St Vincent’s are taking to the provincial championship hustings. They’ll journey to play Offaly’s St Cillian’s in the semi-final of the AIB Leinster Senior Club Camogie Championship.
The bonfires were blazing and the bodhráns were banging as Cillian’s returned with their first ever Offaly Senior A Camogie Championship title.
Vincent’s are experienced travellers along the Leinster Road. They have collected the chalice on three occasions.
Last November, they played Birr at The Faithful Fields. A fabulous venue.
The clubhouse is decorated with some famous Offaly players of the past.
Johnny Flaherty’s Hand of God. The smoothe free-taking of Tony McTague. The sheer elegance of the majestic Matt Connor.
Pat Teehan was on MC duty that afternoon. And St Vincent’s were on the ball right from the throw-in.
They advanced to the Leinster final. Against Kilkenny’s Dicksboro at Netwatch Dr Cullen Cullen Park.
Dicksboro grew and grew into the game. And into the Championship.
They went all the way to Croke Park and climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand.
Vincent’s played on the big day themselves. Back in 1998. On a bleak wintery, November Sunday afternoon against Ballingarry.
Ben Dorney’s team gave it their all. But the Limerick hosts prevailed. It was the last 12-a-side All-Ireland club final.
In 2022, Vincent’s came within a point of Galway’s Sarsfields in the All-Ireland semi-final. The Galway side went on to take the prize.
Vincent’s are well prepared. The Dublin Championship made sure of that.
It was one of the best in years. The two semi-finals captured the drama.
There was the Tymon thriller. Ballyboden St Enda’s pipped St Jude’s by a point.
The crowd was one of the biggest ever at a county semi-final.
Across the city on the same morning, Lucan Sarsfields took St Vincent’s to extra-time.
“The level of the Dublin Championship is first-class. And it keeps on rising,” notes Vincent’s manager, Graham Dillon.
Graham played with a cracking Trinity Gaels side. He excelled at football and hurling.
He brings much knowledge and wisdom in the kit bag.
“There is no such thing as a handy game in Dublin,” he continued. “We had so many difficult matches this season.”
One of them was on the Mobhi Road. Na Fianna pushed their neighbours hard.
It was only in the closing chapter that Vins were able to close the book.
“Yes, Na Fianna put it up to us. And Lucan in that semi-final. Boden also tested us in the Group stage, and again in the final.”
Boden’s return to the Big Top caused the chandeliers to rattle along the Firhouse Road.
It was ten years since they last played in the county final. They left with the five-in-a-row that day.
They performed well in Donnycarney two weeks ago. “We really had to dig deep in that one,” reflected Graham.
“We had to endure a lot of pressure. We were on the back foot for much of the first half.
“It was all about doing our jobs. Sticking with what we do. And the players did that.”
It was another memorable Friday night at the city HQ. A large attendance and the game attracted a big audience on Dubs TV.
The compelling nature of the match kept everybody’s eyes on the pitch, and on the screen.
“It sent out the message that this Dublin Championship is hard won,” relates Graham.
“The Dublin senior team did well this year, reaching the All-Ireland semi-final. And I feel that reflects the work that is going on at club level.”
Aisling Maher was a heartbeat of Dublin’s run. Anna Sullivan was also with the Dubs, and she was to score the only goal of the county final.
Among their forward colleagues in the St Vincent’s attack is Ali Maguire. A treasure of the city.
Ray Boyne is the Vincent’s Stats Man, but even Ray would find it hard to come up with the figure representing all the scores Ali has contributed to Vins and the Dubs over the years.
Vins possess the Barry’s Gold Blend – youth and experience.
Their defence is as solid as the walls of The Marino Casino. Deirdre Johnstone and Aoife Higgins played splendidly in the county final.
Half-forward, Claire Donnelly, got a highly valuable point when the game was in the mixer. Her family are steeped in St Vincent’s history.
Róisín Drohan also brought pace and invention. Her mother is Carmel O’Byrne, who helped Dublin win the O’Duffy Cup back in 1984.
This is the third year in succession that Vincent’s brought home the Maura Brady Cup.
“It’s a tremendous achievement by the players. They have put in the work,” says Graham.
“Our focus now turns to Leinster. The Dublin final was game five. Now it’s game six.”
