DCU was well represented at the All-Ireland Camogie Finals in Croke Park a few weeks ago with a number of students involved. Fiona Trant and Lauri McDermott played with the successful Kildare side that overcame Laois in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Final, while Emma Kavanagh, Lisa Carey and Mairéad Power were all part of the Kilkenny side that lost to Galway in the All-Ireland Senior Final.
Science and Education student Fiona Trant, played wing-back for Kildare who won their fourth Junior All-Ireland title with a nine point win over midland rivals, Laois.
Fiona said: “It’s a dream come true to win an All-Ireland title. It feels fantastic. We have trained so hard for so many years and we have always fallen short, but we knew this was our year and we got there in the end.
“Laois are like ourselves. They’re always growing and have been there, there abouts for years. We have played them so often we know them well. I’ve three cousins who play for Laois so it was a bit awkward after the final whistle.”
Kildare have had a really strong year, getting to the National Camogie League Division Two Final and winning their Provincial Final.
“We got to the Division Two League Final when nobody thought we would and we beat a lot of Intermediate teams to get there. We then won the Leinster final and were only beaten once in the Championship this year. It was great to end the year with another success” she added.
Emma Kavanagh and Lisa Carey are studying PE and Education. Emma is Kilkenny’s goalkeeper while Lisa plays full-back. Mairéad Power is another DCU student who played with Kilkenny in All-Ireland Senior Final, but has gone to study Athletic Therapy and Training America for the semester. “She’ll be a pretty big loss for DCU in the first few months but hopefully she’ll be back after Christmas” said Emma.
A scrappy first half goal for Galway stood between the sides the entire game and the Connaught side ran out eventual winners with a 1-09 to 0-07 score line in what was only their second ever win.
Speaking about the final, Emma said: “It was a great experience. It’s a pity that it didn’t go right for us. It was luck that went against us but it was great to get there anyway and represent our county.
“We’re so proud of the team and what it took to get there and what work we put in. We trained our hearts out but like I said, it just didn’t go right on the day.”
Lisa added: “There was no stone left unturned in the preparation. Everyone fought really hard in the training and it just didn’t happen for us on the day and there’s no explaining why.”
The girls can’t wait to get back playing Camogie for DCU again this year. “The college is a step up from the county and the girls are all real committed and good craic” said Fiona.
Having won the Purcell Cup two years in a row, the girls’ main aim is to get promoted to the Ashbourne Cup.
Lisa said: “We’ve won the Purcell these past two years, and to not win the qualifier last year was absolutely heart-breaking but we picked ourselves up, fought on, and thankfully we retained our Purcell Cup.
“Hopefully this year we’ll get into Ashbourne. We’re playing UCC in the Qualifier which is going to be a very tough challenge but we’re going to train really hard up until then and hopefully the results will come on the day.”
Anita Mc Sorley
Image Credit: Sportsfile
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