Ardrahan on brink of camogie history

WHEN Noreen Murphy captained the Galway under 16s to All-Ireland championship glory back in 2009, the prospect of Ardrahan becoming a future force in Galway camogie was already being anticipated.

Since then, Galway have won six more All-Irelands and five panellists from the equally glorious 2013 intermediates were proud wearers of the blue and white.

Admittedly, Ardrahan’s county senior success last October wasn’t expected yet. The evidence supported that view. Just two years ago, Ardrahan played in the All-Ireland intermediate final. This was just their second season in the top flight and their group campaign included A 5-13 to 1-12 reversal against Killimor.

After four minutes of their County quarter-final, they had conceded two goals. But led by their inspirational captain Rachael O’Toole, who scored two goals that day, they overturned that deficit to defeat Castlegar 2-16 to 2-12 before knocking out championship favourites Killimor and Mullagh to secure a first ever county success.

It’s like we’ve witnessed a club mature in mid-season and everyone in Ardrahan and Labane will be hoping they complete the job when they face reigning All-Ireland champions Milford from Cork on Sunday (3.15pm Croke Park) in the final.

Despite a slow start against Kilkenny’s Mullinavat in the semi-final, they never panicked and were rewarded with second half goals from Rebecca Hennelly and Keelin O’Shaughnessy to take a six point victory.

The attack caught the eye as Hennelly, Andrea Mullins and O’Toole form a strong half-forward line while the inside line of O’Shaughnessy, Cliodhna Walsh and Edel Holland proved very efficient.

Holland has had trouble with a knee injury ahead of the final but while her involvement shouldn’t be under threat, Ardrahan can call on Denise Diviney as back-up.

But their strength doesn’t stop there. Gardiner has been composed between the sticks, Shauna Healy and Aoife Lynskey at full and centre back respectively have been formidable, equally hardworking on the flanks are Sarah Keehan, Aisling Brennan, Sheila Forde and Siobhan Gardiner. While in midfield, Aoife Callanan and Megan Carr can be counted to put in the required work.

And Ardrahan will need that against a strong, mobile Milford side who took apart Killimor in the second quarter of last year’s All-Ireland final. That day county footballer Deirdre O’Reilly struck their first major before corner forward Maria Watson added a brace. With Marie O’Neill and Regina Curtin also able hit the target, Ardrahan’s rearguard will need to be secure.

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.