Lethal Barrett powers St Cuan’s into schools final

Coláiste Naomh Cormac 2-5

By DARREN KELLY IN KILCORMAC

FOR the first time since 2020, St. Cuan’s Castleblakeney qualified for an All-Ireland Senior C camogie final last Saturday as they overwhelmed home side Coláiste Naomh Cormac to book a meeting with St. Mary’s Charleville in Nenagh on Saturday week,

Galway minor joint captain Emma Barrett delivered a scoring exhibition. The Pearses full forward struck a hat-trick but she was also denied three other goals while her work rate created another 1-3.

Barrett forced a super save from Kilcormac keeper Caoimhe Spain with the first attack before her club mate Aoife Scarry converted the resulting ‘45.  Lynn Hartigan helped Clodagh Jordan double the lead in the fifth minute.

It felt inevitable that St. Cuan’s would hurt the hosts and they did on eight minutes. Scarry drove the ball down left towards Michelle Quirke who spotted Barrett to her right. After rounding the nearest defender, Barrett hit low to the net making it 1-2 to 0-0.

Scarry added a free before Coláiste Naomh Cormac got off the mark through Emer Bracken but the Leinster champions appeared to be plugging holes. A three-player move put Clodagh Jordan within range but Karla Mannion smothered out the space.

St. Cuan’s restored their six point cushion through Scarry before Barrett nearly had supporters celebrating only for her fierce strike to rattle the bottom post. She only had to wait until the 23rd minute to deliver the second major.

Scarry started the move again, this time including Moya Glynn. The Ahascragh-Caltra player fed Barrett with the inevitable result. St. Cuan’s were on a roll and Barrett added a point on 27 minutes.

The scoring was more even before the break as Bracken converted three Kilcormac frees. Scarry also pointed before Della Griffin was the supplier for Barrett and it was 2-7 to 0-4 at half-time.

What was impressive about St. Cuan’s was that they were nearly spread equally between Skehana-Menlough, Ahascragh-Caltra and Pearses (all having a minimum of five players involved).

One mustn’t forget Mountbellew-Moylough’s Emma Dempsey who split the posts on 33 minutes. However, that came after their third goal. Shona De Cartaret sent a through ball into Barrett who completed her hat-trick just 40 seconds after the restart.

When Isabella Gleeson got Coláiste Naomh Cormac’s first point from play four minutes later, it was 3-8 to 0-5 favouring St. Cuan’s. However, Kilcormac finally got a goal through Emer Bracken on 45 minutes after her initial effort was saved on the line by Aoife Jordan.

St. Cuan’s responded with their fourth three-pointer. Barrett’s ball from the right landed towards the square. Glynn seized on the chance taking possession before turning and scoring. Points from Barrett and Scarry concluded their account on 57 minutes.

The last word went to All-Ireland intermediate winning Offaly player Áine Rigney who got a consolation goal in injury time but St. Cuan’s were already set for the decider. Best for the winners were Aoife Jordan, Scarry, Quirke and the lethal Barrett but all involved played a crucial role.

St. Cuan’s Castleblakeney: S McDonagh; A Connolly, A Jordan, A Donohue; N Kelly, A Scarry (0-6, 5f, 1’45), N Gormally; L Hartigan, D Griffin; S De Cartaret, M Quirke, E Dempsey (0-1); C Jordan (0-1), E Barrett (3-3), M Glynn (1-0). Subs: K Murphy for De Cartaret (44), S Barrett for Glynn (53), A Glynn for Connolly (60).

Coláiste Naomh Cormac: C Spain; Eva Bracken, Á Rigney (1-0), C Hynes; A Hollywood, K Mannion, S Talbot; L Lowry, C Gath Hollywood; S Grimes, S Mannion, C Mannion; Emer Bracken (1-4, 0-4 frees), I Gleeson (0-1), K Feighery.  Subs: B Commins for A Hollywood (23), C Reddan for C. Mannion (HT), M Stephens for Hynes (53).

Referee: B Nea (Westmeath)

Pictured: Galway's Maia Nevin on the ball against Cork in the opening round of the All-Ireland U-16 camogie championship on Sunday. The reigning champions won on a 2-9 to 1-5 scoreline with Orna Dunne and Ciara Mullins scoring the Galway goals. Photo: Colbert O'Sullivan.