Ceann Creige Camógs step it up

A LANDMARK year lies in wait for the Ceann Creige Camogie team—a first year playing Senior Camogie in the UK.

Having won the All-Britain League and Championship last year, the step up to senior was always coming and it was something every returning player was looking forward to. Many of the teams continue to be the same, with clubs down south being lucky enough to be able to field at senior and intermediate grades. Whilst the club’s name might have been known, the players were different and with that brought a new challenge for the Ceann Creige Camógs.

The league campaign started off in the first weekend of June down in Manchester and, as always, the cars were packed and the girls headed off down the road for the games. Two respected and skilful teams in Croydon of London and Fullen Gaels of Manchester lay in wait. Fullen Gaels would be well known as they are one of the clubs fortunate to have a team in both grades. It had been two years since Croydon had crossed paths with Ceann Creige.

Croydon was the first game and straight from the start the step up to senior was evident. The physicality and intensity were something else and Ceann Creige were there to prove a point—they belong here.

The match was a brilliant display of Camogie with Ceann Creige coming out on top. The first competitive game at Senior level was won! A historic moment that Captain Orla Donnelly was proud to share with every girl who’d given their time and commitment to the Ceann Creige jersey.

The moment could only be savoured for a while, as Fullen Gaels lay in wait for the second game. If the Croydon game was physical and intense, this game went above and beyond. The hooking, the blocking, the scoring. Every skill was on display and what a battle it was. Miriam Reynolds breaking—another—hurley epitomised what a fight it was. Only the second game of the league campaign, but no team was getting it easy.

It wasn’t to be the fairytale start for the girls. Losing by just one point, to make it one win in two on that opening weekend. Still a mighty achievement and one the club are immensely proud of.

Playing two games in one day is something not all of the girls are used to. The club was delighted to have some new faces on the pitch and even more so on the scoreboard. With Annie Staunton getting herself some decent scores and Chloe Laverty-Lynch putting in a player of the day performance on their first outting with Ceann Creige, it was a brilliant cap off to the day.

With the league campaign continuing with the annual trip to London and with championship not too far away, the girls continued to prepare for what lies ahead. Knowing that only the first step of many on their Senior campaign had been taken.

The annual trip down to London for the Camógs is always one of the most tiring yet enjoyable trips of the year. Nicole Nugent and Brónagh Donaghy ensured the enjoyment off the pitch made for brilliant team bonding, but on the pitch, the girls knew they’d a job to do.

The craic was mighty, but the camogie was intense. London boasts some of the strongest teams in the UK. The girls knew this as they boarded the train from Glasgow and headed to London, but that wasn’t going to bother them. After a positive start in the opening games of the league, they were going to compete and contest every ball and battle available.

Tara Camogie and Tomás MacCurtain (TMC) were the opponents this time round and once again, both games on the same day meant the girls were going to have a tough battle ahead. Like all the years previously, the sun decided to make an appearance and the heat on the day was difficult. However, the conditions in their entirety made it the perfect weekend to play camogie.

TMC were first up and they came flying out the gate. The pace from that first whistle set the tone for the day and it was a pace the Ceann Creige girls were happy to match. Anna and Lily McKee had great link up play that kept the scores ticking over. Despite solid defending from all, with Alison McCarthy leading it, the clinical finishing of TMC was the deciding factor. TMC taking the upper hand on this occasion.

The second game against Tara Camogie continued to build on that of the first. The Camógs really began to get into the stride of it, but it was a case of too little, too late. The never say die attitude was always there and a brilliant display of team spirit was evident all over the pitch. From Helena McGough charging out, to defence to Anna Clarke—who seemed to play every position in the pitch—to Katie McMahon who ran and ran until she could run no more and to every girl who left everything she had on that pitch. However, Tara had done their work early and came out with the win. No more could be done. It wasn’t to be Ceann Creige’s weekend.

That weekend taught the girls and management a lot about that lies ahead in championship and more so what they can improve on. The depth and talent in this team will mean the championship will bring a whole new challenge. A challenge that everyone is looking forward to.

The league achieved some objectives, not all. The most important one? Teams now know, Ceann Creige are a competitive senior camogie side and they’re here to stay.