At the end of a brilliant day’s Camogie Galway’s Sarsfields defeated Tipperary’s Nenagh in the final of the Naomh Jude All-Ireland Under 13 Sevens played at Tymon Park, Templeogue, Dublin on Saturday, 15 September.
This Championship, which is officially approved by An Cumann Camógaíochta, gives a first opportunity for young players to win an All-Ireland Championship in pre-Féile year.
Leading clubs from all four provinces were invited to compete in this competition. There were 4 groups of 3 teams with the winners and runners-up going forward to the quarter-finals of the Cup and the third-placed teams progressing to the semi-finals of the Shield.
The action got under way with a colourful parade of teams to the pitches where Uileann Piper Kevin Rowsome played Amhrán na bhFiann. Neighbouring club Faughs Celtic and St Martin’s of Wexford emerged from Group A to the Cup quarter-finals with Cahir, the holders, moving to the semi-finals of the Shield.
From Group B hosts Naomh Jude won the group and Gaultier, the first ever Waterford club to take part, progressed to the Cup, while Naas from Kildare advanced to the Shield.
Sarsfields and Nenagh took top places in Group C and St Cillians (Offacly) went on to the Shield.
From Group D holders Swatragh (Derry) and Ballinhassig (Cork) made it to the Cup quarter-finals while Newcastlewest of Limerick went forward to the Shield.
Following lunch it was knock out all the way. In the Shield Cahir beat Naas to reach the final and St Cillian’s defeated Newcastlewest in the other semi-final. St Cillian’s went on to win the Shield final.
In the Cup, Gaultier beat St Martin’s by one point to set up a semi-final with Sarsfields who beat Ballinhassig in the quarters. Faughs Celtic edged out Naomh Jude in a great local derby to meet Nenagh in the semis, who had overcome Swatragh in the quarters. Nenagh continued on their winning ways by beating Faughs in the first semi-final while Sarsfields also qualified for the final when overcoming Gaultier.
The weather was kind right through the day, and in the final the skilful Sarsfields girls were just brilliant against Nenagh. They continued their good form and repeated their group game win over the Tipperary side and eventually ran out worthy winners 7-4 to 2-3. Sarsfields Siobhán McGrath gave superb performances throughout the competition and it came as no surprise to the crowds who attended the games when she was chosen as Laoch an Lae. Siobhán was nominated by the referees as player of the match in each of the five matches in which she played.
The prize for the winners included an invitation to play in Croke Park on Sunday at half-time in the All-Ireland Junior Camogie Final between Down and Meath and the Sarsfields team were presented with beautiful special gear for the occasion by the Camogie Association.
Naomh Jude ran a very successful Academy Open Day in conjunction with this Sevens competition, which attracted a huge crowd of budding stars. The organising committee, under the chairmanship of John Coman, would like to thank all those who helped in so many ways with the running of competition.
The Competition was again kindly sponsored by Johnston, Mooney and O’Brien and the Johnson, Mooney and O’Brien Cup was presented to Sarsfields who were the first Galway winners of the competition in its fourth year.
Club PRO Fergus McNally presented framed photographs of their teams to each of the panelists from the four finalists. The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel accomodated many of the teams with attractive rates from their Head of Marketing, Jason Sherlock.
For further information: Contact John Coman on 087 9087105. This coming weekend the Club again hosts the All-Ireland Junior Football Sevens.
