AFTER emerging with a glorious semi-final victory in County Limerick, the Borris team briefly met next Saturday’s opponents at a coffee stop on the way home. Colaiste Mhuire had put Dublin side, Dominican College, to the sword by an impressive 3-10 to 2-3 at the Na Fianna grounds in Dublin.
“We talked briefly. The girls noticed the crests on our PE jumpers and said they were playing us in the final,” acknowledged Orla Bambury, the Borris VS coach.
No doubt the 3-10 scored by the Ennis side will have occupied minds in the South Carlow area.
“A very decent score. Dominican College are a very good camogie team in Dublin and they did very well to get to the All-Ireland semi-final as well. They are a high scoring team and I would say they will be every bit as good as Hazelwood in Dromcollogher were,” predicted Orla.
You can only concentrate on the opposition for so long. After that it is down to your own preparations but the Carlow management team don’t need to be told that.
“We are making sure we are doing everything we can. We have prepared well and there are seven games down. The eighth one is the All-Ireland final. We are enjoying it, enjoying the preparations staying focussed at the same time. It is very enjoyable. It is great for the school, the players and everyone really,” said Bambury who has enjoyed a stellar camogie career including winning an All-Ireland intermediate camogie title with her native Kildare in 2013. When she moved to Paulstown, she helped Barrow Rangers to a long-awaited Kilkenny intermediate club title last year. Now that is all out of her mind and it is the students fortunes which preoccupy her.
“It is fantastic. Everyone is in good spirits. Even today the students were asking us was there a supporters’ bus. The time-frame. When we are leaving. People making headbands. The banner is up. There is great excitement about it.”
The Borris coaching team are leaving no stone unturned and brought in one of Carlow’s greatest ever sports stars.
“We actually had Sean O’Brien came in as a guest speaker which was wonderful. Such an incredible player. He imparted some words of wisdom to our girls which was really nice.
Former Leinster and Ireland star Sean O’Brien recently spoke to the Borris VS camogie team ahead of them playing in an All-Ireland final on Saturday
“An All-Ireland final is extra special. Very special for us. Special for the girls in training. Very special for the girls to hear from somebody who has played at such a high level. Somebody local. All these things matter. There is a lot to be learned when you get to this stage of the competition.”
So with the big day slowly getting ever so nearer, all is good in Borris?
“Everyone is training well. Moving well. So far, so good,” says Orla.
Borris VS v Colaiste Mhuire, Ennis
All-Ireland Junior Camogie B Final
Abbeyleix, Saturday, 2.00pm.
