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)

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.

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.

Scorers for the Harps were:
Aine Mahony(0-4), Joanne Prior(0-1), Louise Mahony(0-1) and Edel Costigan(0-1).

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The Harps put on an exhibition of both fitness in skill on Saturday when they beat Donard Glen in the Leinster League on a score line of The Harps 6-17 to Donard Glen 1-1.

The Harps were;- Helen Keane, Claire Walsh, Deirdre Holland, Bronagh Dunne, Catriona Phelan,
Elaine Mahony(0-2), Louise Mahony(0-3), Rosemarie Phelan, Maria Dunne(1-0), Denise Quigley(0-1), Edel Costigan(1-3), Áine Mahony(3-7), Hazel Costigan(1-0), Mairéid Killeen, Lorna Campion
and Yvonne Mullins.

The Harps will now go on to play Camross in The South Leinster League Final. Date to comfirmed

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The girls beat Clara on Saturday March 13th in the Leinster League.
The final score was The Harps 2-16 to Clara 3-6.

The Harps were;-

Helen Keane, Joan Dollard, Deirdre Holland, Niamh Delaney, Catriona Phelan, Claire Walsh, Louise Mahony(0-7), Rosemarie Phelan, Bronagh Dunne, Joanne Prior(1-2), Edel Costigan, Denise Quigley(1-6), Elaine Cuddy, Caoimhe Kenny, Hazel Costigan and Yvonne Mullins.

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The Harps had a great start to the 2010 season when they defeated Ferns on a scoreline of 4-12 to 2-4 in the Leinster League. The girls played a great game, considering we had only 15 girls on the day.

The panel was Helen Keane, Joan Dollard, Deirdre Holland, Patricia Dunphy, Catriona Phelan, Claire Walsh, Louise Mahony (1-4), Joanne Prior (0-1), Rosemarie Phelan, Elaine Mahony (0-2), Bronagh Dunne, Maria Dunne, Áine Mahony (3-5), Shauna Monaghan and Dervla Dunne

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Fixtures:

27/2/10 Ferns 2-4 Harps 4-12

6/3/10 Emeralds v Harps, Urlingford Co. Kilkenny.

13/3/10 Harps 2-16 Clara 3-6

20/3/10 Donard Glen V Harps, Donard Glen, Co. Wicklow.

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3rd/4th April- Winners section A V winners section B.
17th April North Leinster Champions V South Leinster Champions.

Two first half goals from St Anne’s gave them a strong lead mid way through the first half but the Harps pegged it back to just trail by 2 points at the break 2-5 to 0-9.

The girls came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and fought their way into the lead however a third goal from the Waterford girls with 10 minutes to go proved decisive and despite throwing all they could at St Anne’s in the remaining minutes they couldn’t peg back the difference.

St Anne’s now go on to play Lavey of Derry in the All Ireland Final.

The girls were given a huge ovation by their loyal band of supporters as they left the field in appreciation of their amazing 4 year run of success.

St. Anne’s, Dunhill (Waterford) 3-10:
Z O’Donoghue 2-0, K Kelly 1-6 (0-3f),J Simpson 0-2, N Rockett, M Murphy 0-1 each

Harps 0-16:
L Mahony 0-12, (0-9f, 0-1’45,A Mahony 0-4 (0-2f)

The Harps took about 15 minutes to settle and in that time, St. Laurence’s centre forward Carol Nolan scored a point from a free. In the 15th minute Louise Mahony got the Harps first score, a point from 30 yards. Theresa Bennett matched it on 16 minutes and Elaine Mahony scored another on 17 minutes. Soon after her score, Elaine was going in for another score when she was injured in a clash and had to be substituted by her sister Laura. In the 27th minute Louise Mahony scored her second point of the game. That point was soon added to by Áine Mahony to bring the score to 5 points to 1 in the Harps favour. Carol Nolan got the next score for St. Laurence’s from a free, which was followed by a fine save from The Harps keeper Helen Keane. Angela Hanlon was next to get in on the action , scoring a lovely point. As the first half came to a close , The defending champions were looking comfortable when in the space of 2 minutes St. Laurence’s full forward Louise Keatley scored 2 goals in a row, which was followed by a point from Carol Nolan. This left the score at half time at 2-3 to 0-6 in favour of St. Laurence’s.

The Harps were not to let this rattle them however. Elaine Mahony was returned to the pitch at the expence of Maria Dunne when play resumed and Louise Mahony was the first to score a point. Carol Nolan restored St.Laurence’s lead with a point from a free. For the next few minutes, The Harps were in control again. Áine Mahony scored the next 2 points, folowed by 3 points from Louise Mahony. Then came another come back from St.Laurence’s, with a goal and a point in quick succession, putting them ahead by 2 points. The Harps rallied again, with a point from Áine Mahony and 2 from Louise Mahony. Then came a touch of genius from Theresa Bennett as she shook the net to put The Harps in firm command in the closing minutes of the match, with a 4 point lead. St. Laurences got the next 2 points to close the gap to 2. Then Laura Mahony scored a point to leave St.Laurences needing a goal to force a replay. They went for that goal, but were scuppard by Helen Keane in goal as she made a fine save and the ball was cleared as the ref Nicholas Kehoe from Wexford blew the final whistle.
The Harps won their 4th Leinster tital in a row on a scoreline of 1-16 to 3-7.

Report Thanks To Johnny Campion.

Scorers: Louise Mahony 0-8, Aine Mahony 0-4, Theresa Bennet 1-1, Angela Hanlon, Elaine Mahony, Laura Mahony 0-1 each.

1. Helen Keane,
2 Deirdre Holland, 3 Denise Quigley, 4 Joan Dollard,
5 Michelle Fitzpatrick, 6 Caitriona Phelan, 7 Claire Walsh,
8 Elaine Mahony (capt), 9 Louise Mahony,
10 Angela Hanlon, 11 Joanne Prior, 12 Maria Dunne,
13 Áine Mahony, 14 Emma Saunders, 15 Theresa Bennett,
16 Laura Mahony, 17 Patricia Dunphy, 18 Martina Hyland, 19 Emily Delahunty, 20 Fidelma Lawless, 21 Bronagh Dunne, 22 Maria Fitzpatrick and 23 Aoife Donohue,
Trainer Tommy Carroll and selectors Anne Mahony and Johnny Campion.
Physio Theresa Delahunty.

Photos Thanks to Alma Ryan.