Winter 2010
• All Stars &
Soaring Stars 2010
• Linda Mellerick
looks back
on an exciting
Championship
• Tom Humphries
delivers his unique
take on the
‘Talent drain’
• Sheila O’Donohoe
reviews an historic
season on the
Third Level
playing fields
• Liz Howard
examines the 2010
Club Championship
• Ciaran Woods
interviews
Antrim manager
Michael McCullough
• And much more!
Germaine Noonan reflects
on a ground-breaking day
for Camogie . . .
The Camogie Association made history in September when it
became the first of the Gaelic Games family to celebrate inclusion
and diversity in Ireland on its showcase All Ireland day. The occasion
brought colour, atmosphere and warmth to the face of Croke Park in
the shape of families from 52 different ethnic minority communities
from all corners of Ireland. It was the brainchild of Uachtarán, Joan
O’Flynn and Ard Stiúrthóir Sinead O’Connor who brought the idea
to the willing partners in the initiative: The Integration Centre and
New Communities Partnership. The GAA and Dublin City Council. The
project was funded by the Social Inclusion Division of the Department
of Community, Equality, & Gaeltacht Affairs as part of the EU Year to
Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion.
New Communities Partnership (NCP) is an independent national
network of 111 ethnic minority led groups comprising of 75
nationalities with offices in Dublin,
Cork and Limerick. The Integration
Centre specializes in planning,
monitoring and advocacy and
provides regionalised information,
advice and training services. They
have more than 250 affiliated organisations as part of our network.
beforehand to be part of a big celebration as it was her first trip ever
to Croke Park.”
Follow up dialogue is planned with those who attended and their
community leaders to forge the most suitable way forward which
will ensure that our new Irish families have an organised structure of
support to facilitate their involvement in Ireland’s wonderful sport of
Camogie. The Camogie development team and Dublin City Council
have immediate plans to invite all to try Camogie in a ‘Puck Around
Town’ in late 2010 or early 2011.
For successful integration to take place both immigrant and Irish
individuals, families and communities need to reach out to, and
learn from, one another. Sport is a powerful medium through which
people are brought together. Camogie has been an important facet
of Irish life for a number of years,
and it is greatly important that
this tradition is shared with new
communities.
A momentus and historic leap
forward by our association!
Over 400 new Irish families were guests of the Camogie Association
and 200 community leaders and young children were formally
welcomed to Croke Park by the Uachtarán, Joan O’Flynn and the
Inclusion Officer of the GAA, Tony Watene. The highlight undoubtedly
was the sight of 32 young ethnic and Irish children forming the guard
of honour on the pitch as the Senior teams were greeted by President
Mary McAleese.
The day left a lasting impression on those who attended the AllIreland event. “This is real integration! In all my time in Ireland – not
all the talking without action – here we mingle with Irish enjoying
their traditional game, dispelling the ‘us and them’ mindset, and
enhancing tolerance”, recounted Reginald Oko-Flex Inya, Dublin
Coordinator, New Communities Partnership (NCP)
Barbara Yakubu, whose daughter Treasure was lucky enough to walk
on the hallowed turf recounted the day, “I was really struck by her
interest in the game as she is mostly interested in drama and music
and she wanted to stay and watch the full games. She was so excited
Whether on the field, in play or
as enthusiastic supporters, team
sports have a unique ability to rally the whole village, parish, town
and county behind local teams. Sports participation builds bridges
across cultural differences, and contributes to good community
infrastructure long after the winning goal has been scored. Camogie
alongside other Gaelic Games plays a major part in the building of
good community relations throughout this country. Clubs have made
significant progress towards the inclusion of ethnic minority women,
men and children in their activities but there is still plenty more
to do! We look forward to seeing the first woman from an ethnic
minority background in a Senior Final in the very near future!
A word from an t-Uachtarán
Joan O’Flynn
Siobhán Ní Fhloinn, Uachtarán, An Cumann Camógaíocht
Review of playing rules
Some aspects of the game come up for review
from time to time, particularly during the
championship season. The playing rules are
actually due for review in 2012 and there’ll
definitely be ongoing conversations before that
on the well being of the game.
Warmest congratulations to our 2010 All Stars, Soaring
Stars, Young Players of the Year and Manager of the Year. It
is important that we give national recognition to fantastic
individual displays which were rich with skill, passion,
commitment and good sporting conduct. Well done to all
nominees and award winners!
Club finals set for Croker on 6th March 2011
Of course the playing season isn’t quite over yet. There’s
unfinished business in the All Ireland Club Championships.
Nearly 40 years after Camogie club finals were last played in
Croke Park they return on 6th March 2011.
Along with the All Ireland Camogie triple header in September,
this means that the number of club and inter county Camogie
teams with the opportunity to play All Ireland finals in Croker
increased from four to ten during the 2010 season.
I am delighted with this outstanding development because it
gives equal recognition to our club players. It provides them
with the most prestigious stage in the country. It gives club
supporters the enjoyment of the best facilities and it boosts
the status and profile of the game.
Put it in your diaries now and be part of another great
Camogie festival.
Planning to avoid fixture clashes
Next season’s fixtures programmes are already being
scheduled. Fixture clashes between Camogie and Ladies
Football are a regular frustration. One of next season’s
priorities is the commitment to eliminate these, where
possible. At national level we are already active on this. We are
in liaison with our football counterparts including provincial
level. I urge county boards to do the same.
Fixture clashes serve no one, least of all players and especially
under age players. All gaelic games bodies’ endorse a code
of behaviour for working with young people. We commit to
promoting a positive, healthy and participatory approach to
our games. This involves avoiding situations where children
are forced to choose between one code or another – either
for games or training. Anecdotally this is not an infrequent
occurrence. It is up to adults, administrators and coaches at
all levels, to make sure this does not happen. Our games are
meant to be player centred. Let’s make them more so in 2011.
Here’s a few questions to get the ball rolling.
The experiences of players, referees, coaches and
administrators all need to be heard on these.
A shoulder charge is currently illegal in
Camogie. Should this remain so? Or change?
A penalty shot is currently from 20m line. Is this
distance too long and does it unfairly advantage
the goalkeeper? Should the shot be closer to the
goal?
A handpassed score is allowable in Camogie.
Does this unfairly advantage the forward?
Should it change?
Should Camogie intercounty games be 35
minutes a half, similar to our male counterparts?
What is the most appropriate playing uniform
for Camogie – from the point of view of
enhancing players’ athleticism and skill?
Should shorts be considered acceptable for
players aged under 12 (Go Games age)?
Would allowing a quick free, as in hockey, add
to the excitement and pace of the game?
During the course of 2011, there will be
opportunities for you to say what you think of the
Camogie rules and to share your ideas to improve
the game. I look forward to your participation in
these discussions.
Prior to this check out www.camogie.ie for the
Camogie Association’s new Official Guide. This
contains the new administrative rules passed at
this year’s Annual Congress and effective from
January 2011. It’s important that all officials
familiarise themselves with these.
In the meantime, enjoy the winter break!
Joan O’Flynn
Siobhán Ní Fhloinn
Uachtarán,
An Cumann Camógaíocht
Linda Mellerick of the Evening Echo gives her
views on this year’s senior championship
The 2010 championship saw holders Cork
dethroned. Nothing too out of the ordinary
there. What was significant however was the
fact that it was the first time in nine years
that Cork didn’t appear in an All Ireland final.
Galway and Wexford was the pairing on
September 12th with both teams previously
there in 2008 and 2007 respectively. Wexford
of course were victorious in ’07 and took the
O’Duffy cup again this season while Galway
still await that elusive second title.
What
sort
of
championship did we
have in 2010?
It seemed counties had only started playing
when they stopped again. Nothing then for
two months until all counties were thrown
into an abyss of games.
The intensity of championship was possibly
lost at times with the volume of games. Most
knew they could afford to lose a couple and
still advance. It’s hard to build yourself up for
championship week in and week out. While
they say that a match is worth a week’s
training, training is crucial for working on areas
of weakness exposed in
The intensity of
a game, weighing your
options and assessing
championship was
the form of your panel.
I couldn’t understand
possibly lost at times
the reasoning behind
I’d flip the league and
with the volume of
commencing this year’s
championship formats.
championship on June
games. Most knew they At the outset the top five
12th with the Leaving
in the running to reach
could afford to lose a
Cert exams starting in
the knock out stages
and around the same
were Cork, Wexford,
couple
and
still
advance
time. With senior interGalway, Kilkenny and
county camogie panels
Tipperary. Yet I felt it was always going to be
younger than ever almost every county has the first four. It was a disappointing season for
secondary school students in their squad. Tipperary. Had they managed to grab points
Many counties commenced their campaign from any of the top four, it would have been
without these players.
an encouraging sign for the future. Beating
I can’t grasp either the idea behind compelling
teams to play six championship matches
in seven weeks with Galway and Wexford
playing six weeks on the trot. An abundance
of games during the National League would
have been welcomed with open arms. That is
the time to bombard counties with matches,
not during championship. Some got just two
league games. If fortunate enough to advance
to the league semi-final they got a third.
Most counties’ league campaigns were over in
early April after commencing in early March.
Dublin and Clare was expected of them.
Kilkenny and Galway topped the leader board
with ten points a piece having dropped points
to Wexford and Kilkenny in that order.
There were no draws throughout the
championship. Cork and Wexford both
Deirdre Codd, Wexford, in action
against Ann Dalton, Kilkenny.
Claire Grogan of Tipperary
powers past Aoife O’Connor
of Wexford while Noleen
Lambert looks on.
dropped four points. Cork suffered defeats to
Kilkenny and Galway while Galway and Cork
took points from Wexford.
The results table showed very little between
the top four with points picked up and
dropped by all along the way. There were
many exciting games; Galway and Wexford
in Athenry, Kilkenny and Tipp in Nowlan
Park, Clare v Galway in Corofin and Cork and
Wexford in Pàirc Uí Chaoimh. It was as certain
as it can be on July 3rd who was going to
emerge to the semi-finals after Tipperary lost
their third game with Wexford still to come.
Wexford’s scoring prowess stood tall with 131
pts for and 62 against (14-89 to 4-50) from
six games.
The semi finals on August 14th saw Cork take
on Galway while it was an all Leinster affair
between Kilkenny and Wexford in a double
header in Nowlan Park.
Cork lived to fight another day after a pulsating
draw. It took two Sìle Burns frees in the fifty
seventh and eight minutes to pull Cork back
level after they had led by four entering the
last quarter. In a game which swung back and
forth and had the large crowd on the edge of
their seats a draw was the fairest result for
both teams.
Wexford comfortably booked their place in
the Gala All Ireland senior finals thanks in the
main to a superb second half performance
where they produced three goals to which
Kilkenny had no reply.
Cork’s Orla Cotter fields
the sliotar ahead of Julie
McGrath, Tipperary at
Semple stadium.
The semi final replay failed to live up to the
expectations of the drawn encounter due to
the stop/start nature of refereeing.
Wexford won’t care one bit. They added the
O’Duffy cup to the National League they won
in April - no disputing the team of the year.
I admit that I’m the sort who wants to let
everything go, within reason. If a game is
strong and physical, then
I have to say that I
let it be. There’s nothing
wrong with clean strong
think the support that
play but blowing for
every competitive touch Wexford bring with them
is ruining our game.
is absolutely fantastic.
Ninety nine percent of
Camogie games are very Their victory banquet and
clean; let the players get
homecoming was also
on with it.
tremendous
As for the replay,
Galway hung on despite
Cork having an opportunity to level the game
in the sixth minute of injury time to bring
the game to extra time. But Cork could have
no complaints against a Galway side which
had their homework done since the drawn
encounter. Galway advanced to their second
final in three years with a 0-10 to 0-9 victory.
All Ireland Final day was a great occasion with
the Junior, Intermediate and Senior finals all
taking place. The attendance of 17,300 was
also very good. I have to say that I think the
support that Wexford bring with them is
absolutely fantastic. Their victory banquet
and homecoming was also tremendous.
It wasn’t the best of senior finals, not as
free flowing as we’d hoped for but I’m sure
Marie Dargan (Kilkenny) defends the
sliotar against Amanda O’Regan (Cork)
Overall, it was a good
senior championship
season with no real
surprises. As mentioned
the intensity in the
round robin series
could have been better
in parts but for the
volume of games with
the drawn semi-final an
absolute cracker.
While many players
caught
the
eye
throughout the campaign; the top three in my
opinion were Katrina Parrock (Wexford), Mary
Leacy (Wexford) and Mags D’Arcy (Wexford).
Offaly won a tremendous All Ireland
Intermediate final against Wexford. They
led 2-7 to 0-4 at half time but an incredible
second half fight back from Wexford saw the
game finish 2-12 to 2-10. Wexford had left
just too much to do for the second period.
The junior final was also a cracker, ending all
square at 1-9 a piece between Antrim and
Waterford. Antrim took the replay with two
second half goals, winning by four points;
2-10 to 0-12.
Roll on 2011.
Brenda Hanney fields a
high catch for Galway
Gala All-Ireland
winning captain
Una Leacy
Tom Humphries of the Irish Times reflects on a
summer of camogie action and vanishing players
After the girls of
summer have gone
Our team has got to the end of its juvenile camogie days.
An Under 16 final on the first weekend in November put
a full stop to their story of drama, mayhem and general
good crack. The odd thing is that we have finished up with
so many fewer players than we started out with. It wasn’t
meant to be.
event. More seriously, early in the second half, two small
corner forwards become lost in long grass near the road.
A search was mounted but abandoned in the excitement
after half a dozen sliotars were found. We believe the corner
forwards to be still out there making runs and complaining
about selfish midfielders. Little dingers they were.
In fact we don’t wonder if we haven’t set some sort of record. Part of the trouble is the league and championship structure.
Between qualification for the county final back in September A four team league and a four team championship isn’t a lot
of excitement to heap onto the
to playing the county final in
plate of a group of teenage girls
early November, a seven week We try making up for the lack of
when you get them together
break, we lost two players. Of
for training above the frost
all the cases of player loss we competitive games by playing
and below the lights in late
have looked at as we traced challenges. This used to be easier
January. Especially when two
our fingers back over the years
when the girls were younger.
of the teams are making up
this was the most baffling.
the numbers. So three decent
The first loss was open
games in the year. One championship and two league
and shut business. An under eleven league semi-final in against the main rivals. Excited girls! This is what it is all
Ballyboden. A daunting trip to the south side. The world of about!
dubes and hockey maidens. In ‘Boden the corporation has
let the grass grow long, undermining the prestige of the Next we lost a midfielder. She went looking for a sliotar in
the Phoenix Park and got abducted by the deer. She’s happy.
Living up north, (pole that is) working as an elf but the seven
week delay tips county finals into November or “the busy
season” as she calls it in her elf-centred way.
We try making up for the lack of competitive games by
playing challenges. This used to be easier when the girls
were younger. You could get an Under 16 team to play a
challenge against a decent Under 14 side and didn’t have
to leave Dublin to get a game. Now at Under 16 nobody
wants to know so we are left ringing clubs in Kilkenny and
Tipperary who find the suggestion of a challenge somewhat
inappropriate. So we rumble on training session after
training session.
You probably heard of our next two losses. We had a wing
back who, after several years of missing matches due to her
dance and drama commitments, was asked by us to choose.
She left camogie and went on to became Lady Gaga. It
was all by mutual agreement, she’d refused to wear skorts
anymore and had adapted her helmet to look like a unicorn.
Also we didn’t know how to put her name in Irish on the
Aislinn Connolly (Offaly) in action against Claire O’Connor
(Wexford). Gala All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie
Championship Final, Croke Park.
teamsheets. Two months later our full forward was signed
by Manchester City for a world record fee. It would later
prove to be a case of mistaken identity (she’s with Liverpool
now, but close to the first team). Still. Much better than
losing a player to Na Fianna.
was the path of Jedward. Nobody was too sure but she sent
us a card recently from Kilmeaden. Ah, the path of cheeses.
In a four team league you can’t imagine the howl of
horror which a mentor lets out when another club happily
announces that they aren’t travelling, that they are giving
you the points. You pretend
to the kids that they have
Girls want games and they want
played the game already. You
trips and they want something they make up flattering details
about it. Tell them to leave
can take seriously. It will come a
you alone.
This summer, Eve Talbot,
whose job title we are unsure
of, but it must involve hands
on responsibility for camogie
in the First World , came up
with a brain wave. The Pink
Weekend. It was a hard sell little too late for our heroes but
There is talk of a Leinster
at first with our girls. A few
league being introduced at
who knew of the tendency camogie can only benefit.
Under Sixteen level and at
for camogie to break dates
the revolutionary Under
refused to come back from the Gaelteacht. Other kids
Eighteen
grade
which
we
have
been experimenting with
unreasonably went on family holidays but between the
fourteens, fifteens and sixteens we mustered a team and in Dublin this year. Bring it on and bring it on quick. Girls
got to the final and were on telly for six seconds. It turned want games and they want trips and they want something
out when we questioned them afterwards that the girls they can take seriously. It will come a little too late for our
really liked playing camogie matches. As they say in New heroes but camogie can only benefit.
York, who knew? Who noooooo?
I was going to say that the last two girls we lost were real
It didn’t stop the drip, drip, drip of vanishing players. We
lost a sub to Na Fianna and our next defection was a corner
back. Fine and rough and happy to pull on her granny. She
left to follow in the path of Jesus according to one mentor
she spoke to at the time. The other mentor present says it
drama cases. One was to have departed to fill a vacancy she
saw in Chilean mining, the other to be a sheep crofter in the
Shetlands. But the bit at the top about two quitting because
they were bored waiting for games to come around is true.
Ten years on a team and they left through boredom three
weeks before a county final. Prosaic but true.
Antrim ‘s Jane Adams tackled by Shona Curran of Waterford during the Gala All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship Final
All
Stars
1
MAGS
D’ARCY
WEXFORD
2
3
4
CLAIRE
CATHERINE
NIAMH
O’CONNOR
O’LOUGHLIN
KILKENNY
WEXFORD
WEXFORD
GALWAY
5
6
7
REGINA
MARY
ANNA
GLYNN
LEACY
GEARY
GALWAY
WEXFORD
CORK
8
9
ORLA
ANNe
KILKENNY
DALTON
GALWAY
KILKENNY
10
11
12
KATE
UNA
BRENDA
KELLY
LEACY
HANNEY
WEXFORD
WEXFORD
GALWAY
13
14
15
KATRINA
URSULA
AISLINN
PARROCK
JACOB
CONNOLLY
WEXFORD
WEXFORD
GALWAY
Michaela
ELAINE
Ciara
Intermediate Soaring Stars
Morkan
DERMODY
O’Connor
Offaly
Offaly
Wexford
Soaring
Stars
1
CAROLINE
CONNAUGHTON
ROSCOMMON
2
3
4
RHONA
SHONA
REGINA
TORNEY
CURRAN
GORMAN
ANTRIM
WATERFORD
KILDARE
5
6
7
FIONNUALA
CARR
PATRICIA
JACKMAN
JENNIE
SIMPSON
DOWN
WATERFORD
WATERFORD
8
9
BERNIE
KERRIE
MURRAY
O’NEILL
ARMAGH
ANTRIM
10
11
12
MICHAELA
ÁINE
SHANNON
CONVERY
LYNG
GRAHAM
ANTRIM
WATERFORD
ANTRIM
13
14
15
SARAH ANNE
JANE
JANE
FITZGERALD
ADAMS
DOLAN
LAOIS
ANTRIM
MEATH
Liz Howard looks at this year’s Club Championship with the attraction
of Croke Park an extra incentive for this year’s contenders
There is always an incentive to reach the final of any
competition but the fact that the senior and intermediate club
finals 2010 are to be staged in Croke Park in March 2011 is an
additional attraction. The senior club championship semi final
pairings pit Killimor of Galway against Leinster champions,
Oulart The Ballagh, while Munster standard bearers Inniscarra
meet O Donovan Rossa of Antrim. In the Intermediate grade,
Sarsfields of Galway play The Harps of Laois (three times
All Ireland Junior Champions) while Eoghan Rua from Derry
face Lismore. In the junior championship Kilmessan of Meath
play Four Roads and Corofin’s opponents are Tir na nOg,
Randallstown.
Killimor defeated Mullagh in the Galway senior championship
final. It was a thrilling game with a fantastic standard of
camogie. There were some great individual displays. County
star Ann Marie Hayes was outstanding at wing back as was
Nicola Lawless at full back; Niamh Hanney at corner back and
Karen Brien at number six. All Star forward Brenda Hanney,
Ann Marie Starr, Susan Keane and Martina Conroy and Laura
Mitchell also shone in a very impressive side.
Oulart The Ballagh were probably fortunate to defeat
Ballyboden in the Leinster final. The Dublin side dominated
for a long spell but the scores didn’t come. In typical fashion,
Una Leacy fired home two goals. Mary Leacy played a stormer
at centre back and Ciara Storey too had a super game. This
is a star studded side, apart from those mentioned, Helena
and Ursula Jacob, Karen and Colleen Atkinson, Shelley and
Stacey Kehoe, Emma and Aisling Moran and Shauna Sinnott
represented Wexford in Croke Park last September. The game
between Oulart and Killimor should be a cracker.
O’Donovan Rossa (winners of the senior title in 2008) are
backboned by the mercurial Jane Adams, Natalie McGuinness,
Kerrie O’Neill, Bronagh
Orchin, Colleen O’Doherty,
Muireann
Quinn
and
Theresa Adams — all of
whom won the Gala Junior
All Ireland in a replay
against Waterford this year.
They are an experienced,
composed side and play a
lovely brand of camogie.
Top: Morgan Conroy
Chairperson Munster
Camogie Council presents
the Senior Club Cup to
Inniscarra Captain Margaret
N. O’Sullivan - Photograph by
Flann Howard
Centre: Sarsfields winners of the Connacht
Intermediate Club
Championship.
Bottom: Corofin - proud
winners of the Munster
Junior Club Championship Photograph by Flann Howard
Jane Adams is arguably one of the great stars of the modern
game. When they won the club All Ireland she gave an
exhibition which drew rounds of applause.
Inniscarra, an impressive and confident young side defeated
Granagh-Ballingarry of Limerick by three points in the Munster
decider. Dual star Rena Buckley made a return from a shoulder
injury to the side, coming on in the closing stages to good
effect. Cork player Joanne Casey accounted for all but one
score. Young forward Niamh McCarthy is a star in the making;
Niamh Dilworth, Rosie O’Mahoney, Aoife Kavanagh and Liz
Hayes are all fine players. The game against O’Donovan Rossa
is an extremely difficult one.
The Harps have moved up to Intermediate ranks this year
defeating Drumcullen and Lisdowney in the Leinster campaign.
They are a side rich with experience and love the big occasion.
They won five Leinster titles in a row. Fullback Denise Quigley
and Caitriona Phelan are the pivots of the defence and jointly
marshal a solid unit. Midfielder Louise Mahony is a wonderful
player who is capable of controlling the midfield area with
her intelligent play and skill. Up front, Joanne Dollard, Laura
Saunders, Aisling Phelan and Aine O’Mahony work hard. The
side is captained by Elaine Cuddy.
Harps face a Sarsfields side that has a mix of youth and
experience. Nine players are under eighteen years old. Names
synonymous with Galway hurling feature; Kenny, McGrath and
Cooney. A number of the players were on the Galway All Ireland
winning U16 and U18 teams, including Niamh, Clodagh and
Orlaith McGrath, Aisling Spellman, Laura Glynn, Aoibhin and
Tara Kenny. They are trained by Tony Ward who has a proven
record of success. It is a big challenge for them taking on The
Harps but they are skilful and determined. Keep your eyes out
for young Orlaith McGrath — she has it all.
On the other side of the draw Eoghan Rua of Coleraine look
strong. They feature Derry intermediate captain Jane Carey,
Derry U 16 captain Marie Mooney, talented sisters Grainne and
Maebh McGoldrick and former Antrim star Grace McMullen.
They meet Lismore, a team that continues to impress and
include a number of players that developed their skills in the
successful Blackwater College. Key players are Niamh Ryan,
Grainne Kenneally, Shona Curran and Aisling O’Brien.
Four Roads face Kilmessan of Meath and the Banner girls from
Corofin meet Randallstown in the junior grade. Roscommon
club Four Roads has a strong camogie tradition; players like
Donna Kenny, Niamh and Siobhan Coyle, Marie Glennon, Sinead
O’Brien and Lizzie Glennon are experienced and committed.
Kilmessan ran up an impressive score to win the Leinster final
against Celbridge. They have an inspirational leader in Meath
star, Aileen Donnelly; Stephanie Horan who also plays for
Meath, her sister Noreen as well as Aine Sheridan and Etaoin
Doyle.
Claire Commane, the very effective Clare forward is the best
known player from Corofin while Niamh O’Dea, Aisling Kelleher,
Edel Keating and Marie Raftery are others who impressed in a
big win over Cappoquin. Tir na nOg, Randallstown have great
players in Antrim midfielder Michaela Convery and Sarah
McNicholls. The side is managed by Mairead McAtamneyMagill one of the great players who won senior All Irelands
with Antrim.
The scene is set. It is a wonderful achievement to reach this
stage.
Agnes O Farrelly
i
Mary
MaryMoran
Moranlooks
looksat
atthe
thewoman
womanin
inwhose
whosehonour
honourthe
the
All Ireland Intermediate Club championship cup is named
Cavan-born Agnes O’Farrelly was a noted Gaelic scholar, educationist, writer and champion of
women’s rights. An executive member of the Gaelic League, she was a close friend of Douglas
Hyde, first President of Ireland, and other leading personalities in the Irish Ireland movement.
Cáit O’Donoghue, the first Organiser of the Camogie Association, wrote to Agnes O’Farrelly,
then lecturer in Modern Irish Poetry at UCD, inviting her to become involved in camogie and to
use her influence to set up teams in the universities. Agnes presided over the inaugural meeting
of the UCD Camogie Club and became its first President, a position she held until her death
in 1951. She prevailed on her friend, Edwin Gibson, Lord Ashbourne, to donate the impressive
Ashbourne Cup for intervarsity competition.
By 1932, Agnes was one of the most prominent women of her time. She was appointed Professor
of Modern Irish Poetry at UCD, elected to the Senate, held a seat on the Governing Body of
UCD and was an established writer. She had become more involved in camogie. Her voice
carried weight. When she spoke, delegates listened, when she spoke in public, the newspapers
picked it up and gave her words prominence. At a time when the Camogie Association struggled
for recognition and acceptance, Agnes lent credence and status. She guided the Association
through difficult times and was made Life President of the Association in 1935. During the splitridden forties, Agnes sought to bring all sides together. Agnes was a ‘doer’. She saw what needed
to be done and did something about it. The All-Ireland Club Intermediate Championship Cup
commemorates her name.
Agnes O’Farrelly,
First President of
UCD Camogie Club
and Life President
of The Camogie
Association
Ciaran Woods talks to Antrim
manager Michael McCullough who
has his sights set on gathering more
silverware following their 2010
breakthrough season
The championship past was one which saw Antrim make a much-needed
breakthrough at All-Ireland Junior level. Under the guidance of boss
Mickey McCullough, who had last year delivered the All-Ireland Senior
club title to Rossa, they laid claim to the All-Ireland Premier Junior title,
a replayed All-Ireland win over Waterford ensuring that the title returned
to the Saffron county.�
changes for the next game against Cork. For the next game against Derry
there were 13 changes, and we made 15 changes, the whole team, before
we played Offaly. They hit a last-minute goal to beat us, and that was the
team that finished top of the league. �
“Two weeks before Offaly played the league final, we went down and
played them in a challenge and beat them by 16 points. Three weeks
The manager laid out his desire early in the season to win the All-Ireland later, we played Kilkenny in a challenge at St John’s and a lot of people
crown, believing that Antrim were simply too good to be operating at thought we were crazy, that we were going to undo the good work
such a low level, and his faith in his troops was proven to be justified as we had done. We conceded five absolutely horrible goals, which were
they dug deep and delivered the goods when it mattered most.�
horrible goalkeeping and defensive errors, and were only beat by three
points. I went into the changing rooms quite happy, but
“Whenever they had to perform, the girls never let us
down. The first round robin game against Derry didn’t “Whenever they had the girls were so annoyed at getting beat. I knew then we
were going places.”
matter to us. It wasn’t championship, it wasn’t knockout.
to perform, the girls
So in the Derry game we took the opportunity to look
If ever there was a textbook example of a team coming
never let us down” good at the right time, then it was Antrim camogs in 2010.
at a few players, leaving out the big names to see how
the others coped. Although they were thumped that day,
They had geared everything towards their All-Ireland title
there were glimpses I saw that made me believe that they would do good tilt, and although McCullough admits that they made some mistakes
things for us over the course of the season.�
along the way, it all came right in the end so that when it mattered
“From then on, it was proper championship. We played Down, had to win most they had the winning combination and a mix which was capable of
and won convincingly. We played Derry in the Ulster final, were six points delivering that All-Ireland crown.�
down with five minutes of injury time played and won. They found that
wee bit of hunger this year, and they never knew when they were beat.�
“At St Mary’s CBS there are hills and steps up to the pitches which
are near enough vertical, and we trained there solid for six weeks. No
matter how many runs we made them do, they did it. And it paid off for
us, because in the last ten minutes of games we came strong when it
mattered.”�
“It took us until the second half of the All-Ireland final replay to really
click. It took us all year to figure out that Rhona (Torney) who was always
a midfielder, was an excellent corner-back. It took us right up until the
All-Ireland final to find a goalkeeper. It took us a long time to get Laura
Connolly and Maeve Connolly on board because they were with the
minors and with the school.�
“It took us all season to change the habits
of girls like Michaela Convery and Shannon
“The challenge to the girls now is
Antrim may have made a slow start to
proceedings throughout the National League,
whether they’re going to sit on what Graham, who are used to being the massive
players for their clubs and have to do
but Saffrons followers need not have worried
they have achieved, or whether they’re everything, to realise that with us they don’t
as the management took the opportunity
have to carry that sort of responsibility. In
going to aim high and push on
to ring the changes and give all 35 of their
the All-Ireland final replay� Shannon Graham
players the opportunity to show what they
wasn’t on the ball very often, but the amount
could do. They may have been coming out
on the wrong side of results, but there was still more than enough to of hooks and blocks she made was unbelievable. That’s Antrim Shannon
Graham... Creggan Shannon Graham has to score 2-5 a game for them
convince McCullough that they were going places.�
to have a chance.”
“We used the National League to scratch our heads. From the team that
played against Tipperary in the first round of the league, we made nine They may have achieved their goals for 2010, but McCullough insists that
their work is far from done. The All-Ireland Intermediate is now firmly in
his sights, and he believes that the Saffrons have done more than enough
this season to show that they can mix it with the big guns not just in the
coming season but for some time to come.�
“I’m of the belief, now more than ever, that Antrim are too good for Junior.
The ambition for that team has to be to play senior, because they’re good
enough to do it.�
“We played Kilkenny twice this year and in one game they beat us by
three points, and down in Kilkenny we won. We played Wexford three
weeks before the All-Ireland senior final, and were only beaten by eight
points. Dublin who were in Division One we played and hammered.
Offaly, who are now away up to senior, we played three times, losing
once to a last-minute goal and the other two times beating them quite
convincingly.�
Antrim
manager Michael
McCullough steadies the ship
at half time in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Final
“The challenge to the girls now is whether they’re going to sit on what
they have achieved, or whether they’re going to aim high and push on.
We sat and watched an Offaly team hammer Wexford in the first 20
minutes of the All-Ireland final, and there’s no reason we can’t do the
same. If they just get that wee bit of extra belief, they can be around for
the next ten years.”
Sheila O’Donohoe looks back at an
historic year for third level camogie
and one packed with plenty of top
class action
The 2009/2010 playing season for third level camogie was an action special word of thanks to all of them especially Lynn Kelly (President),
packed one with over one hundred games being played by an ever Lizzie Flynn (Secretary) and Liz Murphy (Registrar) who have recently
increasing number of participating colleges. The freshers competition stepped down from the committee and to outgoing Treasurer Aidan ó
which was hosted by NUIG marked the start of the playing season Maolagáin as well as Shane Darcy, Orla Kilkenny, and Fionnuala Carr.
in which WIT emerged
As the curtain falls on the
victorious whilst the battle The highlight of the year and a historic one for
2009/2010 season it is time
for honours in the division camogie was the hosting of the penultimate stages
to consider 2010/2011. Will
1 and division 2 leagues
Tralee IT avenge a win this
were
closely
contested of the two championships, Purcell Cup (division2)
time in the Purcell Cup?
between eight and twelve and the Ashbourne Cup (division 1) at the same
Will WIT make it three in a
colleges respectively with
location
making
it
the
largest
third
level
sporting
row in the Ashbourne Cup?
WIT retaining the division 1
Find out by going to Galway
event
in
Ireland
with
sixteen
colleges
participating.
title and Tralee IT emerging
on February 19th and 20th
as division 2 winners after
where
NUIG
will
host
the
2011
championship
weekend. Watch out
a tough encounter with DIT in the final. The ten Division 3 teams
competed in a series of one day blitz events hosted by Limerick IT for all the fixtures and events on www.ccao.ie
and by Dundalk IT respectively as well as the Fr Meachair competition
which was hosted by Marino College in Dublin. St Mary’s Belfast won
the Cup while Froebel College, Dublin were shield winners – the
first ever piece of silverware for them, one of the newer colleges
competing in third level competitions.
The highlight of the year and a historic one for camogie was the hosting
of the penultimate stages of the two championships, Purcell Cup
(division 2) and the Ashbourne Cup (division 1) at the same location
making it the largest third level sporting event in Ireland with sixteen
colleges participating. The Purcell Cup final saw DIT capture their very
first title with a win over Tralee IT thereby reversing the heartbreak of
their previous cup final appearance to Queens University who on this
occasion emerged as Purcell Shield champions over NUI Maynooth.
The Ashbourne competitions saw UL winning the Shield over the host
college CIT while the Cup was once again retained by WIT making it
just their fourth title since gaining entry to the competition in 1995
and on this occasion playing out a hard fought victory over a strong
UCC side. The success of this remarkable championship weekend was
hugely attributable to all at CIT camogie club with special thanks to
Keith Ricken, Miriam Deasy and Ann Marie Ryan and their teams of
helpers.
Off the field there were a number of initiatives that colleges
undertook in conjunction with the Development team in order to
promote and develop the game in their surrounding region. These
included hosting blitz days for local secondary and national schools
(UCD, WIT, Sligo IT, Tipperary IT); referees courses for transition
year students (Limerick IT and Galway Mayo IT) as well as hosting
camogie coaching courses (Mary Immaculate College, DCU and UCC).
Furthermore thanks to funding from the Irish Sports Council eight
camogie bursaries were awarded to students from different colleges
who in return undertook a variety of coaching and administrative
tasks in their respective regions.
This busy calendar of activity within third level would not be feasible
without the hard work and commitment of the CCAO Executive and a
Stacey Redmond, WIT, in action against Grainne Kenneally, UCC.
Ashbourne Cup Final at Cork Institute of Technology
PLAYER PROFILE
BY ALAN AHERNE
KATE
KELLY
If furniture could talk, a certain kitchen
table in the townsland of Ballyruane,
Screen, Co. Wexford, would have an amazing
story to tell.
There, for as long as she cares to remember,
Kate Kelly has sat down and listened intently
to the post-match analysis of every game of her
glittering career. As the eldest of four girls in a
family of nine, she knows exactly what to expect
at this stage.
‘You certainly wouldn’t be spared after a poor
game anyway,’ she says with a smile. Yet, she
wouldn’t have it any other way, since this rigorous
examination of her every move on the playing fields
keeps her grounded and fully focused.
Thankfully, the good days have largely outweighed
the bad for Kate, particularly in the past four years,
giving her proud parents and siblings plenty of
chances to bestow credit when it’s so richly due.
However, they have never gone overboard with their
praise, a trait clearly evident in Kate’s personal outlook
too as her talent is mirrored by an innate modesty.
Wexford’s ace forward owes a lot to her upbringing on the
family farm where the clash of the ash reverberated around
Seán and Peggie Kelly (nee Doyle) as they reared their sportsmad brood.
Kate followed brothers Denis, Michael and John into the
world on May 31st, 1980, and her sister, Mag, was born 18
months later before Sinéad, Stephen, Anne-Marie and Joseph
completed the clan.
Kate Kelly comes away from
Galway’s Lorraine Ryan
in action from the Gala
All-Ireland Senior Camogie
Championship Final
And with an age gap of just six years between the first
and fifth child, it meant that Kate quickly picked up plenty
of knocks from her big brothers as her love of camogie
developed. ‘I can remember playing in the yard at home
with the lads and a lot of cousins who also live locally,’ she
says. ‘We used the gate for one goal, and two pillars on the
far side for the other, and we played across the garden. It
was tough stuff I can tell you, and a lot of windows were
broken along the way.’
When she wasn’t indulging in these no-holds-barred family
battles, Kate tagged along with her Dad, Seán, who was in
charge of several Shelmaliers G.A.A. club teams at the time.
‘I must have been only three or four when I started going
down to the field every night, and we all did the same,’ she
explains.
It’s a Kelly family tradition which has been passed down
to the next generation already, as Kate’s three-year-old
niece Chloe, daughter of Anne-Marie, is a regular visitor to
the club grounds in Hollymount for St. Ibar’s-Shelmalier
training sessions.
Camogie was destined to play a big role in Kate’s life, as her
mother Peggie and aunt Mary were on the breakthrough
Wexford teams during the All-Ireland double years of 1968
and ’69. And that love of the game was nurtured with due
care and attention, as eight of the nine Kelly children have
represented the county with distinction at various levels.
Kate is the undoubted jewel in the crown though, even if
she would be loath to admit that herself. Her first intercounty involvement was with the Wexford primary schools
team in 1991 and, quite remarkably, she has donned the
purple and gold jersey at some level every year since then.
Her first major success was with the All-Ireland winning
Under-16 team of 1995, and it was felt at the time that
adult honours would follow quickly for the county. Kate’s
Senior championship debut came against Clare the next
season, yet she had to endure an incredible five All-Ireland
semi-final defeats before it all came gloriously right in that
special year of 2007.
Such heartache along the way made her appreciate success
all the more when it finally arrived, and her selection as
national camogie player of the year was the crowning glory.
Another two frustrating semi-final defeats followed though,
and Kate had her own personal demons to overcome earlier
this summer as a shoulder injury curtailed her involvement
in the first four rounds of the Gala All-Ireland Senior
championship.
Though small in stature, that determination honed on
the lawn in Ballyruane shone through once more as she
battled back to play a starring role in the semi-final success
against Kilkenny, scoring 2-2 and thriving on an uncanny
understanding with club colleague Katrina Parrock on the
right flank of the Wexford attack.
Kate’s pre-match prediction before the decider against
Galway was that it would ‘go down to the wire’, and the end
result of 1-12 to 1-10 confirmed that view. After chipping in
with two vital points and delivering an astute one-handed
pass in the lead-up to the goal, she can be proud of her role
in securing the O’Duffy Cup for a second time in four years.
Her talent is clearly recognised on a national stage, as
she is the only Wexford player in the history of the All
Stars scheme to be nominated in every single year since
its inception, previously winning awards on the inaugural
team of 2004 as well as in 2006 and 2007. This year she
A successful
conclusion to
the season
collects her fourth All Star award taking up a position
at wing-forward.
Her impressive honours list also includes back-toback National League medals in 2009 and 2010, the
grand total of 13 Leinster titles from Under-14 up to
and including Senior, two Ashbourne Cups with W.I.T.
in 1999 and 2001, and two Gael Linn successes with
her province in 2006 and 2010.
Kate’s feats at inter-county level are matched only
by a total commitment to her beloved club, St.
Ibar’s-Shelmalier, which means everything to her.
She played in every one of their eight county final
appearances on the trot between 1997 and 2004,
winning four county medals, two Leinster titles,
and an All-Ireland runners-up accolade in 2002.
And she was the heart and soul of the squad and
an inspiration to her colleagues recently as they
bridged a gap of six years by returning to the
county final. The team captain, she scored 2-7
in a 4-8 to 3-8 semi-final win over Rathnure
and contributed 0-12 from a total of 0-14
in the subsequent loss to a star-studded
Oulart-The Ballagh team.
From humble beginnings in Ballyruane,
Kate has blossomed into one of the finest
camogie players of her generation, and
there’s more, much more, to come!
Competition 2010
Senior - O’Duffy Cup
Intermediate
Premier Junior
Junior A Championship
Junior B Championship
Minor A Championship
Minor B Championship
Minor C Championship
U16 A Championship
U16 B Championship
U16 C Championship
Gael Linn - Senior
National League Div 1
National League Div 2
National League Div 3
National League Div 4
Ashbourne Cup
Ashbourne Shield
Purcell Cup
Purcell Shield
Fr. Meachair Cup
Fr. Meachair Shield
2nd Level Senior A
2nd Level Senior B
2nd Level Senior C
2nd Level Junior A
2nd Level Junior B
2nd Level Junior C
Pan Celtic Senior A
Pan Celtic Senior B
Pan Celtic U16 A
Pan Celtic U16 B
Winners
Wexford
Offaly
Antrim
Kildare
Monaghan
Galway
Derry
Carlow
Galway
Derry
Carlow
Leinster
Wexford
Wexford
Laois
Tyrone
WIT
UL
DIT
Queens
St Mary’s, Belfast
Froebel
Loreto, Kilkenny
Col. Choilm, Ballincollig
Presentation, Thurles
Loreto, Kilkenny
St. Flannin’s, Ennis
Presentation, Thurles
Burgess-Duharra
Glen Rovers
Éire Óg
Burgess
Published by
The Camogie Association
Ardchomhairle, Croke Park, St. Joseph’s Avenue, Dublin 3
Tel: 01 8658651 Fax: 01 8556063
Email: [email protected] Web: www.camogie.ie
With thanks to
National Communications & Website Committee
Irish Sports Council
National Volunteer of the Year Awards
National Administrator of the Year
Liz Howard
The citation which follows is taken from the
Department’s website
www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie
Liz served as President of Cumann
Camogaiochta na nGael from 2006 to
2009. She is synonymous with the sport
of camogie. A talented and committed
camogie player, as President, Liz acted
upon her clear vision for the growth and
development of the Association at all levels
overseeing the implementation of the
Association’s first ever strategic plan.
Liz was instrumental in putting in place
a first class full time team both at
administrative and games development
level. Liz focused on promoting the sport in
a very positive manner and the profile of
the game increased hugely during her time
in office assisted to some extent by Liz’s
coup in ensuring the staging of the Senior
All-Ireland Camogie Final on the same day
as the U21 All-Ireland Hurling Final.
While still in office, she initiated an
independent Strategic Review of the
Association with work now ongoing to bring
camogie to the next level both on and off
the playing field.
She continues to give full commitment to
her role as a member of Central council.
Contributors
Germaine Noonan
Tom Humphries
Sheila O’Donohoe
Ciaran Woods
Linda Mellerick
Alan Aherne
Mary Moran
Photographs
Sportsfile
Flann T Howard
Layout & Design
Mark Dignam
Knockout Graphics
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