Moneyglass focus on backing up their successful season

By Michael McMullan

REIGNING Ulster senior champions Moneyglass are back in the semi-final and keep to back up last year’s success.

They host Derry champions Steelstown on their home patch on Sunday and ace forward Órlaith Prenter is once again back in fold.

Having spent time in Australia, she is back in the attack and her 2-6 helped Moneyglass to victory in Kinawley last weekend.

With the players on camogie duty and in with the Antrim county team, the season tends to be a slower burner.

On the flip side, it also gives young players coming out of the successful underage ranks a chance to put their hand up for the place.

“It has started to click for us first lately, but we’re right in the heat of it at the minute and thankfully it’s going well,” Prenter said.

After their dominance in Antrim, Moneyglass have been knocking on the door in Ulster.

After losing two semi-finals to Clann Éireann, Moneyglass were winners against the Armagh side at the same stage last year.

It was an important result on their way to the Ulster title and a first ever All-Ireland final appearance. While it has brought confidence, Prenter can sense the focus this season.

“After last year, you don’t want to win one and then come out the next year and throw the whole thing away,” she said.

“You don’t want to be known as a one-trick pony or one-season wonder.

“There probably is that sense of pride within the club that you just want to go out and retain championships the way they did put themselves forward last year.

“It was obviously unbelievable for the club. The thing that spurred them on was everyone saying ‘little Moneyglass’ but I don’t think it has the same ring to it this year.

“We now have a target on our back, which is not a bad thing either when it comes down to the bigger games.”

Develop

Prenter feels last year’s run has helped their youngers develop at the top level. Playing teams like Clann Éireann, Kilmacud Crokes and Kilkeerrin-Clonbern is the top of the tree.

“Last year was a lot of girls’ first year playing on the senior team and they maybe didn’t have that exposure that big games,” she said.

“Games like that are very hard-hitting games, especially for younger ones to come into. They’re probably having that under the belt and it’s obviously stuck by them.”

Steelstown were winners over Shane O’Neill’s last weekend to book their place in the last four as the best runner up in the new-look round robin format.

“Any team you’re going to face at this stage of the competition is going to be tough,” Prenter said of Steelstown.

Having Derry man Charlie O’Kane in their management team, alongside Maxi Curran, will have them versed on the Oakleaf side.

“I haven’t played Steelstown in a competitive game,” Prenter added.

“Personally I don’t really know much about them but we’ve already started doing homework on them, just like they’ll do the homework on us.

“I would say they’re going to be pretty hard hitting, they were in a tough group with Knockbride and Shane O’Neill’s.

“They’ll be ready for a game like this. It should be a good one. We’ve a clean bill of health and we’re all set.”