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Wed 7th Dec 2011
Liatroim Fontenoys’ Cup final
Quinn Park, Ballymena, Saturday 11am.
St Killian’s Garron Tower v St Louis Ballymena
The Liatroim Fontenoys’ Cup final on SATURDAY at Quinn Park Ballymena is a mid-Antrim derby.
St Killian’s Garron Tower are appearing in their very first final at this level but, on league form, are favourites to defeat St Louis Ballymena who have lifted the Cup twice in the last four seasons.
St Killian’s are unbeaten after the four league games and their semi-final three weeks ago when they outscored Loreto Coleraine with a strong second half performance.
Those league wins included one over St Louis shortly after Halloween. That game was evenly contested until shortly after half-time when St Killian’s grabbed three goals inside four minutes and then controlled the game until the final whistle.
St Louis have changed their line-out since and there are only 10 starters from that game – although Jane McAleese played a significant part when entering as a sub.
She along with her cousin, team-captain Emma, and clubmate Roisin Kelly are key players for St Louis. Both McAleese girls played in St Louis’ last success two seasons ago with Emma scoring 1-3 in the final.
Despite limited possession in the league match, full-forward Sorcha Conlon grabbed 3 goals and she was also amongst the goals in their semi-final win over St Colm’s Draperstown last Friday.
The St Killian’s team is young, built around the Cushendall club side that reached the Antrim Féile na nGael final last May, with a number of those players also representing the county at under 14 level.
Midfielders Tierna Carson and Claire Kearney will have their hands full with Therese McKinley and Emma McAleese, but the Cosgrove sisters and Sinead Convery can trouble the St Louis rearguard.
The derby nature of the game should make for an interesting hour of camogie, but the result will depend on the improvement St Louis can make on their league outing.
St Killian’s : Sarah Kane, Hannah McLoughlin, Leah Cosgrove, Annie Leech, Niamh McKendry, Hannah Okasha, Clodagh McKillop, Tierna Carson, Claire Kearney, Aisling Mulvenna, Dervla Cosgrove, Mary Kane, Sinéad Convery, Sinéad Cosgrove capt., Dara Martin.
Subs : Shauna Murray, Natasha Dempster, Michelle Ward, Eimhear Carey, Siobhán McKillop, Aimee McDonnell, Clodagh McAllister, Jade Bradley, Laoise McKenna, Catherine Marshall, Molly McLaughlin, Fiona McDonnell.
St Louis : Sephora O'Connell, Laura McGarry, Roisin Kelly, Kate Hagan, Una Doherty, Jane McAleese, Anna Gribben, Therese McKinley, Emma McAleese capt., Dearbhail Elliott, Ciara Dobbin, Niamh Carberry, Niamh McLernon, Sorcha Conlon, Mary McToal.
Subs : Rachael Kearns, Eimear Higgins, Martina O'Kane, Dervla Donaghy, Megan Boyle, Eimear McCloskey, Leona Traynor, Niamh Connolly, Fiona Blaney, Shannon Heffron, Éadaoin McGarry, Aime O'Neill, Bronagh McKay, Bronagh McGilligan.
Submitted by: Seamus McAleenan
