Caltra Cuan’s (Galway ) 2 - 8
St Enda’s (Tyrone ) 0 - 8
The ladies from Caltra Cuan’s made history last Sunday in Mullahoran, Co Cavan, when they became the first Galway team to win the All Ireland Junior Ladies Club Championship.
All Ireland success is difficult to achieve in Gaelic football, and to have one All Ireland title in the bag by the end of January is a positive development and hopefully an omen for the year ahead.
Team manager Gabriel Naughton summed up the success: “Winning an All Ireland with your club is a very special occasion and one you never forget. The girls have been magnificent all year and are a super bunch of people to work with. A lot of people in the club and community have given a big commitment to make this happen, but it was worth it all and the past few days have been a fantastic.”
Caltra started brightly last weekend and when county player Sarah Noone showed great conviction to bury an early penalty to the back of the St Enda’s net, things looked hunky dory for the Galway girls.
Caltra dominated all sectors in the first 20 minutes and it looked as if they were going to win with something to spare. However they faced a determined Tyrone outfit and they had to fight every inch of the way to close out the game in the second half.
Despite the best efforts of 17-years-old attacker Aine Mannion, who starred throughout the contest, and Orla Hannon, Caltra’s early dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard
Their defence was under enormous pressure in the second quarter, but tremendous work in the full back line from Aine Tully, Cariosa McHugh and Helen Cullinane kept their goal intact and they led by 1-3 to 0-5 at half time.
A fabulous point by Emma Naughton pushed them into a three-point lead early in the second half, but St Enda’s were always dangerous and narrowed the gap to 1-5 to 0-7. Lucy Green in the Caltra goal had to be alert throughout and made some fantastic saves. Aine Mannion, who shot 0-6 (2fs ), hit the match winning scores and their superiority was finally confirmed when Emma Naughton goaled in injury time to leave the Galway girls six-point winners.
It is the second time in six years the small parish has celebrated All Ireland success, following Andy Merrigan’s trip in 2004, and local aficionados believe it is the only club to have won both ladies and men’s club All Ireland titles at adult level.
The management team of Gabriel Naughton who was a selector with the men’s team in 2004, Marie Mannion, Sean O Ceallaigh and Mary Hanlon deserve great credit for the professional way the team was prepared. and they had 98 training sessions and matches in the last 11 months on the road to All-Ireland success.
CALTRA CUANS: L Greene; T Loughnane, C McHugh, H Cullinane; A Ní Cheallaigh, S Noone 1-0 (pen ),, Á Tully; L Naughton, C Kilroy; E Naughton 1-1,, O Kilkenny, N Kilkenny; B Hanlon, O Hannon 0-1, Á Mannion 0-6 (2fs ). Subs: S Mannion, S Flood.
