Congratulations to our Senior Camogie panel on a great victory last Monday night in terrible conditions in Castle road over a gallant St. Mary’s Macroom. Our fantastic seniors were expertly captained by our midfield maestro Eadbha O’Connor from Newtownshandrum and as a result of this win St Mary’s are now back where they belong playing Senior A camogie. In the first 9 weeks of the new season our Seniors have been very busy. The year started with a good challenge against Newport. Despite missing several players due to club commitments, the Seniors produced a very efficient performance to draw the game 3-8 to 2-11. Our scorers on the day were the hardworking Lexie O’Halloran with 5 points from play and frees, full forward Niamh Gammell who started off the year with 1-1 and our young gun, Chloe Jones, who from midfield had a great game and scored 2-2.
Team on the day was very well captained by our vice captain Saoirse Morrissey from Ballyhea. Others to play well were the impressive Faye Ronan in the half back line and Caoimhe O’Connor and Vicky Curran in the full back line. The second challenge was away to Gort who are one of the favourites this year to win the Senior A All-Ireland. Unfortunately our seniors were understrength and despite a heavy defeat lessons were learned on the day. Aoife Morrissey, Cara Hickey, Ava Mulcahy, Roisin Herlihy and Chloe Jones were all really good in this game.
The quarter final of the Cork Colleges was at home to Glanmire Community College who are mainly made up of Sarsfields and Erin’s Own players. Glanmire were tough opposition but credit to our seniors who produced an excellent performance to come out on top 7-8 to 4-9. Scorers on the day were Shona Brennan (1-0), Chloe Jones (0-1), Orla Troy (0-3), Niamh Gammell who continued her super scoring streak with (3-0) and the player of the match Fiona Troy who finished with 3-4. It was a very impressive team performance with our passing and support play starting to come together. Other players who stood out included Roisin Herlihy at half back who is as sticky as they come, Ava McDonogh who won a lot of ball and the diminutive Caila Neligan who had everyone talking after the game with her high fielding and mazy runs.
The Senior 2 team then kicked off their season with a tremendous win over Youghal’s first team on a scoreline of 2-5 to 0-8. Our scorers on the day were all third years, Hannah Buicke (1-1), Orlaith McAuliffe (0-1) and player of the match Grace Hickey (1-3). This was a noteworthy win over a strong Youghal side. Melanie Hayes was very dependable in goal, while the full back line of Chloe McGrath, Zoe O’Halloran and Ellen Imray were very tough to beat.
Our half back line was the speedy Evie Hughes, the skilful Laura Jones and the stylish Isabell Barrett. Our backs were very hard to penetrate and were the foundation of this win. Captain Kate Cotter, Ava Drinan, Claire O’Brien and Emma Bohane were others that showed up well in a fantastic win.
Our Senior 1s then had a hugely beneficial challenge against Loughrea, who alongside Gort, are tipped to go a long way in this year’s Senior A championship. Despite losing 8-13 to 1-19 our Seniors played some excellent camogie and things were starting to come together nicely. Scorers on the day were Shona Brennan (0-1), Orla Troy (0-3), Fiona Troy (0-8), Niamh Gammell (0-1), Lauren McAuliffe (0-5) and Chloe Jones (1-0). Aoife Morrissey showed her unbelievable quality with a great battle with her opposite number. Caoimhe O’Connor was excellent in the full back line. Faye Ronan shone at wing back. Eadbha O’Connor was hugely impressive in midfield and is developing a great understanding with Chloe Jones. Ava Mulcahy and Lauren McAuliffe worked their socks off while Fiona Troy was on fire in the inside line.
Things were starting to look up.
The Semi Final of the Cork Colleges was against Mount Mercy. This team is made up of players from Ballinhassig, Ballincollig, Inniscarra, Eire Óg, Ballinora and Bishopstown and were very strong on the day. It was a cracker of a game that could have gone anyway. Luckily St. Mary’s came out on top with the finish ending up 3-14 to 1-14 in our favour. Aoibheann Morrissey produced her best game of the year in goal and saved two goal bound efforts to keep us in the lead at various points in the game. Cara Hickey was in a new role in the full back line and played her heart out and got great support from Ava Mulcahy and Saoirse Morrissey. Orla Troy was simply outstanding and really led the team when she went into midfield. Beside her, Eadbha O’Connor got the score of the game with a expertly taken goal from play when the game was in the melting pot. It was a fierce tough battle but our Seniors stood up and delivered.
Our scorers were Chloe Jones (0-1), Lexie O’ Halloran (0-1), Caila Neligan (0-1), Orla Troy (2-9), Eadbha O’Connor (1-0) and Lauren McAuliffe (0-2).
The Cork Senior final was versus St. Mary’s Macroom who had comprehensively beaten Midleton and Clonakilty in the earlier rounds. Fiona Troy opened the scoring in the second minute after great support play from Lauren McAuliffe and Niamh Gammell. Macroom replied with a point from a free. Niamh Gammell took the game by the scruff of the neck with an opportunistic goal from play after she won a dirty ball and powered past the full back before billowing the back of the net. It was a lead St. Mary’s never let go of. Orla Troy was again all over the field and got two more points one from a free and the other a spectacular effort from play. Macroom responded with two points from frees. Niamh Gammell replied with a point from play.
The rain continued but St. Mary’s never let up. Faye Ronan, Aoife Morrissey and Roisin Herlihy were marking the danger forwards and all three were winning their battles. Saoirse Morrissey was in excellent form with driving runs and clearances. Ava Mulcahy (does she ever not work hard?) was very effective wing back while Cara Hickey was very dominant and safe at full back. Fiona Troy got another point from play before Macroom hit back with a sucker punch of a goal from a long range free. It was game on at half time with only the bare minimum in it.
In the second half the Charleville girls had the advantage of the wind but that never wins games. Aoibheann Morrissey took full advantage of the elements and her puckouts were outstanding and always gave us the advantage. Caila Neligan switched to wing back and intercepted a lot of ball while beside her Aoife Morrissey was letting nothing past her. Beside them Roisin Herlihy and later Caoimhe O’Connor made an excellent half back line. Captain fantastic Eadbha O’Connor was flying and Chloe Jones was using her hurling skills to great effect.
In the early stages of the second half St. Mary’s took off. Scores were flying in. First Fiona Troy had a point from play. Then Shona Brennan got a great goal after great teamwork from the very busy Lexie O’Halloran and Niamh Gammell. Lauren McAuliffe was working very hard at centre forward and later got great support from Ava McDonogh and Claire O’Brien. Hannah Buicke also made a valuable contribution when introduced. Then Niamh Gammell got her second goal of the game. Even though now with a comfortable lead the north Cork girls didn’t relax and started to close out the game.
Further scores came from Orla Troy (0-5) and Chloe Jones (0-1). Macroom did manage to get a brilliant goal but in the end there was only one winner. St Mary’s 3-13 Macroom 2-4. Afterwards Eadbha O’Connor accepted the cup on behalf of the entire team and the celebrations began. A great win and well deserved. Scorers were Fiona Troy (0-3), Orla Troy (0:7), Niamh Gammell (2-2), Chloe Jones (0-1) and Shona Brennan (1-0). Three very good teams were beaten to win the Cork B Championship and now in 2026 St Mary’s will be playing Senior A once again. Congratulations to the entire panel on a fantastic win. Attention now turns to tomorrow when the Seniors play Mount Mercy once more, this time in the Munster Quarter final. Another battle awaits.
Panel: Eadbha O’Connor (captain) Newtownshan-drum, Shona Brennan, Newtownshandrum, Fiona Troy, Newtownshandrum, Kate Cotter Buttevant, Vicky Curran, Buttevant, Melanie Hayes, Newtownshandrum, Claire O’Brien, Newtownshan-drum, Niamh Gammell, Charleville, Leah McAuliffe Charleville, Saoirse Morrissey (vc) Ballyhea, Aoibheann Morrissey, Ballyhea, Ellen Imray, Ballyagran, Laura Jones Charleville, Ava Drinan, Charleville, Ava Mulcahy, Ballyhea, Lexie O’Halloran, Newtown-shandrum, Caoimhe O’Connor, Newtown-shandrum, Cara Hickey, Ballyhea, Orla Troy, Newtownshandrum, Lauren MAuliffe, Newtownshandrum, Aoife Morrissey, Granagh/Ballingarry, Faye Ronan, Ballyhea, Roisin Herlihy, Granagh/Ballingarry, Ava McDonogh, Granagh/Ballingarry, Evie Hughes, Newtownshandrum, Caila Neligan, Charleville, Chloe Jones, Charleville, Hannah Buicke, Ballyhea, Steffi O’Toole, Charleville.