It was certainly a steep learning curve for the senior camogs when they took on Gort na Mona of Belfast at the Falls Park last Sunday. Every time the girls travel to Belfast the weather conditions are atrocious (remember Dunloy Shaws Road?) and so it proved yesterday with sleet, wind and rain. Gort na Mona had beaten An Riocht in the reverse fixture last year and it shows how far the team has come on with a convincing victory.

The game got of to a blistering start with Eilish Mulholland returning to the fold in fine form. Indeed the whole forward line packed a mighty punch with Lisa Hughes tackling and hassling like a terrier setting up attack after attack for Laura Brennan who seemed to relish the conditions and some of the rather brash tackles. Niamh Mulhern was again dominant with her bursts of speed proving difficult for Gort na Mona to handle. Sophie Colgan was man marked by an excellent Gort na Mona full back but still managed to win most of the tussles. Ciara Cunningham (Captain) seemed to really enjoy her new Centre half-forward position and won numerous balls under difficult circumstances.

The Kingdom seemed pretty dominant in most areas of the park and Aishling Clarke had a fantastic game at midfield ably assisted by the injured Clara Killen.

The scoring was opened by Laura Brennan with a goal and point in quick succession and the pressure continued on the Gorts defence which resulted in Eilish Mulholland grabbing a goal and again the ever reliable Sophie Colgan following that with a point.
The ball pretty much never left the Gort na Mona half and Ciara Cunningham and Lisa Hughes finished the scoring with a point each to leave the score at half-time 2-04 (10) to 0-00 (0)

The second half started with An Riocht playing against the wind and Gorts opened the scoring with a point. The pressure was maintained and when Gort na Mona responed with another goal it looked like An Riocht were in for a tight match. However a goal by Orla Cunningham settled nerves and when Sophie Colgan, Lisa Hughes and Laura Brennan rowed in with points each it looked like curtains for the home side

Final Score 3-07 (16) Gort Na Mona 1-01 (04)

In summary the Kingdom defence was rarely troubled but any Gort na Mona attack was snubbed out by Coleen Fearon at centre half back ably flanked by Marie Trainor and Aine O Reilly who was her usual dominant self. At full back Louise Rodgers had little to do but did anything she had to with remarkable confidence while Ciara Trainor returned her usual workmanlike performance. Newcomer Nicola Sloan stuck to her task well while her sister Joanna Sloan in goals showed why she was player of the year last year with her confident distribution of the ball.

The second half went pretty much the same as the first but it became very bad tempered and niggly. Patricia Clarke who refereed the match found it extremely difficult to deal with people on and off the pitch and was left with no alternative but to blow the match up early after a tirade of abuse from a Gort na Mona official.

This was a very disappointing end to the game but both side were treated to refreshments in the Gort na Mona club afterwards.

Team: Joanna Sloan, Ciara Trainor, Louise Rodgers, Aine O Reilly, Marie Trainor, Coleen Fearon, Nicola Sloan, Aishling Clarke Ciara Cunningham, Clara Killen, Niamh Mulhern, Lisa Hughes, Laura Brennan, Sophie Colgan Nicole Kelly,

Eilish Mulholland for Niamh Mulhern (injured), Orla Cunnighma, Emily Keenan, Ruth Colgan, Christina Trainor, Sarah Jane Harpur, Shauneese Harpur Ella Colgan, Elenora Cunningham