*Scariff/Ogonnelloe’s Labhaoise O’Donnell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Scariff/Ogonnelloe had “an unusual start to the year”, selector Sarah Skelly explained this week ahead of their county final date with Truagh-Clonlara at Cusack Park on this Saturday.

Off the back of their county and provincial success, the management team headed up by Dave Sullivan departed. When the non-county player league was to commence, the reigning county champions had no management team in place.

“We weren’t too sure what would happen but the motto of the club is that we don’t panic and we just have to do what needs to be done,” recounted Sarah Skelly who is a selector in the set-up which includes manager Alphie Rodgers and Pat Minogue.

Pat Minogue brings a lot of experience to the set up as “he has been there or thereabouts for fifteen or twenty years and he was there in 2012 when the club got to the junior All-Ireland and again in 2016 when they were in the junior All-Ireland and he stayed on when the club won the first senior title in 2019,” she said.

Rodgers who is highly regarded within the Scariff club having aided the development of many of their current senior hurlers was formerly involved with the Clare minor hurlers.

Sarah added, “The agenda of the management and players is to retain the Clare title and that comes with some difficulty. We have come through some battles but we are glad to be in the final”.

“This has been a very competitive championship. We have found over the last few years that the standard in Clare is nearly tougher than what has been the case in some of the battles outside the county. Two Clare teams have competed in Munster finals over the last few years. We were lucky last year. This year St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield really put it up to us and against Inagh/Kilnamona it took us a long time to get a grip on that game and we were lucky to come out on the right side”.

The former corner back continued, “there is resilience in the team. We knew at half time what was going wrong and the few positional changes we made allied to the never say die attitude of the girls. We are facing a great side on Saturday, a team with some fabulous hurlers. They have a great management which includes John Conlon and to have someone like him on the sideline gives them a fantastic start”.

The Scariff/Ogonnelloe mentor is delighted that the game is in Cusack Park. “Finally the recognition has been awarded to camogie to be allowed to play in that venue. We have played in most venues across the county and never had the opportunity to play in Cusack Park. Our minors played there a while ago and were successful but some of our players have never played there. Its great to have the opportunity to finally play on the main field in Clare. Fr. McNamara park is the home of camogie but it just doesn’t lend itself too well to spectators and we hopefully will have a big following”.

Apart from “a few niggles”, Scariff/Ogonnelloe will have a full squad to pick from for this final. Most of the team’s training has been at Craven’s field in Scariff and Ogonnelloe as the main pitch in Scariff is unavailable at present due to improvements been carried out there.

She is in no doubt but that “the hunger is still there. Winners want to win, that would be a common theme amongst the girls. They don’t want to give up this cup. There is an absolute hunger and appetite there but I know Truagh/Clonlara are bringing that appetite and hunger also”.

Related News

michael mcnamara 3
AI offers generational opportunity for Mid-West to become Ireland's digital home - McNamara
shannon airport departures 1-2
Passenger numbers up 7% to 1.04m for first half of 2025 at Shannon Airport
shannon airport fencing 2
Shannon Airport install new security fencing following recent breaches
Killaloe-bridge
Trial pedestrianisation period announced for Killaloe to Ballina Bridge

Advertisement

Latest News
shannon airport fencing 2
Shannon Airport install new security fencing following recent breaches
1 DSC_9466
'There's no way we're not going to go again' - O'Donnell says no decisions made but exits from Clare camp unlikely
Killaloe-bridge
Trial pedestrianisation period announced for Killaloe to Ballina Bridge
brendan o'mara
Two Gardaí working full-time on case of €10m drug seizure involving Meelick ex Ryanair pilot
clare rd cycle scheme 1
Council u-turn over systems crash sees public consultation extended for Ennis transport plan
Premium
monaghan v clare 29-06-25 roisin considine jennifer duffy 1
Monaghan make their mark & send Clare out of ladies football championship
éire óg v doora barefield 29-06-25 cusack cup 1
Éire Óg win Cusack Cup for second time with dominant extra time display
waterford v clare minor 28-06-25 liam murphy gearoid o'shea james o'donnell 1
Déise deserving winners over Clare in All-Ireland minor final
tipperary v clare camogie 28-06-25 niamh costigan roisin begley 1
Tipp thump Clare but Carmody's charges still have All-Ireland quarter-final to look forward to
laurel lodge 07-11-23 3
Laurel Lodge resident further remanded in custody for alleged assault of retired judge

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement