SACRED Heart Secondary School Clonakilty, winners of the Munster and All-Ireland camogie titles, are the March winners of the Rebel Óg Monthly Awards, sponsored by the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, Cummins Sports (award sponsors) and in association with The Echo and RedFM, media partners.
The campaign began when Sacred Heart faced Midleton in the first of a trilogy of games between the two teams.
and this was not to be their last meeting of the campaign.
The first meeting took place in Ahamilla where Sacred Heart ran out 4-9 to 1-5 winners in the first group match. In the next group game, they travelled to University Limerick where they had a convincing 4-0 to 1-1 win over Laurel Hill on a very fast 4G pitch.
They then travelled to Bruff where they beat St Flannan’s of Ennis 6-12 to 2-5 on a very blustery day.
These victories left Sacred Heart top of their group and awaiting a Munster sem-final. Charleville provided the venue where the Clonakilty side were pitted against Scariff. Having suffered a few losses to the Clare outfit over the previous four years, the Clonakilty girls were determined to rectify those defeats and were in control from the outset and had a commanding 7-7 to 3-2 win.
Midleton were finished as runners-up in the group and were paired against Nenagh in the other semi-final. The east Cork outfit fulfilled their promise and beat the North Tipp kingpins, meaning Clonakilty would meet their old foes on in the Munster final day.
Clonakility’s victory set up with an All-Ireland semi-final against Coláiste Bhride, Enniscorthy.
Clonakilty had to travel to the Leinster champions’ home ground on the first Saturday in March. The Cork ladies showed tremendous courage, passion, and skill on the day and dispatched an excellent Wexford, side on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-6.
Midleton, as Munster runners-up, had a chance to redeem themselves as they accounted for Dublin A Champions, St Dominican’s in the other semi-final. This left both Cork teams pitted against each other for a third time in this competition, with the chance to lift the All-Ireland Cup.
Castle Road was the venue. Millie Condon was sublime on the day and netted two first-half goals. This earned her the Player of the Match Award.
Others to shine on the day were Sinead McCarthy, wing-back Jessica McCarthy, Caoimhe Murphy and Eimear O Brien. 3-8 to 1-7 was the final scoreline.