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The Ulster Junior title will be contested today (Saturday) in a curtain raiser to the senior game. Tyrone and Monaghan will be battling it out for the crown and Tyrone manager Brenainn Brunton believes that it will give camogie fans the chance to see the capabilities of the so called æsmaller counties’.
“”It’s a great opportunity for small counties like ourselves and Monaghan to play on a big stage and showcase the talent we have. It also gives fans the chance to see what we can bring to Ulster Camogie,”” said Brunton.
Brunton feels that his side has both the confidence and experience to secure the title for the second year running especially after a mid week win over
“”From a team point of view everyone has been working hard we’re quite a young panel so the
Brunton knows that Tyrone will have to work hard if they are to retain their
“”We’re realistic enough to know where we at and how we’re capable of playing. We’ve put in the hard work it’s just a matter of applying it. Monaghan were unlucky to be beaten by Wicklow in the Division 5 All-Ireland Final having beaten them in the League so they’ll be coming out all guns blazing. It will be a 50/50 game and tight games usually come down to luck or a crucial refereeing decision and we hope that they’ll go our way.””
Like Brunton, Monaghan’s Geraldine Clarke thinks that her side could pull off an upset saying: “”If we didn’t expect to win we wouldn’t be turning up, self belief is half the battle and we have convinced ourselves we are capable of winning. An Ulster Final is a major event and we’re lucky to be involved, so we’re not too concerned about tags.
“”We’re fully aware of Tyrone’s recent form and the fact that they are a Division above us but Pat and I have impressed upon our panel their own strengths both mental and physical. We hope that we’ll be able to step up to the plate and give the performance of our lives.””
This game will be an excellent show case of the ability of both Tyrone and Monaghan, two up and coming counties, and will be a treat for any camogie fan.
Few matches will be as hotly contested as the Ulster Senior Final today (Saturday) as neighbours Antrim and
Antrim manager Mary Connolly is certain that her side has put their All-Ireland Championship defeat to Meath behind them and maintains that they are fully focused on their task today.
“”Preparations have been a bit up and down, it’s been tough to get the full panel out. We’ve also had a few injuries that have made it difficult for us. The Meath defeat was a disappointment but we’ve picked ourselves up and feel that we’re back on course. We are fully focused on today’s match and what we have to do it’s a matter of applying it.””
She knows that her side will not have it all their own way today as Derry aim to claim the
“”Games against Derry are always tough they work hard and keep going to the end, so we know we’ll have to be at our best but unless you believe you can win there is no point in turning up,”” said the Saffron manager.
Barney McGrellis who aids his brother Danny in the
“”Preparations haven’t been too good if I’m honest. We haven’t had that many competitive matches through no fault of our own but hopefully now we’ll be able to build on the Wexford win. The girls have stepped up to the mark in the past months so we’ll be looking to put what we’ve worked on in training into practice,”” he said.
The two sides know each other well having clashed for the
“”We faced Antrim in our first League match and we came away with a draw, we were delighted with the result but I think Antrim were under strength. Three or four months down the line and it will certainly be a different story, Antrim will be hard to beat having reached the Division Two League Final narrowly missing out to Wexford. We hope that we can go up to Park Elser and give a good account of ourselves and if we come away with the win that will be even better,”” Barney added.
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