In a packed Cavan County Museum in late February last a saga was finally closed when Cavan Camogie Board were at last able to present the Ulster Senior Championship medals to the Cavan Teams of 1940 and '41, who had campaigned for so long to get recognition for their great achievements so far back in the century. Also on the night the victorious Cavan Team that won the Ulster Junior Championship from nineteen fifty six who also had not received their medals from the Ulster Council. This function was attended by over three hundred guests who came on the night to pay recognition to these fine players who had done Cavan proud on the playing fields and it was fitting that Uachtarain Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael Ms Pat Rafferty made the presentation. Throughout the evening a lot of these former players renewed acquaintances for the first time in over sixty years and many stories were told of their adventures while playing for Cavan and it wasn't surprising that the night was so enjoyable and successful. The organising committee put in allot of hard work in tracking down all the players or their representatives for those that were deceased and great praise must go to Eugene Markey and Savina Donoghue for putting together a very fine display of Camogie memorabilia which will be on display throughout the Centenary year. UNDERAGE For the last number of years the Camogie Board has been putting in a lot of effort at underage level so as to increase the number of girls playing Camogie and one great success has been the indoor leagues that are run over the winter months with the finals been played in the middle of march in the sports complex in Cavan for under eights tens and twelve's. Thirty nine teams took part with Laragh and Crubany contesting the under eight final which Laragh won, Brusky were victorious in the under ten division one and Cootehill taking first spot in the division two with Aughadreena winning division three. The under twelve divisions were very competitive and Laragh and Lacken played a tremendous game in the division one final which Laragh were victorious and in the division two final both Brusky and Ballyhaise could not be separated after two games of extra time, so it was decided that both teams would be presented with winners plaques. Ironically the same was to happen in the division three final when St Clares and Crubany meet so again both teams were awarded the first spot which was welcomed by both sets of supporters. Again this year the primary schools competition was very successful with twenty different teams taking part which was run on a league basis for the first rounds and the finals being held in Breffni Park which was enjoyed by all the participants. The division one final which is for the Grace Mc Kiernan cup was between Lacken and Ballinagh with the latter taking the honours. In division two Castletara and Laragh were in opposition and it was Castletara who were victorious for the Gaynor cup and the third division was between Crubany and Redhills, with Crubany lifting the Benny Hannigan trophy. During the summer it was the turn of the under fourteens to compete for honors and it was Lacken and Crosserlough who had reached this final with Lacken winning after a very well contested match and the division two final saw Ballinagh and Castletara with the experience of Ballinagh been a telling factor in winning, Lacken made it a double of underage titles when they defeated Ballinagh in what was a tremendous game of Camogie played in Kilnaleck and the division two title went to Bailieboro when they defeated Drumgoon in the final. LEAGUES / CHAMPIONSHIPS The Junior Leagues were very close and were played on a home and away basis with Ballinagh and Lurgan reaching the A finals and after a fiercely well contested game it was Ballinagh who were victorious and in the B finals Castletara had a few points to spare over Laragh. The senior league turned out to between Castletara and Laragh for the final with Lacken just missing by a single point on the league table and the experience of the Castletara showing at the end and this meant that they had completed the double of senior titles. It was the same two teams that contested the Junior championship final as the league final and again Ballinagh lifted the silverware but this is a very determined Lurgan team and they will be back to try and win the Junior championship. The Senior championship was very exciting with Laragh and Lacken having to go to a replay in the quarter-final with Lacken surprising a few people after Laragh had been very impressive in the league competition up to this encounter but championship Camogie is completely different, Lacken went on to play Crosserlough in the semi-final and again another surprise when Lacken were defeated and Crosserlough had qualified for to meet Castletara in the final ensued Castletaras experience was to much for Bailieborough Shamrocks in the other semi-final, the final turned out to be a very exciting affair with both teams fielding every strong teams. It was the experience of Castletara who went on to represent Cavan in the Ulster club championship and they had a very successful campaign and qualified for the final. They played Crossmaglen but a poor first half performance made their cause an uphill task but in the second half it was a completely different Castletara team and they showed great commitment and skill and held Crossmaglen to a few points but the damage was done in the first half. Castletara can be very proud of their efforts especially as Crossmaglen went on to win the All-Ireland title. COUNTY TEAMS The county junior team had a very good league campaign with them having wins over Louth and Wicklow and drawing with Tyrone but the losses to Carlow and Waterford meant that they had failed to qualify for the semi-final of the league by a single point which was very disappointing for the girls. They had to travel to Tyrone for the Ulster championship first round match and in a game where there was a gale force wind blowing the Breffni girls did not perform in the first half but a better second half performance saw them pull to within a point of Tyrone, but time was not on their side so Tyrone advanced to meet Armagh in the next round. In the under sixteen championship it was a local derby clash between Cavan and Monaghan and after a very open and enjoyable match in Cootehill it was the farney girls who advanced to the semi-final stage. Overall it has been a very successful year for the Camogie Association in Cavan who are working very hard so as to ensure that the tradition of Camogie been played in Cavan will be kept alive with allot of distractions for the young people which makes it difficult at times but Cavan are lucky to have a very determined committee and Clubs around the County which hopefully will ensure that this tradition will be kept alive in Cavan. Tweet

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