Short turnaround no problem for Brídíní Óga camogs

By Shaun Casey

EIGHT days after claiming the club’s first ever Ulster Championship title, Brídíní Óga are back in action and hoping to extend their phenomenal journey. The Glenravel girls will travel to Edenderry this weekend to take on Limerick’s Adare in the All-Ireland semi-final.

It’s a quick turnaround, but the Antrim champions aren’t complaining insists their manager, Rodney Kerr. “That match (the Ulster final) was supposed to be played a fortnight ago but was postponed,” explained Kerr.

“So, in fairness to the Ulster Council, they put the fixtures out again pretty fast so at least you knew when the matches were going to be rather than waiting to see.

“The girls, obviously with that they were fit to get work booked off and all the rest. We’ve a few girls living in Galway at the minute and then we’ve a few girls at university in Liverpool and Newcastle as well.

“We did need to know when those fixtures were in advance so fair play to the Ulster Council for getting them done. Yes, it is a very quick turnaround, but I would rather have it like that.”

Adare recently saw off London representatives Tara, 3-8 to 0-9, and Kerr and his team got an insight into their upcoming opposition.

“We had a look at them, their match against Tara of London was streamed live a few weeks ago so we did get a look at them. They seem very strong down the middle, at six and eleven, I think their centre half forward is a Limerick County player (Caoimhe Costelloe).

“We had a look, and we know we’re going into another class here, but we’re not scared of it and we’re looking forward to it.”

It’s been a busy season for the Brídíní Óga club as most of the girls spent the year getting the best of both worlds. Not only did they achieve provincial success with the small ball, but they also collected an Intermediate football championship this season as well.

“It’s a great feeling obviously, it’s the first Ulster Championship the clubs ever had in their 106-year history,” added Kerr.

“It just seemed to come together more and more as we played on, and those girls, 13 of them started in the football championship as well.

“They were running between both for most of the year and there’s actually three of them with All-Ireland County football medals this year as well (Molly Woulahan, Maeve Mulholland and Maria McKenna).

“Seven points in the middle of the summer isn’t a massive win but in winter camogie, it isn’t easy done.

“We finished comfortably enough in the end, and we were just delighted when the whistle went. We’ve never won a club championship before never mind an Ulster.

“Every win is a bonus now at this stage, we’re going into Sunday confident. I thought the game last Saturday was as good a performance as we’ve had throughout the whole season so hopefully, we’re saving the best to the last.”