The North Kerry club won the Division 5 title after beating host club Faythe Harriers from Wexford in the final
© Kerryman
In the 120th year of the Camogie Association and on the 50th anniversary of the first Camogie Féile na nGael, Cillard were crowned John West National Féile na nGael Under-15 Division 5 champions in Wexford at the weekend.
After the four-hour trip to get to Waterford the night before and with only one objective in mind the Cillard players were fully focused on the tournament, in which eight teams, including the host club, Faythe Harriers, battled it out for the top prize.
Cillard first played Eire Óg Greystones from Wicklow. After a blustery start with continuous pressure on the Eire Óg defence, the Kerry club were 1-4 to no score ahead at half time courtesy of a goal from Ally Russell and points from Aoibhinn Driscoll, Ellie O’Connor and a brace from joint-captain Nicole Power. The game was put to bed early with some excellent defence work by Aoife McKenna, Kelly Flaherty and Hayley Fitzgerald in midfield. Two more goals from Millie Raggett and Aoibhinn Driscoll and the victory set the day in motion.
Next up was Castlebar Mitchels, and the Mayo team had also won their first game and brought a greater intensity to this game. The Cillard defence needed to soak up some pressure to enable them to work their way into the game with Aoibhinn Flaherty, Emma Bodenham and Ruby Lawlor all holding their own. Things took shape again and Cillard got six consecutive points through Aoibhinn Driscoll, Nicole Power and Sarah McMahon, who was double jobbing as the goalkeeper.
The last round game was against a well supported and energetic New York team. A win here would see Cillard top the group. The tone was set with their half forward line of Anna Maria Harty and Aoife McElligott pressing hard, and full forward Sine Sheehy found the back of the net with another goal Aoibhinn Driscoll. By half time Cillard were well in control. They continued with the same form in the second half with two points each from Ally Russell and Aoibhinn Driscoll and a final point from Nicole Power to see them over the winning line.
Cillard faced Iniskeen in the Cup semi-final. Cillard battled hard defensively throughout with Mairead Carroll, Aoibhinn Flaherty and Jessica McElligott at the forefront and a solid performance by Sarah McMahon in goals. The game turned on its head with two goals from Ally Russell in quick succession, a goal and three points from Aoibhinn Driscoll and another goal from Millie Raggett put Cillard into the final.
With only a 15-minute turnaround and the girls tiring in the heat it was straight into the final against the host club, Faythe Harriers, who had topped their group. There was plenty of experience in this Cillard side with all but two girls who had been in Mayo for Féile the previous year and their focus was totally on bringing the cup home to Kerry.
It was evident from the throw-in that Cillard were going to have to put in a monumental effort against the fancied home team. Faythe Harriers were on the front foot and were up by two points in the first half in another physical game. Knowing there was more in them, Cillard came out a different team for the second half. They were now camped in the oppositions half with Ally Russell and Aoibhinn Driscoll adding a point each to level the score.
With a fierce battle around the middle the next score was going to be vital. With Rachael Lennon and Sinead Flynn well on top in the half back line and Hayley Fitzgerald and Kelly Flaherty keeping the opposition quiet in midfield, Nicole Power slotted a point from a difficult angle to go one ahead. Cillard were on top all over the field and with pressure mounting on the host team, Aoibhinn Driscoll rifled the ball to the roof of the goal to leave Cillard four points to the good. There was a wall of Cillard put in place that Faythe Harriers could not break through which saw the game end 1-4 to 0-2.
There were great celebrations with the 19 players, the management team and the supporters all joining in. Joint-captains Nicole Power and Rachael Lennon accepted the cup on behalf of their team and dedicated it to their eternal team mate Aoibhinn Duffy, a fitting tribute by the team.
