De La Salle celebrate their Minor 'A' Camogie title victory over Cappoquin.
Beth Carton, undeniably the most outstanding teenage camogie prospect in the country, tallied an incredible 4-7 in Fraher Field last Saturday as De La Salle saw off a spirited Cappoquin side to claim the Minor ‘A’ title.
On her own, Carton outscored Cappoquin by 1-3, but it’s worth pointing out the outstanding efforts of the Cornerstone club’s diminutive corner-forward Aisling Power, who ran up a superb 3-2 tally.
By half-time, the contest had already been settled, with the Gracedieu club leading by 2-5 to 0-3. Carton stuck both goals, in the ninth and 15th minute; drifting away from the chasing Cappoquin defence on both occasions to devastating effect and finishing with the power of a player one doesn’t normally witness at this grade.
And the quality of several of her points from play proved equally impressive; while her ability to strike cleanly and accurately from a dead ball suggests she could share the free-taking burden with Patricia Jackman in next season’s inter-county Championship.
But it was far from a one woman show, as her fellow half-forward Aisling Madigan put both hands up for a Deise call-up next year when clocking up six impressive points during a composed and polished performance. Combining her physical presence with some fine stick work, Aisling’s is a name worth keeping an eye out for over the coming summers.
While Niamh Moore caught the eye at left half-back for Cappoquin, it was Aisling Moore in the half-forward slot down that same flank who led the way for the red and black. Her second half hat-trick, which she completed in injury time, was just reward for a player whose attitude replicated her natural talent.
Another of this triple-header’s welcome features last Saturday (An Rinn defeated the Brickey Rangers in the Under 13 ‘B’ Final) was the absence of cynical play on the pitch. This was matched by the conduct of the crowd, none of whom, in the four-plus hours I was inside the venue that afternoon, uttered a single expletive. And well done to Joe Clery, who put together the match day programme which also serves as a souvenir of a great year for Deise Camogie.
De La Salle: Brianna O’Regan; Katie Ryan, Taylor Healy, Emma Fitzgerald; Ciara Twomey, Nicola Robinson, Colette Hogan; Courtney Healy, Niamh Murphy; Katie O’Keeffe, Beth Carton, Aisling Madigan; Becky Roche, Chloe Dempsey, Caoimhe Drohan.
Substitutes: Patricia Farrell for Becky Roche (46 mins).
Scorers: Beth Carton (4-7; 0-4 45’. 0-1f), Aisling Madigan (0-6), Caoimhe Drohan (1-0) and Courtney Healy (0-2).
Cappoquin: Ellen Meaney; Jade Morrissey, Sinead O’Brien, Emily Power; Elaine Looby, Roisin Cahillane, Niamg Moore; Clodagh Galvin, Lauren McGregor; Niamh Foley, Roisin Uniacke, Aisling Power; Charlotte Curran, Niamh Coffey, Aine Barry.
Scorers: Aisling Power (3-2, 0-1f, 0-1 45’), Roisin Uniacke and Lauren McGregor (0-1 each).
Referee: Stephen McCarthy.
