MIGHTY MILFORD ARE QUEENS OF IRELAND

The girls of Milford were crowned the queens of camogie last Saturday after a majestic display that overwhelmed their opponents, Galway’s Killimor, in the All-Ireland Senior Clubs Camogie Championship Final at Croke Park.

Emulating the feat of Newtownshandrum, who brought the senior hurling crown to North Cork in 2004, the Milford heroines put on a consummate display which left little room for argument as to the merits of their success when referee Ger O’Dowd blew the final whistle on the G.A.A.’s hallowed turf at around 6.15pm on Saturday evening.

Elaine O’Riordan accepted the Carroll Cup from Camogie President Aileen Lawlor, on behalf of her ground-breaking team as Milford finally banished the ghosts of three Cork county final defeats. It was the final leg of a remarkable journey for a club that was founded just sixteen years ago, and fashioned by a team that has come up through the ranks and has brought the playing of the game to a new plain.

Supporters made their way in their hundreds to Croke Park for a highly charged, emotional occasion and the girls, who captured their first county and Munster senior titles in 2012, did not disappoint, and after a shaky start, served up an enthralling performance that blew away the challenge of the girls from the west. Manager Frankie Flannery and his back- room team had their side primed for all eventualities and once the girls in blue and white got into their stride, they moved inexorably to victory.

The sound of the final whistle sparked unpre-cedented scenes of joy, pride and jubilation, something that is likely to continue for many weeks, months and years to come.

The scene later in the evening switched to Milford where a huge crowd gave the trailblazers a tumultuous and deserved welcome home. Joy was unconfined and the bonfires blazed as the new All-Ireland champions arrived home shortly after midnight. (See full coverage on pages 61-65)