Heartbreak for Ursuline Juniors in Munster A Camogie Final against Coláiste Choilm
The hopes and dreams of an Ursuline Munster Camogie double were dashed by Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig on Sunday 12 February in Mallow GAA grounds. The Cork side emerged as victors after staging an ardent second half display that saw them come from two-points down at half time to a seven-point win. The final score of the Munster Final clash was Ursuline Thurles 0-9 Coláiste Choilm 1-13.
It was Ursuline’s Lucy Purcell in the half-forward line who got on the scoreboard first with a point from a free followed by an Ava Bevans point from play set up from an Ellen Ryan pass. Corner forward Jane Corcoran also managed to sail her shot between the uprights while goalie Sarah Quinlan saved a close range free taken by Ballincollig No 6 Aisling Cussen. Ursuline were certainly in the driving seat from the opening but with a strong wind to their advantage there was still a lot of hurling to be done. Ursuline notched up another spectacular point with Lucy Purcell rounding two Cork forwards to strike off her hurley while Cork, by this stage, had managed two points and two wides down their end. By the 18th minute it was UCT 0-4 Coláiste Choilm 0-2. Ballincollig pointed the next free to make it 0-4 to 0-3. This came courtesy of Rachel Murphy who wore the No 14 but played phenomenally up and down the field for the entirety of the game. By the 24th minute of the first half the sides had leveled up 0-5-0-5. Caoimhe Stakelum’s point from a free in the 25th minute gave Ursuline a sliver of a lead once again. Jane Corcoran expertly pointed from play and this was followed a minute later by a Caoimhe Stakelum beauty taken on the run to put Ursuline into a three-point lead 0-8 to 0-5. The final score of the first half came from Cork No 11 Órlaith Cremin seconds before the ref blew it up. So Ursuline took to the side line with a two-point lead but it was still anybody’s game for the taking.
It was Ballincollig who set the pace of the second half with a point from play in the opening minute. The equalizer came two minutes later from Rachel Murphy who sailed a 65 between the posts. It was now 0-8 all. The only Ursuline score of the second half came from a Lucy Purcell 65. The No 12 worked doggedly throughout the sixty minutes to set up Ursuline chances and make a path through the Cork defenses right to the very end. This would be the last time the Ursuline would have the upper hand in the game. From then on in Cork kept the pressure on, pulling away in the final ten minutes. A point in the 20th minute was followed soon after by a goal with the Cork forwards cutting a swathe through the Ursuline backs. Ursuline 0-9 Coláiste Choilm 1-10. Cork scored their final three points in the last five minutes from Órlatih Cremin, No 11, Rachel Murphy, No 14 and captain Ailish Scanlon No 12. The Ursuline had two likely goal opportunities in the second half with the ball dangerous in front of the Cork net but the Ballincollig defenders closed in and sent the sliothar skirting away on both occasions. The Thurles girls played well with many new faces earning their places on the team this year and proving they have loads to give. It was Ballincollig who proved hungrier for the win in the end and gave it their all in a whirlwind final ten minutes which caught Ursuline by surprise, as the sides had been on an even enough keel up until then.
Well done to the Ursuline Junior A's on reaching the Munster Final for the second year in a row, it was always going to be hard to defend their 2022 All Ireland title. Thanks to managers Ms Olivia Hogan and Mr David O’Heney who have devoted so much time, energy and enthusiasm to Ursuline Camogie this season.