The heartbreak for James Stephens in the county final last weekend was no doubt very tough to take. However, Village fans can take solace in the fact the club had been successful in other ventures.
On Saturday, camogie fans were treated to a huge weekend of action as the junior, intermediate, and senior finals were all contested, with the intermediate game getting things started at 11.20.
Rower Inistioge were the opponents and proved to be a stiff test as James Stephens were trailing by two points when the ref blew the whistle for halftime. A bit of a reset was required and a team talk from former Kilkenny intermediate manager and Village boss John Scott seemed to have worked. The red and green girls stormed ahead with the winds on their backs in the second half registering eight unanswered points, to secure the title.
The player of the match was awarded to Emma Gaffney, a Galway native and former intercounty minor for the Tribeswomen.
Gaffney made the transition to the south east ahead of the start of the campaign, much like fellow county star Shane Walsh, who recently left his home club Kilkerrin-Clonberne for Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes where he has since collected a Dublin senior football championship for his troubles. With her bags packed and a car full, Gaffney had just one thing on her mind, help the team claim the trophy they left behind them in the final last year.
CAMOGIE CHAMPS OPEN LEINSTER CAMPAIGN
— James Stephens GAA (@VillageGAA) October 18, 2022
Our newly crowned camogie champions will open their Leinster campaign with a quarter final tie against Raharney on Saturday 29th Oct in Larchfield at 1.30pm.
Very best wishes to the squad & management team who deserve a huge support 🔴🟢 pic.twitter.com/ibpSLy6sI0
Speaking to Scoreline, the former Craughwell camogie club player was clearly emotional.
“I have no words, we put in so much throughout the year, then to come out on top is icing on the cake.”
“The girls I am surrounded by, I cannot take it away from them. I am only new this year, I’m originally from Galway. So going out hurling with those girls I wanted to go out and do it for them. That is what inspired me”
“Philly Larkin took us out and said look you love this game, go out and smile and enjoy it. That is just what I did.”
“I have been so welcomed into this team, I feel so part of it. There was not a second where I felt like I was on the edge of it or I am a newcomer. We have really bonded over the last few months.”
Could you imagine us Kilkenny folk sending one of our best off to Galway? Wait…
See also: Shefflin to travel to Galway in Mercedes style
Listen back to the full reaction from the weekend on Scoreline Extra below:
