The Harps suffered an early blow when Aine Mahony had to limp off with a bad knee injury but they were dominating possession in the first half and started to open up a lead despite hitting several wides. At half time they led by 0-6 to 0-2.

The rain steadily got worse throughout the match but the Dicksboro grounds held up well. The home team came storming out in the second half and put the Harps under severe pressure but the 6 backs battled for everything and withheld all the attacks. The girls managed to break up field and pick off some great points to keep their lead intact. When the final whistle sounded it was a 5 points win for the Harps, 10 to 5.

Captain Joan Dollard lifted the Leinster cup as the large crowd of soaked supporters joined in the celebrations on the pitch.

Harps:
Grace Murphy;
Joan Dollard, Denise Quigley, Patricia Dunphy;
Michelle Fitzpatrick, Catriona Phelan, Claire Walsh;
Louise Mahony, Elaine Mahony;
Laura Mahony, Angela Hanlon, Aine Mahony;
Aisling Phelan, Theresa Bennett, Rosemarie Phelan;

Subs: Bronagh Dunne for Aine Mahony (inj), Helen Keane for Laura Mahony

Scores: Louise Mahony 0-7, Theresa Bennett 0-2, Aisling Phelan 0-1

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.282537791767990.92371.208840355804401&type=1&l=14909608d1

On a wet evening in Abbeyleix both teams served up a great battle with the result in doubt right to the end.
Camross led at half time by 1-2 to 0-3 and still led by 2 points with around 10 minutes to go but then the girls fired over some great points under pressure to pull through and seal the title.

The Harps 0-10, Camross 1-4
(A Mahony 0-5, L Mahony 0-3 (f), E Mahony 0-1, A Phelan 0-1)

The under 14 girls are being coached by Elaine Mahony and Johnny Campion.
They were beaten by just one point by Camross to be deprived the oppertunity of representing Laois in the Féile.
In the championship so far, they have won 2 games, beating both St. Brigid’s and Portlaoise well.
The also suffered very narrow defeats at the hands of Camross and O’Moore’s.
They are due to play Castletown next week and St.Joseph’s and Clonad in the 2 weeks after that.

The Minor team under the stewardship of Ross Young have beaten Clonad and St. Brigid’s well in the championship so far. but were beaten by Camross and O’Moore’s. They are due to play O’Moore’s in the semi final, but the date has yet to be set.

The under 12 team under Joan Dollard will commence training on Saturday morning at 11am.

The under 10 panel under Pádraic Henderson played against Portlaoise recently, as did the under 8 panel under Kay O’Connor. The Harps won all matches.

A huge travelling crowd was on hand to cheer on the team.
They got off to a good start and a goal from Joan Dollard had them going well mid way through the first half. Unfortunately they missed a few chances to extend the lead and Eoghan Rua came into the game strongly with their centre back and centre forward particularly strong.
The Derry side hit 2 goals just before half time, the second one being a real suckler punch. This left the Harps facing a 1-2 to 2-5 deficit at half time.

With a few positional swaps they came out fighting in the second half and threw all they could at their opponents, but it was one of those days where the points just weren’t going over. Aisling Phelan got a second Harps goal to pull them close but the loss of the 2 midfielders Joanne Prior and Louise Mahony through injury left stretched in the centre of the park and Eoghan Rua broke away for some late scores to put an unfair reflection on the scoreboard.

A disappointing end but the team can look back on another great season as Laois and Leinster Champions and having had the chance to play in Croke Park on Camogie’s biggest club day out.

Teresa Bennet
Elaine Cuddy, Denise Quigley, Patricia Dunphy;
Claire Walsh, Catriona Phelan, Michelle Fitzpatrick;
Louise Mahony (0-1), Joanne Prior;
Aine Mahony (0-2), Angela Hanlon, Elaine Mahony;
Joan Dollard (1-0), Aisling Phelan (1-0), Laura Saunders.
Subs:
Rosemarie Phelan for Laura.
Helen Keane for Joanne (inj)
Bronagh Dunne for Louise (inj)
Deirdre Holland, Maria Dunne, Martina Hyland, Grace Lennon.

Flags of all sizes are available to buy in the local shops.
Get those colours out and get behind the girls on the big day.

Tickets for the All Ireland Camogie Club Finals can be purchased in advance via GAA Ticket Office by logging on to www.gaa.ie; from your local club and on the day at the Hogan Stand entrance, Jones Rd and Gills Corner.

Ticket prices are Adult €15; Students/OAPS €10; Juveniles €5; Group Prices of 10 juvenile tickets €50 and two adults free.

Sarsfields were first to settle and moved into a 3 points to 1 lead thanks to the accuracy of their dangerous half forward Niamh McGrath. Slowly but surely Harps got into their groove and the points started to flow with Aine Mahony in flying form and Ashling Phelan, Joan Dollard also sending over points as they jumped out into a 2 point lead. Just before half time however Sarsfields hit a purple patch as they bagged 1-2 in a matter of minutes, Orlaith McGrath knocking a rebound to the back of the net after goalie Teresa Bennet had made a good save. That left the half time score Sarsfields 1-5 Harps 0-7.

The half time talk from manager Mick Bolger must have been a good one as the Harps came out in the second half an inspired team. Driven on by great Half Back line and Midfield play they laid seige on the Sarsfields goal although a string of narrow wides left the huge travelling support very edgy indeed. Eventually a crucial goal arrived as Ashling Phelan got on the end of a great delivery from midfield, held off the challenge of the keeper and pulled on the ball to the net to put Harps 3 points up. The points started to flow again as Aine Mahony continued to find the target and sister Elaine also got on the scoresheet with 2 great long range efforts. Sarsfields fought hard to pullback the deficit and two Niamh McGrath points kept them right in contention but the 6 Harps backs were giving nothing easy away. As the game entered the closing stages corner forward Laura Saunders sealed the win for the Harps as she scooped up a loose ball and drove a great shot to the top corner of the net. As the final whistle sounded the scoreboard read Harps 2-12 Sarsfields 1-7  and team celebrated as they booked their ticket to the All Ireland Final in Croke Park on March 6th.

Team:
Teresa Bennett
Elaine Cuddy (capt), Denise Quigley, Patricia Dunphy
Claire Walsh, Catriona Phelan, Michelle Fitzpatrick
Louise Mahony (0-2) , Joanne Prior
Aine Mahony (0-6), Angela Hanlon, Elaine Mahony (0-2)
Aishling Phelan (1-1), Joan Dollard (0-1), Laura Saunders (1-0)

Subs: Helen Keane, Deirdre Holland,  Maria Dunne,  Grace Lennon, Bronagh Dunne, Martina Hyland, Rosemarie Phelan

Thanks to Coilin Duffy, who covered the game live today on Midlands 103, for these audio interviews he took after the game.

• http://www.harpscamogie.com/audio/20110206_ElaineCuddy.mp3 Elaine Cuddy
• http://www.harpscamogie.com/audio/20110206_ElaineMahony.mp3 Elaine Mahony
• http://www.harpscamogie.com/audio/20110206_MargaretMurphy.mp3 Margaret Murphy
• http://www.harpscamogie.com/audio/20110206_HarpsKids.mp3 Young Kids

Leinster Express Match Report

The Final is set for next weekend.

Harps hit an early goal but Drumcullen struck back with one of their own later in the half and it was 1-4 each at half time.
Drumcullen were next to find the back of the net and looked to be getting on top but Harps dug in and picked off some points and then scored another goal to put them into a 2 point lead. It was nip & tuck for a while then until Harps hit the back of the net for the 3rd time to really put themselves into the driving seat.
Drumcullen threw everything they could at the Harps goal in the last 5 minutes and had several close range frees but the Harps goalie Helen Keane and the Backs repelled them all and their was plenty of celebration for the large travelling support as the final whistle sounded with the Harps winning 3-9 to 2-6.

For a more detailed report click here to read the Leinster Express report on the match.

Harps are now into the Leinster Intermediate Club Final where they will play Kilkenny champions Lisdowney is a local derby.