Ulster Colleges sides searching for Junior Final spots

All-Ireland Colleges’ Junior B semi-final

Saturday:

Cahir 1pm : Coláiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir v St Louis Ballymena

St Louis Ballymena have received a huge boost ahead of their All-Ireland semi-final in Cahir on Saturday with the return to fitness of Una Doherty.

The Portglenone and Antrim under-age defender missed out on their pre-Christmas programme through injury. The injury has cleared up and she returned to training 3 weeks ago and is very much in the frame to start at centre-half back in their bid to reach the All-Ireland final.

St Louis defence looked a little shaky and unsure of itself particularly during the first half of their Ulster final defeat of St Pius X Magherafelt.

They were more settled during the second half though and that allowed the team as a whole to take control of a game they were strong favourites to win.

In Tipperary, they are very much the under-dog particularly in view of the fact that the Munster final was played less than 3 weeks ago in comparison to St Louis’ provincial decider in early December.

Coláiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir defeated another Tipperary side, Ursuline Convent Thurles by 1-11 to 2-5 in that final.

Just two years ago, they lost the All-Ireland final narrowly to St Mary’s New Ross – so there is a strong recent tradition in the school and they do have home advantage.

However St Louis do have some experienced club players such as the Boyles and McGarrys from Loughgiel, while Sephora O’Connell, Caoimhe Conlon, Victoria Edgar and Kirsty Laverty were all on the Antrim under 14 team, that took the Ulster title in September.

Last weekend, St Mary’s Magherafelt played with confidence and to reach the All-Ireland senior final.

A similar approach from St Louis could pay dividends – but they are up against it.

 

All-Ireland Colleges’ Junior camogie semi-finals :

C Semi-Final : St Joseph’s Doon v St Louis Kilkeel

D semi-final : Presentation Waterford v St Patrick’s Ballymena

Ulster titles came as a small surprise to both St Louis Kilkeel and St Patrick’s Ballymena just before Christmas and both are down in Munster to contest an All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday.

St Louis Kilkeel will take on St Joseph’s Doon from Tulla in Clare as a result of their 3-2 to 2-4 win over St Paul’s Kilrea, a school that reached the national decider at this level just 3 seasons ago.

One of the goal-scorers in that win was Sorcha McCartan, daughter of former Down All-Ireland footballer Gregory. Sorcha is very much one of the younger members of the team, but she looks to have a bright future ahead of her.

Aone Fearon, Fiona Cunningham and Aoife Murphy are the key players in this squad and big performances will be expected if St Louis are to upset the formbook against the team fancied to win the competition outright.

Also strong favourites to win are Presentation Waterford who beat their Munster final opponents from Ennis with a first half blitz of goals.

Eleven of the starting team are supplied by the De La Salle club in the city and their ability to function well as a team helped them through a difficult second half.

St Patrick’s defeated neighbours St Benedict’s Randalstown to win a first ever Ulster title just before the Christmas break.

Their main supply clubs are Ahoghill and Brídíní Óga with the talented Katie Lynn at midfield.

As with Kilkeel, they will need a couple of early scores on the board. But once again it will be an uphill battle for the Ulster champions.