Sacred Heart Juniors can be proud of their performance.

The number 7 is believed to have unique qualities and has great symbolic associations in religion, mythology, superstition and philosophy.  It was exactly 7 minutes, in the first half of extra time that managed to produce the winner in this energetic and pulsating Munster Junior A Camogie Final, in Castleroad Cork. Ursulines of Thurles, somehow found something in those 7 minutes that they desperately searched for but could not find for most of this game. The stats will show that they scored 2 goals and 3 points, outscoring their tally of 7 points that they culminated over 60 minutes of play in normal time. On a wintery January day it was 7 points to 6 in favour of the Tipperary students, after a little more that 60 minutes of play when Amy McCarthy forced the game into extra time, after being set free following an intelligent pass from Kate Nolan. It was what the Clon girls deserved after a battling performance throughout. In fact it was the Sacred Heart students that emerged out of the blocks early in this premier final with Kate Nolan’s sharp shooting from placed balls catching the eye. Their middle eight were dominant, ferocious in the tackle and winning the majority of skirmishes on a sticky surface. The half back line of Aoife O’ Flynn Meade, Niamh Kennedy and Aoife Whelton dominated affairs, with Kennedy reading the game with great intelligence. The midfield pairing of Ellen O’ Riordan and Sarah Harte were superb. Harte was everywhere as she showed her athleticism and hurling prowess, keeping the West Cork girls on the front foot. O’ Riordan scored the point of the game in a three strike move from defence to attack and split the posts putting some daylight between the teams. Up front Maebh O’ Brien was the one to watch and with her speed and elusiveness, contributed two fantastic points. Ursulines were limited to one point in that entire half and dreams of a Munster Final victory appeared to be materialising into reality. The second half got under way as the wind picked up and Ursalines made a number of positional changes. A combination of both pinned the Sacred Heart students back as the Thurles girls found their rhythm. Point by point they brought the game to 6 points a piece as the Clon full back line of Anna Meade, Maire Murphy and Ellen Sexton fought gallantly, thwarting many attacks that were at this stage relentless. Then as Thurles poured on the pressure a certain goal was denied by the Clonakilty netminder, Amy Giles with an excellent save. The game looked to be over as Thurles nicked a point late in the game, but credit due to the fighting performance of this group of players as they leveled the game with the clock in the red when Amy McCarthy sent over a beauty and so it was onto extra time. Then those magnificent 7 minutes for the Thurles school that sealed the fate of this game. Clon finished the game strongly with a fine goal from Amy McCarthy as she finally found the space in a game where she was closely marked. Well done to Mr. Mulcahy and his team on a great year. They went into the final minus the injured Grace Nyhan and the hero of the semi-final win over Colaiste Choilm, Ciaradh McCarthy. I’m sure they will be force for the future as they compete in the Senior ranks. Up SHSS!