Eoghan Rua camogs put All Ireland title on the line
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Eoghan Rua will look to the scoring prowess of All Star Grainne McGoldrick among others to power them to a second successive All Ireland final.
ALL Ireland camogie champions Eoghan Rua Coleraine will put their Intermediate title on the line when they take on Laois Harps in the semi-final this Sunday afternoon in Killyclogher, 2.30pm throw-in. This is a repeat of the 2011 All-Ireland final when Eoghan Rua made history by annexing the title at the first time of asking by beating The Harps 3-8 to 2-3 in Croke Park.
Now the Leinster champions stand in the way of the Derry and Ulster title holders as they attempt to get back to Headquarters to defend their hard won crown.
Of course, the six-in-a-row Leinster kingpins will see this as a great opportunity to avenge that crushing Croke Park defeat and keep their own dreams of All-Ireland glory very much on track.
The Harps retained their Leinster Intermediate club title by beating Kilkenny's Dicksboro 0-10 to 0-5 in awful weather conditions way back in October last year.
Eoghan Rua chairman and assistant manager of the camogie team, Brendan McLernon, is expecting a tough challenge this Sunday afternoon.
‘'The Harps have won six successive Laois titles and retained their Leinster crown once again. They are a formidable team, especially when you consider they have won three All Ireland Junior titles.
“A team like that isn't used to losing and I am sure they are thirsting for revenge after their All Ireland defeat last March. We have great respect for them and are well aware of the challenge they pose to our ambition to return to Croke Park.''
Like the Laois side it has been a long time since the Eoghan Rua side's last competitive outing, way back in October when they won the Ulster title beating Down champions Ballycran in the final.
A bit of a rest followed but the Eoghan Rua players were back in training around Christmas, as Brendan explained. '"We have worked really hard over these last eight weeks or so and feel we are ready for this hugely important game. We played well in the Ulster final in October and in recent challenge games against the likes of the Derry and Loughgiel senior teams.
“We do not intend giving up our title without a tremendous fight. The management have every confidence in this exceptional squad who have brought so much glory to our club. So far as we are concerned big match next Sunday is in Killyclogher and we hope our wonderful fans will come out in numbers have another great day out."
The teams are likely to field along similar lines to their last meeting in Croke Park and certainly the Harps will want to keep a closer order on Eoghan Rua's hat-trick hero Grace McMullan this time around.
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