AIB GAA Club Championship camogie preview: Mullagh to enjoy watching rivals battle for final spot

The Galway champions will get a chance to check out their opposition this weekend.

A week later than scheduled but this Sunday we'll finally know the line-up for the AIB GAA Club Championship camogie All-Ireland senior final. Oulart the Ballagh of Wexford face Loughgiel of Antrim in Inniskeen Grattans GAA grounds in Monaghan on Sunday at 2.30pm. The initial fixture last week was postponed due to snow on the pitch in Castleblaney. These two sides have previous, and for that alone it could prove a cracking encounter. The 2012 semi final went the way of  the Wexford champions by virtue of a 3-22 to 1-2 win. Oulart are the last side outside of Milford to win a club title, back in 2012, and many of that team are still involved. Household names such as Ursula Jacob give them a massive edge and they start the game very much as favourites. And, whilst both sides were frustrated not to get out on the pitch last week, Mullagh of Galway were dumping the All-Ireland champions from the competition. It may not have been obvious to anyone outside of their dressing room last week, but they were very nervous ahead of the match. Milford, as two-time All-Ireland champions, were raging hot favourites for the clash in Nenagh after sweeping through the Cork championship and going over 20 games unbeaten. But Mullagh's manager Packie Dervan, who masterminded the 2-5 to 0-9 win over the champions,  admits that the experience of senior inter county players such as Rachel Monaghan and Sinead Cahalan was vital in settling the team down.

"A lot of the girls were pretty nervous because they weren't there before and the club itself wasn't in a semi final for 22 years. All the fringe players, except the county players, were nervous enough. A lot of people weren't giving us much of a chance . We went up with the intention to give one good go at it and we did."

Milford had recorded All-Ireland wins over Galway sides in their two successful campaigns but had never beaten either Ardrahan or Killimor convincingly.  Mullagh beat both on their way to the Galway title. Dervan feels that their domestic success prepared them perfectly for taking on the Cork side.

"We had six games in the group and our first real test was the semi final against Killimor. That was a ding-dong of a battle and we came out by two points. Galway camogie is strong and there are five or six good teams and any of them could win it. Getting out of Galway is the thing and the shackles are off then when you get out."

Before their All-Ireland semi final last weekend, Mullagh had played Milford in a challenge game. Dervan admits the lessons learned in that game were used throughout their season and ultimately contributed to their victory in Nenagh. He feels it was a massive plus having come up against the defending All-Ireland champions and the lessons learned were put to good effect.

"We played them in a challenge game five or six months ago and they gave us a good trimming in the first half, but we switched a few things and changed our style and it seemed to work in our favour.  We knew from our county final that we had to improve and we worked on that and it was definitely an advantage having played them."

Dervan feels experience and hunger was critical too as his side recovered from trailing at the break by three points. The underdogs had initially gotten off to the perfect start when rattling the net through Leona Monaghan inside 30 seconds. However the champions responded as you would expect of a side with multiple All-Ireland winners.

"It was a tough physical battle and we got off to a great start to be fair, but Milford got a few frees and luckily we got a few scores before the break to bring it down to just three points. We were happy enough at the break,we were cool in the dressing room because we didn't believe we had played to our potential. I think our fitness showed, and we were just more hungry than Milford in the second half. That goal by Rachel (Monaghan) midway through the second half was the turning point."

And so on to this weekend when Mullagh will have a chance to size up their March 1 opposition. Dervan admits that getting a chance to see who they'll be lining out against is an advantage.

"We'll have to go up and see what's in front of us and get used to who we're playing. We haven't any experience of playing either side down the years. No matter who it is we have a massive task and we need some more improvements again. We had a meeting on Tuesday to chat  and we're expecting a ding-dong battle."

Mullagh have three weeks to prepare for what will be the club's biggest match since 1993 when they last booked a place in the All-Ireland final. That day they lost heavily to Glen Rovers of Cork by 6-12 to 0-2 while their only All-Ireland title was secured in 1991. Dervan is cautious when asked how his side feel about the biggest game for the club in a generation.

"A lot of people went to school together here so there's a great atmosphere and we're getting great support. Everybody dreams about playing in Croke Park and we have our chance now and we'll hope for the best."

 AIB GAA All-Ireland Senior Camogie Club Championship Semi-Final Oulart the Ballagh v Loughgiel Inniskeen Grattans GAA, Monaghan, Sunday, 2.30pm