Camogie in Cavan careering to new heights
March 01, 2010The standards the Association has achieved locally are second to none. Best practice is at the heart of all that takes place.
In many areas, e.g, the level of volunteerism and the passion for the game in Cavan compares favourably with any other county.
In 2009, the local faithful presided over another year of progress for the game of camogie in the Breffni county.
"2009 was a good year overall for camogie in Cavan, partly because of the success of the development squads," says Michelle Dunne.
Michelle, Cavan Camogie Association's joint-PRO (along with Margaret McBride), believes that the past year was one of consolidation.
"The camogie board concentrated a great deal on the under 13, 15 and 17 development squads over the course of 2009.
"The process of consolidating the work on the development squads that has been ongoing since 2006 was complemented by the work with the county panels at under 14, 16 and under 18 levels.
The players who featured on our under 14 development squads in 2006 now form the core of our under 18 squad.
Interestingly, the under14 squad's first competitive outing saw them take part in an Ulster Development Blitz in Owenbeg in Derry on August 18th 2007 and duly claim the Shield.
"I think everyone is agreed that the quality of the players we have is rising each year and, especially, over the last three years."
Observers will seek to temper Michelle's enthusiasm by pointing to the low base from which Cavan camogie has come from.
However there's little doubt but that the structures and organisation in local camogie circles is much superior now than heretofore.
The framework put in place in recent times has helped to allow the natural ball-playing abilities of Cavan's young ladies to flourish.
Newly-appointed Cavan junior camogie team-manager Colm McEvoy (Crosserlough) has publicly lauded the rise in standards.
"Colm attended a meeting we had in January and he was delighted with the work that has taken place to improve the lot of camogie.
"He said that after attending a few matches recently, he could clearly see the improvement in the skills of the players and the higher standard of play all round.
"A lot of people will say that the overall improvement in the game has been phenomenal but we have to keep building the walls."
The Breffni county has posted notice of its determination and readiness to move up camogie's pecking order, nationwide.
In that regard, the junior team's performances last year - under the management of Eddie Brady (Crosserlough) - didn't go unnoticed.
In winning the All-Ireland blitz, Brady's charges created quite a few shockwaves in camogie circles as Michelle is wont to re-iterate:
"It was a great shot in the arm for camogie in Cavan and for everyone involved in promoting the game at club and county levels.
"It's not that long ago when the county found it very hard to field a team so the improvement in fortunes there alone has been great.
"With no disrespect to various people down the years, I think there was something to be said for the view that the emphasis seemed to be always on picking experienced players for the county panel which meant that up and coming club players were left in the shade."
For 2010, the county's premier team will compete in division five of the national league so a title triumph cannot be ruled out.
The squad had its first together in the first week of last month (February) and will enter competitive mode this month.
The profile of camogie in Cavan got a further boost during the past year as three ladies from the county received national recognition.
For the shinty/camogie international challenge between hosts Scotland and Ireland, Cavan were represented by three of its top stars.
Hats off to Margaret McBride (Drumgoon), Rosie Crowe (Lacken) and Lorraine Day (Crosserlough) who helped steer Ireland to victory.
The question of when and if more Cavan players are similarily honoured is a moot point but, for her part, Michelle is optimistic.
"I'm sure the talent will continue to come through once the structures, coaching and competitions continue to be put in place for them.
"There are more adults becoming involved in helping out with teams and club affairs but we're always looking for more every year."
Fortunately for Cavan camogie, those currently positioned at the coalface are totally committed to the cause.
At the heart of camogie matters for the last six years, Michelle says the biggest challenge facing the initiated is keeping the numbers of players on the rise, year on year.
She accepts that the onus is chiefly on the administrators at club level to market the game on the ground and recruit new players with the support and encouragement of the county board.
"We want to give every young girl in the county the opportunity to play the game and to compete at their own level.
"We don't want a situation where a girl isn't getting a game and is left to say 'I am training to play; I don't train to sit on the bench.
"I feel that, if necessary, clubs should endeavour to field 'B' teams to ensure that every girl gets to compete on a team."
A former no-mean hockey player in her native Middlesex (England), Michelle first 'got the camogie bug' while following the on-field endeavours of her two daughters Roisin (a member of the county junior squad ) and younger sister Laura (a juvenile player with Castletara) as they started off with Castletara's underage teams.
So what first attracted Michelle to the game some 12 years ago when she settled in Castletara with her husband Rory Dunne?
"I watched Roisin play it with Castletara National School and thought the skills of the game were absolutely fabulous.
"I had been used to hockey while growing up but I thought camogie was a more skilful game and I just got involved at a local level."
Pleased that the game is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance in areas such as Drumgoon, Denn and Bailieboro, Michelle firmly believes that once the coaching and games are laid on, the girls of Cavan will respond with gusto to the invitation to play camogie.
The future promotion and development of the small ball game in her adopted county is obviously close to Michelle's heart.
She truly believes that the Camogie Association would get a tidy leg-up if it was to come fully under the umbrella of the GAA.
"I don't understand why the two associations aren't operating as one. We have to raise our own funds and it's difficult."
Similarily, greater parental involvement is key to accomodating the patent appetite shown by an increasing number of girls/ladies for camogie in Cavan, she insists.
"I expect the progress we've made to continue but you can't do with enough help and it would be great to see more parents become actively involved in their child's camogie career."
Frustration the name of the game yet?
"It can be extremely tiring, especially with a young family and a husband who has come to realise that sometimes the camogie has to come first!
"I've no regrets about getting involved in the Camogie Association though.
"It's a great sport, a very healthy activity for girls and it provides a lot of enjoyment for a lot of people." Tweet
