. For a club that dominated Roscommon camogie in the nineties, winning seven-in-a-row between 1992 and 1998, not being in a final since 2013 must seem like a famine.
But a series of successful underage sides at U-14 and minor levels in recent years has sown the seeds for brighter days at adult level, and those players have germinated into a determined and ambitious group that has been married with the team’s experienced cohort.
Manager Colm Kelly, who has enjoyed All-Ireland success with underage Roscommon teams, is joined on the management team by Maeve Healy, Ann Connolly and Joan Kenny. They've got a tune out of this team, and they’ll go into Saturday’s final without the fear of a side that have been away from the top table for so long.
Captain Marie Carty is an excellent defender, while Michaela Fallon is one of the best goalkeepers in the county. Claire Curley has given her heart and soul to Oran and Roscommon camogie over the years, but’s it’s the emergence of an exciting group of young players with All-Ireland medals with their county and school in their back pockets that has regenerated optimism levels around Rockfield.
Shauna and Erin McDermott, alongside Orla Connolly, Hazel Kelly and Anna Hussey are typical of the exuberance and fearlessness now embedded within Oran ranks. They’ll back their own ability to overcome what is sure to be a physical and determined Dominic’s challenge.
But Dominic’s will aim to quell any notions of a rebellion, fuelled by their own hunger for success.
This is the Knockcroghery-based side’s sixth final on the bounce, winning two and losing three of the previous five. While they saw off Four Roads in 2019, the last four finals against Athleague have procured mixed results. So to have dethroned the defending champions 3-8 to 0-6 in their recent semi-final will give John Haughey’s side plenty of confidence heading into Saturday’s encounter.
Joanne Naughton and Susan Spillane have returned to Dominic’s colours this year. But Niamh Fitzgerald and Laoise Mahon are absent through Erasmus commitments, while Julie Healy is travelling.
Just like Oran, underage success has been a precursor to brighter days at adult level and, in that regard, Kaitlin Egan and Lily Murray have enjoyed fine seasons.
The teams have met twice this year — in the league final which Oran won by four points and in the group stages of the championship when Dominic’s gained a modicum of revenge with a two-point success.
Both teams’ younger players know each other so well from their county and schools’ exploits but that camaraderie will be transformed into a rivalry that has the potential to dominate the local camogie landscape for some time.
St. Dominic’s will try and overpower their opponents, utilising their reserves of experience to keep a potent Oran attack on the periphery.
Oran will bank on their creative instincts to set the ball rolling on what could be a famous day in the club’s history.
Both games this season suggest that there will be little between them once again. On the basis that Dominic’s have been acquainted with the demands of a county senior final, they get a hesitant nod to make up for the disappointment of last year.
