"This is our Christmas present" says St. Kevins joint captain

St Kevin’s camogie team will attempt to cap a fairytale season with an All-Ireland Junior B crown when they face Tyrone’s Éire Óg, Carrickmore, in the final on Saturday afternoon at Abbotstown.

With county and Leinster silverware already in the bag, the Louth club stands on the brink of a historic treble. Joint captain Roisin Maguire captured that emotion perfectly.

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She said, “Yeah, the buzz about the place is just amazing. As you drive through Phillipstown, you see the flags, the bunting, everyone's behind you, and it's an occasion that you live for days like this.

“You don't really realise how special they are until you're living in the thick of it, and I'm just so proud of all the girls. So, really looking forward to Saturday.

“It's amazing. Like everyone, there's no stone left unturned. It's like our 16th player, we're so grateful.

“A couple of us have exams this week and whatnot, so it's kind of a nice distraction. So, we like to get out to training, but it's a good excuse to have, so we can't really complain.

“We felt last year, after we won it in 2024, that we probably left some unfinished business; we probably knew there was more in us that we kind of left behind.

“So, we did say like this year that we wanted to push on and go as far as we could in Leinster and thank God we did, and now we're here, so it's great.”

That journey began with a pivotal home clash against Wicklow’s representatives, a game Maguire believes shaped their entire season.

“I think that probably was one of our toughest games all year, and it was a real turning point. I think all the girls just really stood up. That was probably the most important game of the year, really, that Wicklow game.”

Challenge

The Leinster final in Carlow could have unsettled a lesser side, but St Kevin’s approached it with a well-executed game plan.

“Yeah, we'll just, whatever we're given, we'll just take, and we'll go for it. We can only control the controllable. So, we went down, and we played camogie, and we got the result we wanted.

“I think that's the exciting part about it. Every game outside the county is a bonus. I think we've dealt very well with that this year. This is all I want for Christmas: an All-Ireland. This is our Christmas present.”

Maguire acknowledges that opponents Carrickmore bring youthful energy and danger of their own.

“They look quite young as well, they're a very good side. So, we'll have to see what Saturday brings. I can't wait, there was talk of supporters' buses, it just makes it so much more special. So, we really can't wait.”