Ahascragh-Caltra must hit new high in quest for glory
By DARREN KELLY
EVEN with four Galway teams contesting All-Ireland Finals this weekend, it’s Ahascragh-Caltra venturing into the unknown on Sunday when they challenge reigning champions Clanmaurice from Kerry in the All-Ireland intermediate camogie decider (Croke Park, 2pm).
Tribal luck against the Kingdom has never been good on big days at Jones’ Road with one having to go back to 1965 to see an inter-county final success for maroon and white.
Though at club level, things were different for Corofin (2019 against Dr. Crokes) and of course, Caltra 20 years ago (2004 against An Gaeltacht).
Clashes between the counties are rarer with the small ball though Kerry did knock Galway’s intermediates out of this year’s championship. And 14 of the Clanmaurice team facing Ahascragh-Caltra were involved in that fixture.
The Eddie Murphy managed side have been the standard bearers for Kerry camogie and formed the backbone of the county’s 2019 All-Ireland junior champions. They were also junior club winners in 2017.
And despite low playing numbers (17 in 2023, 18 in 2024), they overcame Meath’s Na Fianna (1-7 to 0-7) at GAA headquarters 12 months ago with substitute Amy O’Sullivan getting the decisive goal.
With no Kerry club championship, Clanmaurice began the Munster series with a 2-16 to 1-9 victory over Tipperary’s Moneygall in October. And they completed a hat-trick of provincial crowns with a 2-14 to 1-12 success against Cork’s Ballinora last month.
Two late Patrice Diggin points got them past Laois’ St. Brigid’s two weeks ago (1-15 to 2-10). This will be their fifth All-Ireland Final appearance in eight seasons.
Diggin is one of the country’s top camogie players and forms a formidable midfield with Kerry LGFA All-Ireland winner and 2024 All-Star Danielle O’Leary. Sara Murphy and Niamh Leen fill the central defensive positions behind them.
Aoife Fitzgerald is an ever present between the sticks; while Rachel McCarthy, Michelle Costello, Aoife Behan and Áine O’Connor fill the other defensive slots.
Pictured: Ahascragh-Caltra's Aoife Ni Cheallaigh in the swing against up Reagan Fay of Eglish during the All-Ireland Club camogie intermediate semi-final in Kinnegad. They play Clanmaurice of Kerry in the final at Croke Park on Sunday.