St Rynagh's camogie captain reflects on winning All-Ireland twice in eight weeks

THERE are very few players who get the chance to lift an All-Ireland trophy two years in succession, and probably even fewer who achieved that feat in a remarkable eight week period, but that was the achievement of St Rynagh's captain Grainne Dolan as she led her side to victory over Salthill Knocknacarra in the All-Ireland intermediate camogie final at Croke Park on Sunday.

It was only on January 8th last that Grainne led the side to their first title when defeating Gailltir in Thurles and Sunday's game was their fifth game in the eight weeks since that first success.

But they completed the two in a row on Sunday with a 5-14 to 2-6 win and the crowning glory was that this victory was secured on the hallowed turf of Croke Park.

“Yeah, obviously everyone's dream is to come and play in Croke Park but to come and play with your club and the team mates you have grown up with and played camogie with all along, there is something special about it,” said the delighted Rynagh's captain.

“To win here today words don't describe how unbelievable it feels. I think we are coming off a very heartbroken performance here two years ago so we really wanted to make that wrong right and we really did that today. I'm so over the moon right now,” she said as she recalled the heartbreaking defeat to Gailltir two years ago when the Waterford side snatched victory with a late goal.

On Sunday there was going to be no repeat of that late smash and grab show. St Rynagh's took the initiative from the early stages and imposed their game on the Galway side and from a long way out there was only going to be one winner.

Salthill Knocknacarra actually got the opening score of the game in the second minute, but by the time they got their second point 25 minutes later, St Rynagh's had 3-8 on the scoreboard and Salthill Knocknacarra were down to 14 players after Emma Madden received two yellow cards in the first 21 minutes.

Siobhan Flannery got St Rynagh's on the road with a fifth minute goal and Mairead Daly and Katie O'Connell also raised green flags in the first half. They played some superb camogie as they sprayed the ball around Croke Park, picking out inch perfect passes, and ripped open the Salthill Knocknacarra defence.

At half time it was 3-9 to 0-3 and the energy levels did drop off a bit in the second half, particularly as a lot of substitutions were made and play became disrupted. Siobhan Flannery and Kate Kenny added further goals for St Rynagh's as they built up a huge lead.

Despite being a player down Salthill Knocknacarra didn't give up and they were rewarded with two goals in the fina quarter, but they were mere consolation scores as St Rynagh's went on to complete back to back All-Ireland titles with a 5-14 to 2-6 win.

Looking back on the game Grainne Dolan said the experience of losing to Gailltir two years ago was an advantage.

“We learned from two years ago. I think the nerves got to us a little bit, we didn't execute some of the plans we had in place then, so we knew how important it was to stick to the plan and work rate, work rate, work rate from the very beginning and I think everything we worked on in training, I think we brought every bit of that to the game here today. I am just so glad, I think it was such a complete performance from every player and I am delighted for everyone.”

The damage was done with that first half performance and she must have been delighted with that?

“They have some extremely talented players but they are very young and there is no doubt that is not the last we will be seeing of them, they are brilliant. We knew they were going to come hard at us, so we knew we needed a good first half, a good first 15 minutes, to get our name on the scoreboard. As you saw in the second half, they did drive at us again but that first half performance did it for us and made sure that we got over the line.”

As mentioned their last victory only came eight weeks ago but they have played five games in the time since so there should be a little bit more time to celebrate this victory.

“This is our 12th consecutive game, it's just unbelievable. I think our bodies are a bit tired but we get to celebrate it a bit better this time. It's not a case of we'll be playing another match in a few weeks time, we have a break. I think it was just sweeter that it was in Croke Park today and I am really looking forward to the celebrations,' said a clearly delighted Grainne.