Camogie legend Gemma O’Connor inspiring next generation in minor clash against Dublin

A SLIGHT speckling of snow on the mountains above Grangegorman. Sunday afternoon's Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Championship. Cork were doing their warm-up. The sight of those fabled red jerseys always sends a shudder down the spine.

The turf was good to firm, as the good folk of Cheltenham might say. There was a man on a step-ladder filming the action. A spectator recalled this locality being used for the Michael Collins film.

Cork won, 3-21 to 0-8. The competition’s ambassador is Leeside legend, Gemma O’Connor. She would have been more than impressed with Cork.

So swift and so sure. Highly skilled. Centre half-back, Ava Fitzgerald, was superb. Midfielder, Millie Condon, has electric pace and centre half-forward, Bronnagh O’Shaughnessy, looks quite the player.

They had their work done by half-time. Leading by 3-13 to 0-4 as they attacked the Phibsboro end. They had 2-4 in the bank after just ten minutes. In the fourth minute, full-forward, Ciara Morrisson, caught the sliotar, turned on a Euro and drilled the ball to the far right corner.

Amy Sheppard pounced on a rebound for the second and the third goal was brilliantly taken by Ellen Crowley. Sprinting in from the left, she held off a challenge before arrowing to the net.

Dublin showed gusto. They kept at it. Sarah Power did many fine things at centre half-back. Nicola Cotter, at left half-back, drove the side on.

Full-back, Sibéal Cherry, made the block of the day to foil Fitzgerald. Zara Thorne struck a tidy point before the break. Kerri Austin added three frees.

Helen Reynolds got Dublin’s fifth point. It was made by the craft and conviction of Amy Carey wide on the left. Anna Thornton then struck a nugget from play. Tara Brady did likewise.

Late on, Saoirse Behan hit the last strike of the day. It was a good one. Dublin host Tipp next Sunday.