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Camogs successfully defend Birmingham title

November 7, 2018

Fr. Murphy’s camogie season off to flying start

Fr. Murphy’s got their camogie season off to a flying start by successfully defending their title at the Birmingham Womens Festival on Saturday last. They beat Tara in a nail-biting final on a scoreline of 2-03 to 1-04.

The girls in purple and gold were drawn in a group with Erin go Bragh (Birmingham), Liverpool Hope University and Tara ‘B’. They started as they meant to go on against a young Erin go Bragh team, winning 6-06 to 0-00. Next up were Liverpool Hope, a university better known for their exploits on the ladies gaelic football field, but who proved to be a tough challenge for the London Senior Championship and League winners of 2008. Fr. Murphy’s stepped up a gear though, and won the match comfortably on a scoreline of 3-03 to 0-00.
The final group game was against Tara ‘B’. In a game which saw goalkeeper Mel Hogan and full back Eimear O’Higgins line out in midfield, Fr. Murphy’s won on a scoreline of 4-09 to 0-00.

During the group games, Fr. Murphy’s scores came from all over the pitch, with Emma Taylor, Sinead Kirk, Ciara O’Donnell, Sue Deasy (from Bros. Pearse club but playing with Fr. Murphy’s for the tournament), Ruth Foley, Grainne Hunter, Liz McGrath, Eimear O’Higgins and Mel Hogan all getting their names on the score sheet.

In the other group, Tara ‘A’ and Croydon progressed to the semi final stages. Having won their group, Fr. Murphy’s played Croydon, who were runners-up in their group.

In a re-match of last years final, which the girls in purple and gold won by two points, the champions battled hard in all areas of the pitch and won the game on a scoreline of 1-02 to 0-01, conceding their first score of the day.
In the other semi final, Tara ‘A’ beat Liverpool Hope comfortably, setting up an all-London final.

Tara looked the sharpest in the opening minutes of the final, with Grace Hamilton grabbing an early goal and Denise Gilligan following with a point, but Fr. Murphy’s fought back with a point from player of the tournament Grainne Hunter, and Emma Taylor put the ball in the Tara net just before half time to put the teams level with 1-01 apiece at the interval.

In the second half, Sue Deasy grabbed 1-01 as Fr. Murphy’s ran out winners 2-02 to 1-03.

Denis Neenan from the Erin go Bragh club presented club captain Bronagh McLernon with the cup after the final whistle, while Grainne Hunter deservedly picked up the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award.

Fr. Murphy’s team: Mel Hogan, Jade O’Neill, Eimear O’Higgins, Liz McGrath, Bronagh McLernon, Ruth Foley, Grainne Hunter, Ciara O’Donnell, Sue Deasy (Bros. Pearse), Sinead Kirk, Emma Taylor, Tina Quinn.