Clontibret and Loughgiel to battle it out for Bridie McMenamin Shield

Sunday’s NWP Recycling Bridie McMenamin Shield Final sees Monaghan side Clontibret square up against Loughgiel Shamrocks in Clann Eireann for the competition named after the late Tattyreagh and Tyrone Camogie official. Both sides are coming from contrasting backgrounds as this will be a third string side from the Antrim side against the Monaghan champions. This is something that Clontibret manager Geraldine Clarke is all too familiar of.

‘We are facing an Antrim side with a great pedigree of Camogie in their club. They would have a greater number of games in their competitions and a great tradition. We however have been here before and lost out but we have learned from our mistakes and gained that bit of experience when playing at Ulster level. Against Dungannon in the Semi-Final we probably never played to our potential and we have seen some areas to work on. We have done that since the Semi-Final and hope now we can improve for Sunday. We may come in as underdogs but it’s how we come out of it that matters to us’.

This Loughgiel Shamrocks side started as a group who couldn’t make the required commitment to train with their first or second team and is mixed with girls who just enjoy the game despite their perceived ability according to Kieran O’Connell who has deputised for manager Conor Campbell who has been based in Sunderland for work but is coming home for the game . ‘This started off as a social team who had many other commitments but they are a great bunch of girls who when they get together work hard. We have some young girls who are about 16 who will go onto play for our senior team but are getting great experience of playing tough games at adult level. We have large numbers in Loughgiel so some have to be patient while others are just playing for the love of the game. Girls like Lindsey Higgins who’ll forgive me for saying she is into her late 30’s and Laura Cassley just want to play and are showing a good example to the rest of the younger players. Sarah Anne McGarry and the likes of Lindsey  look after the younger players and they are an enjoyable side to work with but when it comes down to it these girls can play and we’ll going all out for a win on Sunday’.

While both sides may have started out on different paths at the start of the year they are both focused on securing the Bridie McMenamin Shield come Sunday

(Pictured Above- Sarah Anne McGarry of Loughgiel and Clontibret captain Shauna Finnegan prepare for Sundays game alongside Ulster Chairperson Kathleen Woods)