A cumulative score of 19-33 from 2 camogie matches, on successive evenings, is not a bad return in any sporting code! That’s exactly what our seniors and U-16s delivered between them in their victories over Derrymacash (Snr) and Crossmaglen (U-16) on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, ensuring victories at both levels. For good measure, the U-12 panel beat Derrymacash on Saturday! So a very positive and productive week for Clontibret camogs!

Wednesday’s victory, at senior level, over Derrymacash, ensured the panel will be the first group of Clontibret players to take a Division 1 League title in an Armagh league competition. With only 2 matches remaining to be played by the girls, neither Culloville nor Castleblayney can topple Clontibret from their league position – however, as the competition continues until early September, no ‘celebrations’ will commence until then!

The U-16 match was an enthralling contest with Clontibret getting off to a flying start only to let Crossmaglen get a foothold in the game, and at half time only 2 points separated them! However Clontibret re-charged (or even turbo-charged!) the batteries during the break and from the re-start stamped their authority on the match. Crossmaglen, though, were no push-over and fought to the end, but it was the ability of Clontibret to take vital scores that finally separated the teams.

Team: Sioneen Morgan (Capt), Siobhan Kelly, Amy Gorman, Kirsty Morgan-O Reilly, Katie Carragher, Lisa McEneaney, Chloe McGuigan, Ríoghnach Duffy, Émer McGlone, Katie Leonard, Emily Madden, Chloe Markey and Christina Renaghan.

The team continues training in preparation for their final match in the competition against Middletown in a fortnight.

Meanwhile in the Ulster University of Jordanstown, Belfast, Chloe and Ríoghnach had a wonderful experience, training with 28 other ‘elite’ U-16 players from around the province, at the U-16 Elite Camogie Academy.

Monday saw the girls undergoing fitness testing followed by team building exercises. Subsequently they had a games-based session and foam roller massage – much needed after their earlier exertions! There then followed a session on maximising possession and creating scores and finally a ‘recovery session’.

After an 8.30am breakfast on Tuesday morning, the girls engaged in a session on nutrition, hydration and general lifestyle choices. Back on the pitch they worked on effective possession – turning defence into attack. After lunch they moved on to a strength and conditioning body-weight programme before engaging in a series of games which progressed from small-sided, to full match. Their final presentation was titled ‘The Way Forward’ and outlined how the players could and should implement as much of what they had learned as possible in the months ahead, how they would continue to be monitored by Niall Jackman (Talent ID Officer) and how they will play a county U-16 team, from outside Ulster, before the season ends, to monitor how they have improved.

This was a wonderfully, practical, residential camp which provided Rioghnach and Chloe (along with Eileen Cullen, Castleblayney) with amazing opportunity to learn, meet other young, talented players and pick up many practical tips to pass on to their team mates (and coaches!!)! Congratulations to all 3 who did Monaghan proud. Next week it is hoped to have photos of some of the sessions.

And of course the past week was dominated by ‘Coin-gate’ – the Dublin – Clare senior camogie championship qualifier debacle, which eventually had a successful resolution on the pitch!  Regardless of what viewpoint one adopted, what stood out for me was the re-igniting of what I observed at the National Camogie Congress this year – the general apathy towards motions and reports, among a large number of delegates, and a reluctance to engage in robust debate on many issues.  Clearly this situation must prevail at provincial level also, when one considers that decisions taken by Ard Comhairle (eg tossing a coin to decide who progresses in a championship qualifier!) involves the Cathaoirleach and delegates from each of the 4 provinces (among others). Surely when these officers returned and reported this particular decision to their respective county delegates, there should have been uproar?  Wasn’t that the time to raise hell and seek a more satisfactory resolution? Instead, it seems county delegates, to provincial council meetings, simply ‘pulled the blankets over their heads’ and hoped this scenario would never involve their county! So perhaps a positive outcome of the past weeks frantic negotiations and actions will be much greater vigilance and engagement in the decision making processes of the Association!

Incidentally, Dublin beat Clare by 2 points on Saturday Aug 1, but lost to Wexford on Monday Aug 3!! Wexford now face Galway in the senior semi-final, while Cork and Kilkenny’s clash has been re-scheduled for Sunday Aug 16.

Club training continues at the usual times – Senior: Sunday/ Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm. U-12/U-14: Thursday at 5.30pm and U-16: Thursday at 6.30pm.

The senior panel is delighted to welcome Aideen Greene back home after a number of years working in Kerry and abroad. Aideen joined the team training on Sunday morning and showed she hasn’t lost any of her flair and skill.

Finally, congratulations to Brian McSkane – who facilitates the publication of our weekly notes on the Clontibret GAA webpage –and his wife, on the arrival of their beautiful, baby daughter last week.