All Ireland Colleges Semi Final Match Report

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CARRIGALINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL GIRLS' BID FOR ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CAMOGIE GLORY ENDS IN TWO POINT LOSS TO GALWAY OPPOSITION
Carrigaline Community School 1-5 V St.Raphaels, Loughrea 2-4

The four-hour bus journey to the village of Bullan, Co.Galway proved ultimately fruitless for the girls from Carrigaline Community School in this All-Ireland Senior camogie semi-final. Played in terrible conditions, with a ten minute hail-stone shower right at the start of the game making the underfoot conditions very poor, that this game produced such skillful hurling was a credit to both teams who fought right to the final whistle for a place in the AlI-Ireland final at the end of the month. In the end a five minute scoring spree which produced 2 goals and a point ten minutes into the second-half proved to be turning point for the Galway side, although Carrigaline had chances up to the end to take the game to extra time.

St. Raphael's started the game on all out attack mode and Carrigaline had to defend with great bravery and great discipline to deny the Galway side any scores in the first quarter. Star performer Elaine Egan played the proverbial blinder at comer back and with her sister Hilary and team captain Lisa 0' Driscoll also on top in the other full back line positions all of the early Galway attacks were repelled. Goal keeper Michelle Dunne, standing in for Laura Thompson who was on international badminton duty in Germany for the game, also made a huge contribution to the defence saving well twice early on and her long puck outs were a great relief to an over worked defence early on.

The rest of the CarrigaIine team were also being forced to work hard at this stage with Jacqui 0' Keeffe and Laura Kelleher fighting a great battle with the Galway midfielders and Michelle Coakley retreating into her own halfback line to make some crucial tackles and clearances. Sandra Moran was also trying hard up front and she was very unlucky early on with a ground shot, which stuck in the mud as it headed for the goal. Thirteen minutes into the game Carrigaline opened the scoring when a free from Suzanne Lynch, who was to finish as CarrigaIines' only scorer with 1-5 from placed balls, dipped under the cross bar for a goal. St.Raphael's responded with a point shortly afterwards but they still found scores very hard to come by with Roisin 0' Herlihy, Denise Crowley and Davinna 0' Mahony forming a strong barrier in the Carrigaline halfback line and the full back line continuing to perform heroics. Suzanne Lynch pointed another free for Carrigaline and St. Raphael's had a like score just before the break to leave Carrigaline, against all the odds, two points ahead going in at half time. Carrigaline were forced to make one change at halftime with Una 0' Farrell replacing the injured Aine Dempsey who had battled against a hip injury to be fit for the match.

St. Raphael's started the brighter in the second period with a point from a free in the first minute but Lynch cancelled this out for CarrigaIine two minutes later. Then the Galway side hit their purple patch scoring two goals and a point without reply to change a two-point deficit into a five-point lead. The Carrigaline girls didn't give up however, and with Jacqui 0' Keeffe and Laura Kelleher winning the midfield battle the forwards finally started to receive a supply of ball. Terri 0' Keeffe and Karen 0' Sullivan now started to win a lot of ball but inevitably they were fouled by the tough Galway backs any time they threatened the goals. Fortunately for Carrigaline Suzanne Lynch had her shooting stick with her and she converted two of the chances made by hard work of the forwards.

With eleven minutes to go St.Raphael's scored a point from a free to put them into a four-point lead. Carrigaline still didn't give in, as you would expect trom a team who are Munster Champions, and Lynch converted another tree with seven minutes to go. Both teams continued to battle for the crucial score and Carrigaline created one more chance for Lynch to score but time eventually ran out on the brave girls trom Carrigaline Community School and St.Raphael's finished winners by two points.

The full time whistle was greeted by cheers trom the home supporters and tears from the Carrigaline contigent. However, on reflection, the girls off C.C.S should be very proud of their achievements for the year, winning a first ever Munster Senior title for the school and pushing a much fancied St.Raphael's side right to the wire on their home pitch. The parents, friends and family of the girls who travelled the long journey to support the team in the match reflected this pride in their achievements at the dressing rooms afterwards.

The Loughrea school provided some much appreciated nourishment for the Carrigaline girls and their supporters before the journey home. Mr. Vincent Kelly thanked them for their hospitality while team captain Lisa 0' Driscoll wished the Galway sidethe best in the All-Ireland final and thanked Mr. Kelly, Mr. Pat Looney and particularly coach Mr.
Ollie Troy for helping the team to achieve what they did during the year, and indeed, over the past number of years.

Scores:
Carrigaline C.S.: S.Lynch 1-5(all frees)

Carrigaline C.S. Team: Michelle Dunne(Ballygarvan), Elaine Egan(C'line), Lisa 0' Driscoll (C'line) capt., Hilary Egan(C'line), Denise Crowley (Ballygarvan), Roisin 0' Herlihy(C'line), Davinna 0' Mahony(Ballygarvan), Jacqni 0' Keeffe(C'line), Laura Kelleher(C'line), Terri 0' Keeffe(C'line), Karen 0' Sullivan(Tracton), Michelle CoakIey(C'line), Aine Dempsey(C'line), Sandra Moran(C'line), Suzanne Lynch(BalIygarvan).
Subs: Una 0' Farrell(C'line), Leanne Ryan(Ballygarvan), Vicky 0' Grady(C'line), Jessica Dunne(BalIygarvan), Kathryn Hussey(Douglas), Maebh Barry(C'line), Emma Ga1Iagher(C'line).

(Article written by Pat Looney C.C.S 13th March 2004)