St Louis aim for historic All-Ireland camogie success

ST Louis Grammar school’s senior camogie team aim to carve their name in the history books this weekend.

The Cullybackey Road school will contest the All-Ireland Senior B Camogie Final - a title which has never been won by an Ulster school.

They take on Grennan College from Thomastown, Kilkenny, in the final at Trim, Co Meath on Saturday (12.30pm).

Both sides are in search of their first ever national title, but they have built upon provincial under-age success to reach this final.

A number of the Grennan College team lost the All-Ireland C title to St Colm’s Draperstown in extra-time two years ago, while the younger players in the team lost an All-Ireland under 16 C final to Thurles in a replay last year.

They seemed to have learned from that as they came through a tough semi-final with Limerick side Hazlewood College. It went to a replay and Grennan won by 2-11 to 1-4.

Grennan is a small school with only 21 of a teaching staff. However one of that staff is the legendary camogie star Angela Downey-Browne who was a member of all 12 Senior All-Ireland winning teams from Kilkenny.

St Louis had a real battle on their hands with St Mary’s Mallow in the other semi-final eventually coming through 1-9 to 1-8 as the teams traded scores from start to finish.

This was in contrast to the Ulster final win over St Killian’s which they eventually won quite comfortably.

Many of the St Louis side played in the under 16 team last year that lost in the All-Ireland final to St Flannan’s Ennis after going to Kilkenny and defeating the local Presentation side 3-5 to 3-3.

Those results should allow the St Louis team to believe that they can become the first Ulster school to write their name on the trophy after narrow defeats in recent seasons for both Garron Tower and St Patrick’s Keady.

Lauren Elliott at full-back or often at centre-half provides the defence with a strong physical presence while there is also pace in Loughgiel pair at wing-back, Maria Lynn and Eimear McGarry.

Chloe Drain was part of the Antrim senior squad last year, while players such as Shauna Devlin, Aimee McAtamney and Niamh Doherty are also very experienced.

St Louis were boosted on Monday with full-forward Anna Kelly named in the Colleges’ All-star team and their management team of Helen McToal and Chrissy Doherty are hoping for a repeat of her provincial final performance when she slotted home 3-1.

St Louis, as a strong all round team, have a superb chance of lifting this this title that has so far eluded Ulster schools. It is really down to belief and determination to see out the last 10 tense minutes.

St Louis (probable) : Noleen McCloskey, Nuala McQuillan, Lauren Elliott, Kathryn Bradley, Maria Lynn, Shannon Woulahan, Eimear McGarry, Niamh Doherty, Shauna Devlin, Kiara Duffin, Aimee McAtamney capt, Chloe Drain, Cara McIntyre, Anna Kelly, Chloe Bartley. Subs: Anna Kearney, Rioghnach McNaughton, Gemma Mooney, Helen McGhee, Jane McKee, Úna McAleenan, Ellen Gribben, Lucia McNaughton, Shari Carey.

See pages 48-49 for more preview coverage of the final.

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