Tipp Brothers Collide in Camogie Semi.
By Noel Dundon
The opening headline of this week’s column is not to suggest that the brilliant game of camogie which has grown so much in popularity in recent years, has succumbed to the thorny issue of transgenderism. No, that’s a debate worthy of an entire thesis, never mind a lowly column such as this one.
However, what the headline does refer to is the twist of fate which has befallen the Ferncombe brothers from Holycross who will be on opposite sides of the camp when it comes to the clash of Tipperary and Galway in the All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final at UPMC Nowlan Park in two weekends time.
Dinny Ferncombe will don the colours of the Tribe ladies and will glance up the sideline to where his older brother Michael will prowl the tramlines with the Premier County. Both men are coaches to their respective teams and they both share very similar perspectives and traits when it comes to preparing teams for big games.
So, expect to see two extremely well turned out teams in this semi-final and skillful fare is certainly on the cards – the two lads place a lot of emphasis on coaching the skills of the game, getting them right, and then perfecting them at the fastest possible pace.
The winner of this semi-final will probably come down to which side can perform the skills at the greater intensity and pace – that’s what the modern game is all about and just like the game of hurling has surpassed recognition from say ten years ago, so too has the game of camogie where the skill levels have probably never been higher, the pace never as fast, and the girls never as fit and conditioned for the play.
Camogie is in a great place at the present time and the presence of men such as Dinny and Michael has certainly helped to drive the popularity of the game. The two lads will probably talk about everything and anything over the next fortnight, but camogie will not be on the agenda, one would imagine – plenty of time to discuss that long after the final whistle has sounded.
We saw Kieran Donaghy overseeing an Armagh victory over his native Kerrymen in the All-Ireland senior football semi-final last Saturday evening – is Dinny Ferncombe primed to do the same thing for the Galway camogie ladies? Or can big brother Michael stop him?
Time will tell and an interesting time it will be for all the extended Ferncombe family.
Divisional Championships
Imagine scoring 1-30 in a divisional final and still not winning. Well, that’s the unfortunate position Eire Óg Anacarthy found themselves in at the weekend when Cashel King Cormacs put 3-27 on the board to win the West Tipp Premier Intermediate final.
It was a weekend of finals and in the corresponding mid decider, Upperchurch Drombane won a first title in the new grade, while Burgess pipped the ‘Mines in the North for a first Premier Intermediate title to add to their collection of 14 North Intermediate Titles.
Carrick Swans victory over Killenaule in the south senior hurling final was worthy of note – their nine point victory yielded a 25th south title, while Loughmore Castleiney had the same margin of victory over Moycarkey Borris in the mid decider. Thing is though, the Moycarkey Borris men had a six point second half lead, but could do nothing about the champions surge – the numerical advantage helping them after a Moycakey Borris player saw his club colours brandished above his head – yellow & then red.
In the north Kiladangan saw off Toomevara in a close game while Moneygall were winners in the intermediate grade. Plenty of club action then and plenty more to come too.
All-Ireland Football Final
Armagh and Galway in the All-Ireland senior football final – you’d have gotten some odds for that combination at the start of the season. But, that’s how the cards have fallen and the decider will bring a real element of much needed freshness to the ailing code. It’s 22 years since Armagh won the final – a year less than their opponents who saw off Donegal on Sunday. Could President Jarlath Burns be about to hand over the Sam Maguire Cup to his own county – what an incredible privilege that would be for the Uachtaráin.
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