Tyrone Camogie Championship Preview

This weekend’s matches will determine the finalists in this years Camogie Championship Final.  Reigning champions Eglish are seeking their 40th Championship title but will have to overcome opponents Brocagh who were last year’s Intermediate League Champions to reach the final.  This very experienced Eglish side has fourteen players on the Senior County Camogie panel who won the All Ireland Division 5 League title in March this year.  The club which to date have traditionally wore Green and white, have now introduced black to their uniform as a step towards integration with their football club.  This coincides with their newly acquired Sponsorship by McVeigh Kitchens.
Eglish performed admirably in the Mid-Ulster League this season.  This experience and the leadership from new manager Tony Austin will have rejuvenated some of the older members of the Eglish team such as Leona Gallagher, Brenda Horsfield and Julie Lagan.  Newly weds Clare McGuckin and Riannach Devlin along with Eglish Captain Susan McCann will need to be on top form to see off the challenge of Brocagh’s Niamh Gavin, Sheena Davidson and Ulster Colleges medalist Roisin O’Neill.
There is great competition for places in the Eglish team with the introduction of younger girls to the panel such as Annette Jordan, Ciara McGready and Cathy Jordan.  Eglish will not be complacent and if Brocagh are sufficiently motivated this could be a thrilling encounter.
The second match sees Doire Treasc take on an experienced Ardboe side.  Doire Treasc’s quarter final clash with neighbours Derrylaughan was a very exciting close encounter with the youthful Doire Treasc emerging with a narrow margin. The Doire Treasc club was reformed in 1997 under the guidance of Deirdre Fitzgerald and Margaret Corr who along with O’Donovan Rossa player Sinead O’Neill manage this young talented team.  These girls have won titles at all levels and this is their first year competing in the Senior Championship.  Cailini an Chnoic displayed courage, powers of recovery and sheer determination in overcoming last years finalists Derrylaughan.  They had to dig deep in the second half with scores coming from Teamtalk young player of the year Lorna Canavan and Ulster Junior Gael Linn panelist Aisling Corr to ensure them a spot in this year’s semi-finals. Doire Treasc will look to their more experienced players who won Ulster Colleges medals this year with St Patrick’s Academy, namely, captain Emma Fitzgerald, Emma McErlean, Michelle Fitzgerald, Fionnuala Hagan and Kelly McGrath for inspiration to overcome the talented St. Mel’s team. 
Ardboe who were beaten in last years semi-final will enter this clash quietly confident after a comfortable win over their opponents earlier in the league this season.  Ardboe’s manager Seamas McKenna will be hoping his side can tap into the spirit and desire that helped them forge a marvelous win over Granemore to win the Mid-Ulster League title this year for the first time.  Ardboe will be hoping for accurate score taking from county stalwart Maeve McGurk and experienced players Orla McAleer, Maggie Ann Conway, Jennifer McConville and Laura Heron.  Ardboe will be without county manager Ursula Doyle and camogie ace Simone Quinn is carrying an ongoing injury which may prevent her playing the full sixty minutes.   It will take a big performance from Doire Treasc to overcome this experienced Ardboe side but they are still very capable of booking a spot in this year’s county final.  Two intriguing battles await us in Edendork this weekend.

Fixtures

Tyrone Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Finals
Eglish v Brocagh        Venue: Edendork    Date/Time:    Sunday 27th July @ 2.00pm
Ardboe v Doire Treasc        Venue: Edendork    Date/Time:    Sunday 27th July @ 3.30pm

Junior All Ireland Championship
Antrim V’s Clare        Venue: Dunloy        Date/Time:    Sunday 27th July @ 12:30pm

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