By Niall Gartland
ST JOHN’S camogie joint-manager Paddy Nugent is modest about his own personal contribution in their journey to Sunday’s Bridie McMenamin Shield final against Ballerin.
Nugent, who leads the team with Liam Donnelly, attributes much of their success to the mammoth work that’s been put in at underage level over the years.
It isn’t their first time making their mark in Ulster either. Paddy’s son Domhnall, a renowned goalkeeper, led the team to Bridie McMenamin honours in 2021, and now five years later, they’re on the cusp of another provincial success.
Speaking ahead of the big game, Nugent said: “There’s a lot of great work going on in the club, from U6 right up. Liam Donnelly and myself came in last year, and we’ve sort of reaped the rewards of all the good work being done at underage level.
“You can be a good manager, but if you’re a lucky manager, you’re halfway there. There’s a lot of good work being done at every level and in every code.
“It can be difficult because there’s only one pitch, and that’s a challenge, but if you didn’t have that challenge, you’d be more worried.”
Ellie Sweeney was the star of the show in a a hard-earned victory over Omagh St Enda’s in last weekend’s semi-final, scoring a remarkable 3-8. She was quite clearly brilliant, but Nugent emphasised that it was a strong team effort.
“Ellie Sweeney scored 3-8 yesterday. She had one of those games where, if things go your way, everything goes over or under the bar..”
“It was a real team effort though. The term ‘squad effort’ is maybe overused, but it really was a squad effort.
“The hooking, blocking and dispossessing from our full-backs, half-backs and midfielders provide the platform for our forwards. Forwards get the headlines, as you well know, but it’s all the stuff going on at the other end of the pitch that sets them up.”
Nugent also acknowledged that the game really could have gone either way, but still, St John’s managed to come out in front on a scoreline of 3-11 to 2-13.
“Heading into the last 15 minutes, it was an absolutely cracking game. It was really good. Omagh were really good.”
“It was one of those games where, if it had been a draw, maybe that would have been the best result, but we’ll take it.”