RAISING THE BAR THIS SUMMER! - Cork's Amy O'Connor - Player Welfare - RTÉs Jacqui Hurley - The Camogie Association
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ON THE BALL
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CAMOGIE ASSOCATION
Summer 2017
RAISING THE BAR
THIS SUMMER!
- Cork’s Amy O’Connor
- Player Welfare
- RTÉs Jacqui Hurley
@OfficialCamogieAssociation @OfficialCamogie officialcamogie officialcamogie
Senior players Aoife Murray (Cork), Eve O’Brien (Dublin), Niamh Mulcahy (Limerick),
Heather Cooney (Galway), Emma Hannon Roche (Waterford), Anna Farrell (Kilkenny),
Orlaith Duggan (Clare), Mary Ryan (Tipperary), Jean Brady (Offaly) and Bríd Gordon
(Wexford) with Catherine Neary, Camogie President and Deirdre Ashe, Liberty Insurance
Welcome: Uachtarán an Cumann Camógaíochta Catherine Neary
THE CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION
Croke Park,
St Joseph’s Avenue,
#RaiseTheBar
This Summer
Dublin 3.
Tel: 01 865 8651
www.camogie.ie
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
No part of this publication may be used or
reproduced without written permission of the
Camogie Association. If such permission is
There have been many highlights already in 2017
granted, the source must be acknowledged at both on and off the pitch and significant milestones
time and place of use.
achieved right throughout the sport. It is important
DISCLAIMER
The Camogie Association does not accept
now that we continue to push forward to accomplish
responsibility for, nor necessarily, agree with
any of the views expressed, statements or
even more in the second half of 2017.
claims made in any articles, news items, or
advertisements published in or with this
publication. P art of this push is the recently launched
#RaiseTheBar campaign which is our
marketing campaign for this summer’s
designed to encourage everyone to do
their part in promoting our game and
the Championship and to come out and
CONTRIBUTORS 2017 Liberty Insurance All-Ireland support your county, our players and our
Daragh Ó Conchúir, Eve Talbot, Clare Dowdall, Championships. game at every stage of the Championship.
Kevin Holmes, Thomas Murray & Eimear Ryan The campaign is focusing on everyone’s This campaign includes former
experience – players, managers, selectors, Tipperary hurling manager and Sunday
PHOTOGRAPHY volunteers and supporters of our game Game analyst Liam Sheedy, RTÉ presenter
INPHO
and why they are passionate about it. Jacqui Hurley, as well as Camogie stars
In turn we are putting the challenge to Mags D’Arcy and Amy O’Connor, recalling
DESIGN
EMCreative.ie all involved to #RaiseTheBar in every their earliest and favourite memories of
sense. In particular this campaign is attending Camogie matches.
2 • ON THE BALL • Summer 2017
Dublin’s Eve O’Brien and
Heather Cooney of Galway June 2016, by the former Minister
of State for Tourism and Sport,
Patrick O’Donovan TD. This two-year
agreement, commencing in 2017,
provides support for intercounty
Camogie and Ladies Football players
in their preparation throughout the
year through Sport Ireland, to support
programmes included in a joint
proposal by the Camogie Association,
the LGFA and the WGPA.
The first tranche of government
funding is currently being issued to
Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football
intercounty teams and will reach
€428,000 in total in 2017.
TALKING CAMOGIE
One crucial body of work currently
being undertaken by the Association
is the ‘Talking Camogie’ consultation
John Goodwin (Littlewoods meetings which are taking place
Ireland), President Michael
D.Higgins, Kilkenny captain
throughout the country over the
Meighan Farrell and Camogie course of the summer.
President Catherine Neary These meetings are a follow up with
our membership of the consultation
This campaign will continue across Semi-Finals along with our All-Ireland that took place in relation to the
a range of media platforms throughout Finals on Sunday September 10th . National Review of Fixtures and
the summer and will culminate in a This increased live coverage of the Report of the National Fixtures
large push to promote attendance at Review Committee which was
the All-Ireland Senior Camogie
this year’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland published at the end of 2016. The
Championship is not only a huge
Championships Finals in Croke Park on recommendations contained in this
additional carrot for all teams to
Sunday September 10th. report if accepted have the potential
reach the Quarter-Finals but it also
Make sure that you play your part to improve player welfare across all
provides the opportunity to spread
and come out and support your our playing population and would
our sport to a wider audience.
county and help to #RaiseTheBar this particularly impact on clubs and club
Additionally six county boards
summer! players.
have recently been funded by the
Association to produce their own The aim of this next phase of
TELEVISION COVERAGE meetings is to listen and hear from
match highlights and to promote
One significant achievement these through Social Media – once all our members– including players,
this summer was the recent more helping to spread our games to administrators, coaches, referees,
announcement of increased live greater and greater audiences. managers, mentors and clubs –
television coverage of matches in this These are important steps for regarding how the game is structured
year’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland the Association as we aim to reach and played ahead of Annual Congress
Senior Championship. In a first for the targets laid out in our National 2018 at which motions to amend the
the Association all of the knockout Development Plan Our Sport, Our rules including the playing rules will
matches of the All-Ireland Senior Future in terms of raising the profile be considered.
Camogie Championship will be of the game to help drive several It is vital that everyone involved
broadcast live on RTÉ television. areas of our game which will enable in our game has their opportunity
Having broadcast the 2016 our sport and the Association to grow to have their say so as that real
All-Ireland Senior Camogie and prosper. debate can be stimulated and key
Championship Semi-Finals live issues considered to help improve
for the first time, RTÉ have now GOVERNMENT FUNDING the game. I would urge everyone
committed to broadcasting this year’s to get involved in this debate so as
Significant progress has already
Quarter-Finals. 2017 will therefore see that we can have a fruitful review of
been made in 2017 in terms of the
an increase in our TV coverage and our playing rules and the game in
Government Funding for intercounty
will showcase our Senior All-Ireland general.
teams previously announced in
Championship Quarter-Finals and
Summer 2017 • ON THE BALL • 3
Cork’s Amy O’Connor
hanging out in Croke Park
Focusing on her passion
Cork sharp-shooter Amy O’Connor tells us about her
sporting pedigree. By Daragh Ó Conchúir
E ven when Amy O’Connor was
making a splash across Europe,
Paudie Murray was keeping an eye
scholarship to attend the home of
the skull and crossbones. Once the
Leaving Cert was over, Murray made
of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland
Senior Championship.
Her pace has always threatened
on her. The Cork manager did not contact. He would like her to join up defenders and it is notable that the
want to place too much pressure with the Cork Senior Camogie panel. 21-year-old is adding a finishing
on the young St. Vincent’s woman Despite all she had achieved, this touch now as well. Speed is about the
however, and let her be. was the dream. And while soccer only commonality between Camogie
For a start, O’Connor was retains a prominent role in her life, and soccer she maintains, and even
studying for her Leaving Cert, and O’Connor has taken a step away that is used differently. The sports
her commitments with the Republic from international commitments are not mutually exclusive however.
of Ireland U19 soccer squad had Camogie was number one and she “I’m still playing soccer with UCC
already cost her 11 weeks in school. wanted to give it her all to persuade during the college season” says
Fortunately, she has always been Murray and his coaching staff not O’Connor. “It’s a very different game
deadly serious about her studies just to keep her, but to need her. and very different for fitness as
and flew through the academic She won two All-Irelands in well. With soccer you’re constantly
examinations to earn a place on the her first two seasons and though going at a steady pace whereas with
pharmacy course in UCC. the bid for three-in-a-row fell at Camogie, it’s more bursts of speed.
Meanwhile, she was passing the final hurdle last September “Having played soccer has
a host of other tests too as a against Kilkenny, O’Connor played definitely helped with my footwork
member of the national team that a considerable role in getting them and speed in Camogie though.”
got all the way to the European that far. As a pharmacy student involved in
Championships semi-finals, proving Again, she was among the Rebels’ high performance sport, O’Connor
that she could juggle a number best players in the Littlewoods had a keen interest in the recent
of balls quite capably. There was Ireland Camogie Leagues Division debate surrounding drug testing
further reward as the teenager’s 1 Final loss to the same opposition in Gaelic Games. Her athleticism
aptitude for soccer secured a and has shone in their early stages is based purely on good genes,
4 • ON THE BALL • Summer 2017
training hard and eating properly
she insists, declaring that she even
eschews commonly-used protein
shakes or other legal supplements.
“I think drug testing is a great
idea. Gaelic Games have gone so
competitive and is at an elite level now.
It’s important to ensure no cheating
is going on, especially because there’s
not much between players anymore,
ability- and skill-wise. It’s the smallest
margins that make a difference.
“Each year, we get a talk before
Championship about banned
substances and supplements, and
we’re told it’s our responsibility,
which I agree with totally. It’s up to
you what you put into your body and
you need to be aware of what you can
and cannot take.
“Look at Maria Sharapova, one
of the top female athletes in the
world. She was banned for a period
because of a medication she was
taking for years that was added to
the list of banned substances. She
genuinely didn’t realise it at the time
but if it can happen to her, with the
backroom team she has, it could
happen to anybody.
“Personally, I’m not into any of these
supplements and am not a fan of the
protein shake craze that’s going on
around sport at the moment. It seems
every second person is carrying around
a protein shake bottle.
“I feel that a balanced diet is much
better at getting exactly what your
body needs than downing a few
protein shakes here and there. Too
much protein can put a huge strain
on your kidneys. To be honest, I’m
not sure if anyone on our team takes
any supplements but in fairness, I
think after the talk we were given by
the Camogie Association, we should
be clued into what we can and
cannot take.”
O’Connor admits that her
professional and sporting pursuits
combine in this area and she offers
some invaluable advice.
“There’s quite a lot of things
you’re not allowed to take and some
of them are sold over the counter
in pharmacies so I think more
awareness should be given regarding
things like this.”
Summer 2017 • ON THE BALL • 5
Cork’s Chloe Sigerson
with Danielle
Morrissey of Kilkenny
Making
Strides
in Player
Welfare
By Daragh Ó Conchúir
D evelopment of Camogie is often
seen in terms of numbers playing
the game and that is important but the
player safety, health and wellbeing,
careers and education and anti-doping.
At the core of what he is trying to do
“We are looking at how we get
involved with local enterprise
authorities or draw up a list of courses
Camogie Association knows that there is to make players more proactive, to where you could have a collaborative
is a much wider gamut of categories establish player welfare groups that will approach between businesses,
involved. To attract new people and determine the key issues. colleges and the Camogie Association,
keep the ones you have, you must Once that information has for the colleges to view Camogie
cater for them in a holistic way. been processed, the Camogie players as the type of people they’d
Paul O’Donovan has a key role Association can then set up various like to enrol and the same in terms of
in that regard as Player Welfare communication and education jobs, for Camogie players to be seen
Co-ordinator of the Camogie programmes to address them. as having a particular skill set that is
Association. The position is a vital Take for example careers transferable to work.”
one, encompassing so many different and education. Anti-doping is a hot topic in
topics, each as important as the next. Gaelic Games at the moment and
A native of Dublin, O’Donovan O’Donovan takes his responsibilities
is heavily experienced in sport. He in this regard very seriously.
has coached and trained Gaelic “We provide anti-doping awareness
football teams and been strength and seminars for the senior counties as
conditioning coach with the high-flying it is only those that are liable to be
Ballymun Kickhams for a number tested, and give out packs as well
of years. He has also held the same so that it’s not a case of just ticking
position in ladies football with both a box. You have a few problems
Cavan seniors and Dublin minors. A there. For example, say I did an
former player with Erin’s Isle, he also anti-doping awareness course and
played a lot of soccer before turning there’s someone called up from
his attention to mentoring. an intermediate and minor team
It is the type of CV that made the afterwards.
34-year-old a good fit to work on a co- “So not only do the players need to
ordinated approach to player welfare be aware but the support staff need
within Camogie. to be really aware. Having a properly-
Areas that would come under qualified nutritionist or a
O’Donovan’s remit include health nutritional service is vital,
and wellbeing, concussion guidelines, so that if there is an issue
6 • ON THE BALL • Summer 2017
you want to discuss or something what being involved in high Education and training is required,
you want to check on, that there is performance is and all of the things particularly for coaches at club level
someone properly qualified to ask, that go with that, anti-doping being who might be coming into the game
be it me or a nutritionist within the one of the most important.” from Gaelic football or hurling,
county. O’Donovan welcomes the increase because training women is a different
“So we need to make everyone in numbers of women among physiological exercise to training men.
aware – the players, county officials, management, coaching and support Awareness with regard to concussion
management, support staff.” staff with Camogie teams, and the is imperative as well because again,
What is imperative is that while he significant growth in terms of the use different protocols are required.
might only engage directly with senior of specific coaches for specific roles. It “That’s one of the big things that I
squads, the message needs to be isn’t all that long ago that the manager would see is the evolution for this and
delivered right down through to the was responsible for everything. the direction we want to go in. So for
grassroots. instance, the standard practice is that
“We do the anti-doping awareness we have this GAA warm-up and we use
seminars for the counties but we it as a one-size-fits-all thing, using it
have an anti-doping section on the to train our female athletes as well but
website as well that is linked in with there is gender variation there. Things
the GAA and Sport Ireland. That’s the like ACL injury is way more prevalent
sort of thing I want to have available in female athletes, so the way we train
at a national level so that everybody will need to reflect that predisposition.
can see it. I’m sure the high profile “Other interesting things in terms
cases in other codes will make people of my role is that best practice
want to look it up a little more so and leading experts in concussion
it’s important that the information is awareness coming from the States
easily accessible. would say no two concussions can be
“One of the things that you want to treated the same. If you’re predisposed
run parallel with that is that you to getting migraines, you’re more likely
want the players to understand to get a particular sort of concussion
that’s related to that and women tend
to be more predisposed to migraines.
“We provide anti-doping awareness So while there are concussion
seminars for the senior counties as it is protocols in place, we need to look at
how we can tweak them to make them
only those that are liable to be tested, and suitable to female athletes.
give out packs as well so that it’s not a “So it would really interest me to
educate coaches in that way that
case of just ticking a box.” women are fundamentally different
to men and to know what is suitable
Slaughtneil’s Mary and what isn’t. Our coaching courses
Kelly in the AIB for Camogie reflect those different
All-Ireland Camogie
Senior Club Final
demands of the sport but in terms of
against Sarsfields the physical preparation, they might
not have as much of an appreciation
of the differences and we need to bring
that along.”
It all comes back to developing
players and developing Camogie.
“I’m trying to reduce any of the
barriers for any player. I think at times,
NGBs target the elite level. We’re very
much club orientated so my role is
to find what are the biggest issues in
terms of player welfare. I want to find
that information and try from that,
to put programmes in place that will
reduce those barriers or indeed get rid
of them. And definitely, do that with a
gender-specific approach.”
Summer 2017 • ON THE BALL • 7
Referee Eamon Cassidy
with Cork’s Ashling
Thompson and Michelle
Quilty of Kilkenny before
the 2014 All-Ireland final
Refereeing Matters
2014 Camogie PRO of the Year and current Limerick
PRO Kevin Holmes talks to Eamon Cassidy
L imavaddy’s Eamon Cassidy has
been refereeing for over twenty
years and he is in no doubt that the
it up earlier. He remarked that “the
atmosphere at Camogie games is
more enjoyable and the quality of the
and appreciates the feedback that
helps referees to carry out their duties.
He also highlighted the role of
highlight of his career was to take the play is top notch”. initiatives like the Peter Downey
helm for the 2016 Senior Camogie National referees are assessed Referee Academy in developing young
Final between Kilkenny and Cork in throughout the intercounty season. referees and would like to see more
Croke Park. Eamon values the role of assessors female referees taking on the role at
Even though this was the biggest the highest level.
game of his career Eamon said that For all referees the issue of ‘advice’
his preparation for the match was the or opinion from the sideline is
same as for any other. This involves constant. Eamon remarked that
being in touch with his umpires a a small minority of parents and
couple of times in the run up to the supporters can create an intimidating
game to ensure everyone was available atmosphere which can put off younger
and prepared. His own preparation referees.
involves checking and double-checking Initiatives like the silent sideline
that all his gear was packed. have been trialled in places and may
Eamon was clear that he is provide some guidelines for the way
determined that what happened to forward.
Rugby referee Nigel Owens (who Eamon also likes the idea of a
famously arrived in Dublin for a match mentoring system where more
having forgotten his boots) would experienced referees are paired with
never happen to him! young referees starting out for advice
Eamon enjoys refereeing Camogie and guidance in the early stages of
matches and wishes he had taken their careers.
8 • ON THE BALL • Summer 2017
Playing Rules on the Agenda
By Eimear Ryan
L ike many Camogie players of
my generation, hurling was my
first sport. Growing up, my first
between the two games, particularly
at grassroots level, is significant.
Camogie players grow up idolising the
the retention of the handpass goal.
Some longed-for rule changes are,
admittedly, purely sartorial. I don’t
experiences of playing competitively hurlers they see on TV. Many Camogie know a single Camogie player who
were with the parish under-10 and managers are former hurlers. And trains in a skort; most opt for togs in
under-12 hurling teams. When my Camogie matches are often refereed practice matches as well. Personally,
local Camogie club was founded in by refs who are more experienced in I don’t mind the skort – in the midst
the mid-nineties, I became a dual hurling rules, meaning that shoulder- of a match, what you’re wearing is
player for a brief period. Heading out to-shoulder contact is often tacitly probably the last thing on your mind
onto the pitch for a match, I’d have allowed. – but they are a little more restrictive
to remind myself: which set of rules Some might argue that Camogie than shorts. All in all, I think the
am I playing under this evening? How has every right to maintain a distinct introduction of shorts would be widely
many times can I catch the ball while identity from hurling, and that rule welcomed by players.
in possession? Can I drop the hurley differences are a part of that. Fair As a sport, Camogie is – literally
or not? enough. But many rule differences are – going from strength to strength;
The Camogie I played in my youth not so much distinct Camogie rules the physicality of the game has never
was a very different ball game to the as hurling rules from a different era. been greater. Intercounty players now
Camogie of today. To begin with, it Up until the late 1980s, for example, do serious strength and conditioning
was twelve players a side rather than you could handpass a goal in hurling; work. Point-scoring from the
fifteen. When a player hit the ball Cork’s Ray Cummins and Wexford’s halfway line has become a standard
over their own endline, it resulted in Tony Doran were specialists. But rather than exceptional occurrence.
a 30-metre free rather than a 45. And the rule was phased out, and as Meanwhile, attendances at intercounty
you had the luxury of three catches, a result goals have become more matches are steadily rising, and
meaning you could essentially solo the difficult to score and more exciting more live Camogie matches will be
length of the field. to watch. Would removing this rule broadcast by RTE this summer than
Since then, of course, Camogie rules similarly raise the bar in Camogie? ever before. As Camogie comes ever
have come more or less in line with I’ll acknowledge that it might take closer to hurling in popularity and
hurling rules. To me, this makes sense. forwards a while to adjust to the esteem, the rule differences start to
Though the sports are governed by change, but on the flip side, I can’t seem more and more arbitrary.
different bodies, the cultural overlap imagine many goalkeepers arguing for
Summer 2017 • ON THE BALL • 9
A LIFELONG
Sporting Journey
Daragh Ó Conchúir talks to Jacqui Hurley
J acqui Hurley never made a whole lot
of being the first woman to present
a sports show on RTÉ Radio when she
those 24 hours, it was hugely scary.”
That she would return to the pitch
and court after that was incredible and
fostered a love of sport and Hurley
quickly took to Camogie when the
family decamped to Cork. She marked
began on Sunday Sport. Just as Jessica particularly as she admits that she had Gemma O’Connor in an U14 trial and
Harrington doesn’t view herself as a to battle the fear of whether something being of similar mindset to the future
female racing trainer, but as a trainer, similar could occur again for the rest legend, she recalls that the exchanges
Hurley is a sports broadcaster. of her playing days. Even now, if she were very physical! Anna Geary, Aoife
That makes her no less a pioneer is standing for long periods of time Murray and Joanne O’Callaghan were
however, utilising many of the qualities or has to carry something heavy, she in that group too as they progressed
that helped her on the Camogie pitches suffers pain. through the age categories to senior
with Cork and the basketball courts with She has always been conscious of level.
Ireland. Determination and bravery are showcasing women in sport where Meanwhile, she was always showing
towards the top of that list. This, after possible and did it spectacularly real talent in basketball and in the end,
all, is a woman who endured a terrifying successfully as producer of the she opted to concentrate on that.
period of paralysis as a teenager after a fantastic television documentaries “Now I think people are given a bit
collision during a basketball match. Skin In The Game and Páirc Life, more opportunity to do both. You can
“Ironically, it was the non-contact sport which featured Anna Geary of Cork and see it with the lads’ game, where you
I played” recalls Hurley. “It was the last Wexford’s Mags D’Arcy alongside stars had Aidan O’Shea playing basketball
minute of the game and in basketball, of hurling and Gaelic football. during the winter and then coming
when the opposition are losing late on It is why she was so pleased to back to football. That really wasn’t as
and you’re in possession, they foul you participate in the Camogie Association’s popular in my time. I found a lot of
to stop the clock automatically. A girl ran #RaiseTheBar promotion with D’Arcy, pressure to pick one or the other.
into me and it just popped out my neck. fellow Rebel Amy O’Connor and former “With Cork, we were starting to
“The first day, I had no feeling. It was All-Ireland winning Tipperary hurling make breakthroughs, we were getting
the end of the second day when the manager, Liam Sheedy. to Croke Park. The only reason the
feeling started to come back but for Growing up in Australia undoubtedly basketball held sway was because we
10 • ON THE BALL • Summer 2017the Dublin squad. They’re teaching “That was really important to me.
people how to break tackles, and more When you’re a woman who works in
importantly, setting up a zone defence. the media, you’re very aware, not that
“Basketball is a hugely tactical there’s an onus on you, but I always
game and you can see elements of it felt there was a responsibility on me
creeping in. There’s a short passing to make sure that women’s stories are
game that’s becoming very obvious. aired as well, and not just for token’s
There are definitely traits of it. sake. I thought they should be in there
“There was less of it in my time but it because their stories are as important
definitely helped. The one thing I think I as the men.
always had from basketball was vision. “One of the big things I wanted to
I used to play centre-back in Camogie. do with Anna and Mags in particular
Basketball is real heads-up stuff. They was to show people the level of
were going abroad to play European teach you from a very young age to commitment that is required to be
Championships in Portugal, we were bounce the ball with your head up in the an intercounty Camogie or ladies
travelling to America. So it was a bit air. If you play basketball like that, you football player. I would say Joe Public
more appealing.” start playing Camogie like that. didn’t have a perception of that. I
Any regrets? “I was never the quickest player but would imagine it’s clearer now. That
“I didn’t think I would at the time but I had an ability to get where I needed was one of the whole points of those
now in my life I work more in GAA than to be and I think basketball was hugely programmes, to get a real in-depth
I do in basketball. I watch an awful lot of
basketball but because it sort of went off
the radar and there weren’t Irish teams
“I always felt there was a responsibility on me to
for a few years, I ended up going to a make sure that women’s stories are aired as well,
lot of All-Irelands in which girls I would
have played with were playing in. So and not just for token’s sake”
when they’re winning All-Irelands, there
is a pang in your heart that you’d have important in that. You see in football look at it and people could see that the
loved to have been there with them.” Cian O’Sullivan does that unbelievably women had to slog too.
She found some aspects that came well.” “I suppose as well, when you’re a
naturally to basketball extremely helpful Hurley’s documentaries illustrated woman, you don’t want to make a
in Camogie and has noted with interest, how Camogie players put themselves mess of another woman’s story. You
the increasing influence of the game in through the same rigorous processes as want people to understand that you
a lot of the Gaelic games codes now. their male counterparts in the GAA in chose them for a reason, that they’re
“Basketball is in Camogie and ladies a bid to extract that extra one per cent strong characters and that these kind
football now more than it was when or rehab from injury, was a tremendous of people exist all over Camogie and
I was younger. Even in the men’s service to the game and its promotion. ladies football, and they do.”
game. You look at the influence of It served to highlight the increasing As Hurley herself continues to
Jason Sherlock and Mark Ingle with emphasis on high performance. prove.
Summer 2017 • ON THE BALL • 11One Club Guidelines
Case Study: St. Dominic’s GAA, Roscommon by Thomas Murray
R ecently, the Camogie Association,
the GAA and the LGFA jointly
published One Club Guidelines, for
coaching and the development of our
games, particularly at underage level.
This committee have proved very
of the year, a pitch rota is compiled.
Each code is represented on the Parks
Committee, therefore everyone gets
clubs who wish to administer Gaelic beneficial in ensuring that each code an equal say and slice of the time slots
Games in a unitary way. Thomas have coaches with the relevant coach available.
Murray, Chairperson of St. Dominic’s education and qualification to train the
GAA in Roscommon describes how it various teams. PR & MARKETING
operates the One Club approach. Our PR & Marketing Committee
From 1973 until 2004, all codes; FINANCE & FUNDRAISING comprises of the PROs from each
Football and Hurling at Senior and The finance committee is chaired by code. This is chaired by the club
Minor level, Scór (Scór na nÓg, Scór the treasurer of club executive. The executive’s PRO who is elected at
Sinsir) Camogie and Ladies Football committee comprises the treasurers AGM time. It is the responsibility of
operated as separate units under of all the various codes. In addition each PRO. to supply the information
the name St. Dominic’s. In 2004 to this, other people are appointed to the Club PRO for it to be vetted and
there was an appetite for change, with specific financial skill sets. This published.
primarily as a cost cutting exercise, committee examine the various It is very interesting to note that the
to reduce affiliation fees. What budgets submitted by each code and greatest following we get on social
started off as the hurling and football sees where cost savings can be made. media is from supporters interested in
committees coming together ended Fundraising is also an area examined. Camogie! This is due to the fact that
up in something much greater. Today, Collectively they have developed a there is a constant flow of updates,
under the one name of St. Dominic’s, sponsorship package which gives each pictures and information supplied to
the executive committee of the club senior team a main sponsor while also the PRO from Camogie.
is equally represented by all codes tailoring it to the need of the smaller In summary, the One Club Model
whereby the chairperson and secretary business who may wish to contribute. has served, and continues to serve us
from each code form part of the Our weekly 50-50 draw is fully very well.
executive. supported by all codes as it covers the Like all change, it must be made
day-to-day expenditure and removes slowly and it won’t be done overnight.
COACHING AND GAMES the need for individual fundraisers. However, if small steps are taken at
At the club AGM a Coaching Officer first and people can see the benefits, it
is elected. This officer is automatically FACILITIES will provide a solid foundation to build
chairperson of the Coaching and Facilities are currently our greatest on. “Ní neart go cur le chéile.”
Games Committee. The Coaching challenge as we haven’t enough space
and Games Committee comprises to facilitate our 35 teams. However, a
of a representative from football, decision has been made to purchase A copy of the One Club Guidelines can
hurling, Camogie and ladies football additional ground adjacent to the be downloaded from www.camogie.ie/
who have a genuine interest in current training pitch. At the start one-club-guidelines.asp
12 • ON THE BALL • Summer 2017XXX
ULSTER VICTORIOUS
in Junior Interprovincial Final
Leinster and Ulster contested the Junior
Interprovincial Final at the National
Sports Campus in Abbotstown
T wo goals at either end of the
interval by Ciara Donnelly,
allied with eight points from
scorer Aoife Bugler, who
finished with five points, and
Dinah Loughlin. Donnelly’s
the magnificent Niamh Mallon second goal sent Ulster on their
gave Ulster a 3-11 to 2-7 victory way but Leinster would not yield
over a gutsy Leinster in the easily, as Bugler responded with
Junior Interprovincial Camogie three points in-a-row.
Final at the National Sports Ulster reached the final by
Campus in Abbotstown on May beating Munster in a cracker,
21st. 1-18 to 3-11, while Leinster
There wasn’t much between recorded a thumping win over
the sides initially and Leinster Connacht in the other
actually made the better start, semi-final by 1-19 to 0-7.
thanks to points from leading
Summer 2017 • ON THE BALL • 13John West Féile na nGael 2017
Sarsfield’s celebrate winning JOHN WEST FÉILE NA NGAEL
the Féile Division 1 Final
2017 CAMOGIE RESULTS
Division 1 Cup
Sarsfiels (Cork)
Division 1 Shield
Monaleen (Limerick)
Division 2 Cup
Dicksboro (Kilkenny)
Division 2 Shield
Ballygalet (Down)
Division 3 Cup
Naas (Kildare)
Division 3 Shield
Myshall (Carlow)
Division 4 Cup
John Lockes Callan (Kilkenny)
Division 4 Shield
Duffry Rovers (Wexford)
The National Féile na nGael competition in association Division 5 Cup
with John West took place in Carlow, Kilkenny and Brídeoga (Mayo)
Division 5 Shield
Wexford from Friday June 16th until Sunday June 18th. Kiltegan (Wicklow)
Division 6 Cup
T his year 112 Camogie teams
took part in the National Féile
competition (56 host teams, and 56
during the Féile na nGael weekend
and we’re already looking forward
to the 2018 Féile na nGael in
Cillard
Division 6 Shield
(Kerry)
Westport (Mayo)
travelling teams). With 7 Divisions, Connacht!
this was the largest Camogie Féile Division 7 Cup
since the competition began. Windgap (Kilkenny)
Sarsfields v Knockavilla
In addition to the National Division 7 Shield
Féile competition 4 Regional Féile Paulstown (Kilkenny)
Blitzes took place on Saturday June
17th with 27 teams taking part. Regional Féile na nGael Results
Throughout the weekend 266 Division 1: Athenry, Galway
Camogie matches took place on Division 2: Sarsfields, Galway
what was an excellent festival of Division 3: Shamrocks, Galway
games. In total 3,336 Under 14 Division 4: Ballycastle, Antrim
girls took part in Camogie activity
Camán to Croker 2017
T he Camogie Association’s annual Camán to Croker event took place on Easter
Monday April 17th at the home of Gaelic Games in Croke Park with 64 clubs
from across every corner of Ireland in attendance.
Over 1,200 girls took to the hallowed turf of Croke Park to enjoy this games-
based blitz event for Under 12 club teams. It was a unique occasion and a most
memorable experience for these girls which we hope will keep them playing long
into the future.
14 • ON THE BALL • Summer 2017Camogie Association
Player of the League Awards
May saw the inaugural Camogie Association Player of
the League Awards take place with players from across
all three divisions recognised for their outstanding
efforts in 2017.
M anagers from the teams
who participated in this
year’s competition were asked to
Play’ award, kindly supported and
sponsored by Littlewoods Ireland
throughout the League campaign.
CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION PLAYER
OF THE LEAGUE NOMINEES
choose their top three players from
opposing teams from which the Camogie Association Player of the
LITTLEWOODS IRELAND
nominees were then identified. League Winners:
CAMOGIE LEAGUES DIVISION 1
The awards event was held
DIV 1: Beth Carton Waterford • Anne Dalton Kilkenny
at Croke Park Stadium and was
well attended by nominees, their DIV 2: Karen Kielt Down • Denise Gaule (Kilkenny)
families, friends and committee DIV 3: Caragh Dawson Dublin • Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny)
members. MC on the night Máire • Niamh Mulcahy (Limerick)
Treasa Ní Cheallaigh hosted a
successful first event of its kind for
• Beth Carton (Waterford)
the Association with Littlewoods
Ireland represented on the night CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION PLAYER
by Rossa Butler who spoke OF THE LEAGUE NOMINEES
highly of the standard of this
year’s competition and about the LITTLEWOODS IRELAND
company’s excitement at being CAMOGIE LEAGUES DIVISION 2
involved in such a competitive
environment. Cork’s Amy O’Connor • Sarah Buckley (Cork)
was presented with the ‘Style of • Karen Kielt (Derry)
• Niamh Mallon (Down)
• Siobhán Hurley (Kildare)
• Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald (Laois)
CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION PLAYER
OF THE LEAGUE NOMINEES
LITTLEWOODS IRELAND
CAMOGIE LEAGUES DIVISION 3
• Caragh Dawson (Dublin)
• Patrice Diggin (Kerry)
• Shauna Fallon (Roscommon)
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