Tensions were high on Sunday morning at Iveagh Grounds as the first of three camogie finals got underway. Naomh Olaf faced off against St Vincents in the Go Ahead Dublin Camogie Inter 2 final. With a huge turnout of Olaf supporters, a pristine pitch and perfect match conditions, the girls were set for an intense battle. As soon as the first whistle blew, the girls were putting pressure on the Vincents’ defence, they had a few chances but failed to get a score on the board in the opening minutes. After two points for Vincents, Olafs’ efforts were rewarded with a point from Ciara Murphy, assisted by Caoimhe Gilsenan’s speed. Midfielder Julie Grimes played defensively, winning sidelines and frees that got the girls out of some dangerous situations. The ever-reliable Olaf backline made sure the sliotar didn’t come close to the net, clearance after clearance down the wing from corner back Jane Sone Lenou and Ellen Brien’s strength kept the Vincents’ forwards at bay. Linked play between Saoirse Nic Coitir, Christine Shanahan, and Laura Corbally consistently got the ball up to our forwards and kept it there. The first half was impossibly close, you couldn’t have called it. Due to the precision of freetakers on both sides, the points rolled in, leaving the halftime score at 0–04 to 0–05 to St Vincents. The girls were determined to leave it all out on the pitch as the second half got underway, a pass between the Shanahan sisters ending in a point from Christine levelled the game once again. Co-captain and keeper Chloe Ní Cheallaigh never cracked under the pressure and led by example as she calmly caught, blocked and cleared high balls. Olafs weren’t put off by the pressure from the sideline, they thrived under it and gave their supporters something to cheer about. The first and last goal of the whole game came from a quick flick by Caoimhe Gilsenan, who pulled on the sliotar after it landed in a ruck in front of the goal. Desperate to hold onto their two point lead, Ciara Donnelly dropped back and persistently hassled, whilst Roisin McLoughlin pressed the play to the wings. There was some sibling telepathy in action from the second set of sisters on team when co-captain Eilis Murphy flicked the sliotar up into her sister Ciara’s hand, and Ciara had turned and gone before you could blink. As the minutes ticked down, the gap between the teams became narrower and narrower, with St Vincents finally equalising with a final point. The game ended in a draw, 1-06 to Naomh Olafs and 0-09 to St Vincents. An unlucky ending after the Sandyford girls had put so much into the game. The final will be replayed in the coming weeks and there’s no doubt the girls will put it up to Vincents again.
