Celbridge U13 girls on their Div 1 Camogie Championship

★Huge congratulations to Celbridge U13 girls on their Div 1 Camogie win on Sunday 21st November ★
Having won all their matches in a long league campaign, Celbridge progressed to the final against a strong Maynooth team. The teams had met in a great battle only a few weeks before, with Celbridge coming out on top, and a keenly contested final was expected.

So it proved, as Maynooth started particularly well. With the benefit of the breeze and getting off to quicker start, Maynooth piled the pressure on the Celbridge backs, who distinguished themselves with some dogged defending and great clearances. Celbridge Were dangerous when they broke forward and nudged ahead with an early point only for Maynooth to equalize. Celbridge then struck for a goal to lead at the water break. The intensity of the match never dropped although Celbridge upped their game in the second quarter to grab two well worked goals, including one on the stroke of half time. At the break Celbridge led 3-1 to 0-2 although it felt very much that the game was still in the balance.
At the start of the second half Celbridge showed some excellent striking, team play and use of space and worked some top class scores, going in to the water break a few goals up. Maynooth kept the pressure on but the Celbridge defense held out until the end, keeping a clean sheet and showing some great battling qualities and close control under pressure. The final score was Celbridge 5-5 to Maynooth 0-2, which did not reflect the intensity of the contest or how the battle kept up until the final whistle.
This was a tough but very sporting match, played to a high standard and very well refereed by Ray Kelly. A panel of 24 players contributed massively on the day and to the wins throughout the league and all the girls have worked hard to improve. They are also a very supportive group, celebrating each others’ achievements as well as their own.
This win completed a Division 1 football and camogie double and most of the girls have been together since the joint football and camogie academy training in 2012.
U13 Coaches
Niamh ODonovan, Sean ORiain, Enda Gilchriest